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Ritchie Bros. to sell 26 concrete pump trucks in Nashville unreserved equipment auction

Late model construction, logging, transportation, aerial and lifting equipment items will also be sold on auction day NASHVILLE, TN, June 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, is conducting an unreserved public auction at the Company's permanent auction site in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 starting at 8:00 a.m. More than 600 items of industrial and transportation equipment from more than 50 owners, including 26 concrete pump trucks and concrete equipment will be sold to the highest bidders with no reserve prices or minimum bids. The sale of the concrete pump trucks and concrete equipment is part of a complete dispersal of the former assets of Pumpco Inc., a concrete pumping service company that had operations throughout the Southeastern United States and in the Nashville area.
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3000 Skyline Dallas, a 770,000-sf Data Center, on Schedule for 2010 Launch

June 30, 2009

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--3000 Skyline Dallas, a 770,000-square-foot data center development, is on schedule for a launch of phase one in the first quarter of 2010. Located in the City of Mesquite, Texas, nine miles from the Dallas CBD, the facility boasts its own on-site substation that will feature 100 million watts of power provided by Oncor Electric Delivery Company. The facility is a development of Dallas-based CAPSTAR Commercial Real Estate Services and The Cambay Group, based in Walnut Creek, CA. When completed, 3000 Skyline Dallas is projected to be one of the country's five most powerful data centers, providing sufficient electrical power for any configuration today and for years to come, according to John Patterson, a CAPSTAR principal. The initial installation will provide 40 million watts of power. The LEED-designed facility, divisible into four quadrants of 20 million volt amps each, will provide robust TIA-942 design standards for Tier III data centers. Each quadrant is equipped with separate internal entrance for individual user security, individual electrical distribution with redundant feeder circuits and a new FM I-90 roof. Scalable data center spaces are divisible from 45,000 square feet to 770,000 square feet.
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Central Parking System Awarded Cowboys Stadium Contract

June 30, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Central Parking System, Inc. ("Central Parking"), the nation's largest parking management company, has been selected by the Dallas Cowboys to manage all parking functions at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home to the Dallas Cowboys professional football team. Eight regular season games are played at the facility, as well as two preseason games. Additionally, the stadium is used for other major events, such as music concerts, soccer matches and college football games. Central Parking assumed management of the parking program with the Grand Opening of the Stadium on June 6, 2009. Parking controlled by the Cowboys includes fourteen parking lots surrounding the stadium that provide parking for more than 11,500 vehicles. With the addition of this contract, Central Parking now works directly with 28 teams in the four major sports leagues, including management of parking at NFL stadiums in Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Miami, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.
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Report: Transportation Stimulus Decisions Missed Golden Opportunities

June 30, 2009

Assesses Speed, Wisdom, and Accountability of Projects Chosen for Funding WASHINGTON, June 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new report released today by Smart Growth America, based on federal and state data, found that states' choices of transportation projects to fund under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) are a mixed bag: some states are funding projects that make progress toward policy and accountability objectives laid out by the law and the Administration, but too many states are not. Overall, the report, The States and the Stimulus: Are they using it to create jobs and 21st century transportation?, found that many states missed an opportunity to make as much progress as possible in filling the nation's transportation needs and create jobs as quickly as possible. The ARRA provided $26.6 billion in flexible transportation funding--half of it required to be obligated within the first 120 days, by Monday, June 29--through the federal Surface Transportation Program (STP). STP funds can be used for a wide range of infrastructure projects, including: public transportation, sidewalks, repair and preventative maintenance of bridges and roads, and new and widened roads and highways.
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Secretary Ian Bowles Congratulates the Winners of the Zero Energy Home Challenge at the MA State House

June 30, 2009

BOSTON, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Massachusetts' investor-owned electric utility companies -- National Grid, NSTAR, Unitil, and Western Mass Electric Company, successfully completed an energy efficiency pilot program called the Zero Energy Challenge. Five home builders competed to construct super energy-efficient single-family homes and were awarded prizes based on their results totaling $50,000. The awards event was held June 29, 2009 at 1:00pm at the Massachusetts State House with guest speaker Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary, Ian Bowles. "Winners of the Zero Energy Challenge are energy efficiency trail blazers who are helping to build wider awareness and use of cutting edge techniques that result in dramatic home energy savings," Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles said. "The Challenge dovetails with Governor Patrick's overall clean energy goals -- in particular, the Administration's work toward adoption of zero net energy standards for new residential and commercial construction by 2030."
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Zurich in North America Releases New Video: "Hurricane Preparedness – 36 Hours Out"

June 30, 2009

New video is Zurich HelpPoint in action and delivers valuable insights when business owners need it most – 36-hours before a hurricane hits SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zurich in North America is helping its customers minimize damage from winds and rain associated with hurricanes by releasing a new video, "Hurricane Preparedness – 36 Hours Out." The video outlines recommended steps to help prepare a building for a hurricane 36 hours out from impact. After watching the video, business owners and risk managers will know how to answer two important questions: 1. Is your site prepared for a hurricane? 2. Do you know what to do to minimize damage to your building against hurricane forced winds and heavy rains? "Zurich's risk engineers work directly with our customers to help them prepare their businesses long before you hear about an approaching hurricane," said Armand Fernandez, chief risk engineering officer for Zurich Services Corporation. "Our team of risk engineers created this video specifically for our customers to quickly share with them important steps they can take when a hurricane is on its way." Preparation is key to helping mitigate damage from the impact of a hurricane. This video is a useful risk management tool and covers several topics regarding hurricane preparedness, including ways to help customers: * Protect staff, * Protect buildings from the inside and out, and * Coordinate post storm activities. Zurich is also making the video available to prospective customers.
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Planting Begins on Green Roof of Target Center

June 29, 2009

Installation of the 2.5 acre green roof—the largest green roof in Minnesota—is underway MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Installation of the 2.5 acre green roof vegetation on the City-owned Target Center begins today. Over the course of two days a 165 ton crane will hoist five truckloads of plant material, which includes 900 rolls of pre-grown vegetated mats of sedum and native plants for installation on top of the arena's main roof. More than 540 cu yards of soil is being blown onto the rooftop between 120'– 165' in the air, using a blower truck. The roof is the largest green roof in Minnesota and, at the time of design, the fifth largest green roof in the United States. The green roof is installed on a state-of-the-art waterproofing membrane which includes a leak detection system called Electro Field Vector Mapping (EFVM). The membrane will help withstand constant dampness, high alkalinity, and exposure to plant roots, fungi, and bacterial organisms as well as varying hydrostatic pressures. The green roof features a 2.75" growing zone in the center of the main arena roof structure and a deeper 3.5" growing zone around the perimeter where the structural capacity is greater to maximize storm water retention and plant vigor. The pre-grown mat of sedum and native plants creates the base of the green roof system and will be complemented by additional plantings of plants native to Minnesota's prairies once the roof is installed to enhance plant diversity and ecological resilience. To complete the roof by Fall 2009, 11 miles of sustainable, water-efficient irrigation lines will be installed and 14,000 concrete pavers for firebreaks and roof protection will be laid. Green roofs provide ecological benefits by reducing the negative effects of hard surfaces like traditional roofs on stormwater quality, volume, rate, and temperature on the receiving waterbody, in this case, the Mississippi River. At 113,000 square feet, almost 3 acres, this green roof has potential for mitigating stormwater runoff from a significant amount of impervious surface in a downtown location where space does not permit use of other Low Impact Development Techniques to mitigate for the negative effects of hard surfaces on receiving waterbodies. Positive impacts on local water bodies are valuable in a City that prides itself on its legendary waterbodies: The City of Lakes in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
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H.R. 2998 Not the Answer to a Secure Energy Future, Says NAHB

June 29, 2009

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American home buyers deserve a more equitable solution than the American Clean Energy and Security Act as Congress moves to cut our nation's energy use, says the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). "The hard truth is that we can't build our way out of this problem," said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a builder and developer in Tulsa, Okla. "We need to make sure our utilities more efficiently generate and transmit power. We need to make our existing housing stock more energy efficient. We need to reduce our 'plug load' – home appliances, televisions and computers – and make these products more energy efficient. This bill's focus on new home construction won't get us very far at all." The House of Representatives on June 26 passed H.R. 2998, sweeping legislation that requires new homes to be built 30 percent more energy efficiently than mandated in the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. That number increases to 50 percent by 2014 and then increases 5 percent every three years. "That's simply too far, too fast," Robson said. "The market is not geared up to supply the necessary materials and equipment, and that's going to drive up costs. The result will be fewer working-class families in these new energy-efficient homes. They'll be relegated to older, less efficient housing stock and face ever higher utility bills." According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes are responsible for about 21 percent of the energy consumed each year. "Forcing more regulation on a fraction of those homes just won't move the needle," Robson said. Nor does H.R. 2998 do much to address the more than 94 million homes built before 1991, when energy efficiency codes became the norm. The bill misses the mark because older, inefficient homes are the source of the vast majority of energy loss associated with buildings.
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Kornberg Associates | Architects Selected to Develop Design for New Stanford University Imaging Center

June 29, 2009

MENLO PARK, Calif., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Kornberg Associates | Architects (www.kornberg.com) has been selected by Stanford University to design a new Cognitive & Neurobiological Imaging Center. Ken Kornberg, president and founder, made the announcement. The firm has worked with Stanford University since 1980 and has completed 20 projects over the past 30 years, one of which is the two-story, 32,000 square-foot office building for the Stanford Linear Accelerator. They are also working on the new three-story 35,000 square-foot Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR). The School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S) awards nearly 80 percent of Stanford undergraduate degrees and more than 40 percent of doctoral degrees at Stanford. The school has more than 500 faculty members, 28 departments, and 19 interdisciplinary degree programs, along with a number of non-degree granting programs and 20 research centers and teaching resources. According to Kornberg, the project, scheduled for completion in Fall 2010, will locate a functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device and a magnetoencephalography (MEG) unit among the Cognitive Neurobiological Imaging researchers in the Psychology Department.
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Energy Success Stories Featured at Record-Setting International District Energy Association Conference in D.C.

June 26, 2009

Energy efficiency, sustainable systems a focus District Energy/CHP 2009: Local Energy, Global Solution BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bucking challenging economic times and conference attendance trends, the International District Energy Association will set an attendance record at its 100th Annual Conference & Trade Show "District Energy/CHP 2009: Local Energy, Global Solution." The conference is being held just outside Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City June 28-July 1. More than 600 people from 15 countries will gather for the association's centennial conference, up from 450 attendees in 2008. "There is an increased interest in leveraging the strengths of district energy and combined heat and power to help cities, communities and college campuses optimize their energy efficiency, enhance energy security and cut harmful emissions," says Robert P. Thornton, president of IDEA. "We've put together a program of real-life applications that demonstrate technologies that already work and are delivering for our economy and the environment." Featured plenary session speakers Monday are Phil Sharp, president of Resources for the Future; Olivier Barbaroux, chairman of Veolia Energy-Dalkia; and Thomas Casten, chairman of Recycled Energy Development Ltd. Sharp's Resources for the Future is the oldest Washington think tank devoted exclusively to policy analysis on energy, environmental and natural resource issues. He previously served 11 terms as a Congressman from Indiana with key appointments to energy and environment committees.
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The American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York Chapter has announced that "A Space Within: The National September 11 Memorial & Museum

June 26, 2009

The exhibition, curated by Thomas Mellins, contains new details of the memorial and museum plans. The exhibition will display scale models, construction photographs, drawings and videos, and host a series of public programs. "A Space Within" will remain on view at the Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place, from June 26-September 14, 2009. The exhibition was organized by AIA New York in partnership with the Center for Architecture Foundation and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. In the aftermath of the events of September 11th, 2001, the evident need emerged to build a tribute to those who had been killed. An astounding 13,683 individuals responded to a design competition, submitting over 5,000 designs. The memorial jury selected a proposal by architect Michael Arad, made in collaboration with landscape architect Peter Walker.
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U.S. Green Building Council - Orange County Chapter Appoints Lisa Kramer as Executive Director

June 26, 2009

TUSTIN, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Green Building Council – Orange County Chapter (USGBC-OC) has announced the selection of Lisa Kramer as the Executive Director, effective May 1, 2009. USGBC-OC is a dynamic group of over 500 professionals and 2,800 supportive individuals and organizations, all advocates for greener building and development in Orange County. Chapter members include builders, designers, architects, facility managers, contractors, landscape architects and manufacturers, all of whom work actively with state and local stakeholders to promote sustainable building and business practices in their respective fields. "It is exciting to be part of this chapter. The level of commitment, volunteerism and enthusiasm of members is contagious," stated Lisa Kramer. "The Chapter is actively driving change in Orange County, and the State of California. Green buildings create green jobs that save energy, water and money, and USGBC-OC is the resource for the industry in Orange County, providing access to vital educational opportunities and networking with the local green building community."
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America's Newest International Bridge Bypasses China

June 25, 2009

MISSION, Texas, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- A new international bridge to Mexico is set to open October 2009 in the South Texas city of Mission, Texas. The Anzalduas International Bridge, a $168-million joint project between the United States and Mexico, will be one of the newest and largest border crossings in the country, and will directly connect Mission with Reynosa, Tamaulipas - a Mexican city known for advanced manufacturing and import/export operations. Since the passing of NAFTA, Mexico has stepped up as a major competitor to China for cost-effective manufacturing. One reason is because China is just now experiencing an increase in manufacturing wages - the same increase that hit Mexico years ago. Today, the cost difference between low-wage Mexico and lower-wage China is shrinking rapidly. However, the most important advantage Mexico has over China is lower transportation costs. Our southern neighbor, Mexico has cut the long-distance, transoceanic supply chain that is currently driving U.S. oil prices into the triple digits. Mexico provides a shorter, faster and cheaper transportation route to move products and supplies by truck, rather than over thousands of miles by ship, rail, and truck combined.
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Calpine's Russell City Energy Center to be Nation's First Power Plant With Federal Greenhouse Gas Emissions Limit

June 25, 2009

Calpine to build 600-MW power plant, create economic stimulus for San Francisco Bay Area HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) notified interested stakeholders that it is seeking public input on a draft permit to construct what will be the nation's first power plant with a federal limit on emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases. Calpine Corporation (NYSE: CPN) has been working in cooperation with the BAAQMD to respond to comments submitted by a number of environmental and local public interest groups, including the Sierra Club and EarthJustice, regarding the company's proposed 600-megawatt Russell City Energy Center to be built in Hayward, Calif. As a result, Calpine has agreed to changes in the project's permit conditions, including reductions in a number of emission limits, which will make it one of the cleanest natural gas-fired power plants in the nation. "By taking this historic and early action to limit greenhouse gas emissions, Calpine demonstrates that our long-term commitment to environmental stewardship is fundamental to our corporate philosophy," said Jack A. Fusco, president and chief executive officer of Calpine. "The combined-cycle technology allows us to commit to lower emissions while increasing efficiency – meaning we use less natural gas and emit fewer greenhouse gases while delivering more power to our customers and ultimately the American consumer."
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Community Access and Alembic Development Company Break Ground on a $37 Million, 105 Unit Project of Affordable Housing in the Bronx

June 25, 2009

Precedent-Setting Partnerships with State Agencies Represents a Model for Integrating People with Disabilities into Affordable Housing in New York State NEW YORK, June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen of the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR); Priscilla Almodovar, President and Chief Executive Officer of NYS Housing Finance Agency (HFA); Michael Newman, Director, Bureau of Housing Development, OMH; Gloribel M. Cruz, Vice President, Affordable Housing Finance, HSBC Bank USA, N.A.; Bill Traylor, President, Richman Housing Resources, LLC; and Diane Louard-Michel, Director, NY Program, Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), joined Community Access and its partner, Alembic Development Company to break ground on a $37 million project that will create 105 units of affordable housing on Cedar Avenue, in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx. The intricate financial package for the project includes funding from multiple public and private sources, including DHCR, NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), as well as the sale of $26.9 million in bonds by HFA. The project is also financed by the sale of low-income housing tax credits syndicated by Richman Housing Resources, LLC. HSBC Bank USA, N.A. provided the letter of credit and the Corporation for Supportive Housing provided a pre-development loan. As the first housing development in NYS to blend OMH and HFA funds, Cedar Avenue will establish a precedent for integrated, affordable housing in New York State. Of the 105 apartments, 55 will be available to individuals recovering from mental illness, and 50 units will be available to households earning less than 60% of the area median income. Steve Coe, the CEO of Community Access said, "when individuals with psychiatric disabilities live in the same building as families from the community, a shift occurs; the stigma associated with mental illness is lifted, and everyone begins to view each other as neighbors."
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Millennial Net Exhibits New Energy Management Systems at Realcomm 2009 Green Sustainability Pavilion

June 25, 2009

Intelligent Commercial Building Systems Designed to Reduce Consumption Using Wireless Mesh Sensor Network CHELMSFORD, Mass., June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Millennial Net is participating in the Realcomm 2009 Conference to showcase its enterprise Energy Management System (EMS), a web-based solution using wireless networks within buildings to monitor and control energy consumption. Commercial real estate portfolio managers now have a pragmatic way to reduce the total cost to tenants and increase the value and attractiveness of their properties. A robust wireless sensor network, Millennial Net's MeshScape(R) provides the foundation to implement real-time monitoring and control at the point of energy consumption. Wireless is ideal for retrofitting; installations are simple and non-invasive. Return on investment is fast, less than 2-3 years typically. Millennial Net's web-based EMS provides owners, facility managers and tenants secure access and visibility to energy information, so it is not hidden in the boiler room and monthly energy bills. Energy conservation is now possible across huge portfolios of buildings in a consistent manner by rapidly and affordably deploying sensors and controllers.
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Sears Tower Unveils Sustainable Plan to Transform Tallest Building in Western Hemisphere

June 25, 2009

Project will significantly reduce energy use and CO2 emissions, spur economic development CHICAGO, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears Tower today announced plans for the most significant sustainable modernization projects of an existing building ever undertaken. The project will result in unparalleled energy savings and reduced CO2 emissions to the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, reducing the base building electricity use by up to 80 percent, which includes a combination of energy savings and co-generation. The energy savings equal 68 million kilowatt hours annually or 150,000 barrels of oil every year. The sustainability plans also drive economic development in the West Loop, creating more than 3,600 jobs, and are part of a broader initiative to transform the global icon. "Sears Tower, an iconic structure that defines the city's skyline, will undergo a groundbreaking transformation that creates economic growth with positive impact on our environment, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations," said John Huston of American Landmark Properties, representing the partnership that owns Sears Tower. "As the stewards of this icon, we take seriously our responsibility to make it relevant and successful, and the changes made and benefits realized through the bold sustainable initiatives at the tower serve as an example that a sustainable future is more than a concept, it is within our reach." The building, which already meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria, will undertake sustainability initiatives above and beyond those used by the United Stated Green Building Council to rate a green building.
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Solar Energy Initiatives Announces Securing Land to Build up to 18 Megawatt Solar Park in California

June 25, 2009

* Project Could Reach $80 Million * Solar Park to be Located in One of the USA's Ideal Solar Geographic Regions PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. (OTCBB:SNRY), executing on a grass roots campaign, “RENEW THE NATION”, to help redeploy a portion of the U.S. work force and focus on reducing the world’s dependence on fossil fuels by selling solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) technologies, today announced that the Company signed a contract securing land for the design, construction and operation of a solar park in Southern California. The project could generate over $80 million in revenue within a 5-year time period. Construction of up to an 18 megawatt system represents Solar Energy Initiatives first contract in the rapidly expanding solar park market. Preliminary work, including zoning, permitting, EPA and other activities, is expected to begin immediately. At full capacity, the solar park could generate enough green renewable energy to displace over 55,600 metric tons of carbon emissions, annually, that would have otherwise been produced by non-renewable power generation. The project could produce enough energy to provide power to more than 3,000 homes. Solar Energy Initiatives, Chairman, Brad Holt, who initiated this project stated, "Our entire organization is excited to announce this groundbreaking solar park agreement. Our Company was chosen over several other solar development firms, including some who far exceeded us in size. The landholder's confidence in the team we have assembled allowed us to be granted this monumental contract. While working with the landholder, we assembled a world class development team from within our own ranks, a construction crew with extensive knowledge in renewable projects and a finance team with over 15 years of experience in energy financing. We are all excited and prepared to commence work on this project which will be completed over the next several years and may lead to future projects for the SNRY team."
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Caribbean Contractor Receives U.S. Patent for its Non-Invasive Roof Securement System for Existing Industrial and Commercial Buildings in Hurricane Zones

June 24, 2009

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Caribbean Sunlife Specialties Corp. (CSSC), a Puerto Rico-based industrial roofing contractor announced today that the U.S. Patent for its "Non-Invasive Metal Roof Deck Securement Enhancement System" has been issued. This non-invasive retrofit method to strengthen existing roof structures is highly cost effective and has minimal impact on the operations of the building during retrofit. The retrofit roof securement system has been installed on almost 1 million square feet of existing roofs throughout hurricane prone Puerto Rico. The system meets or exceeds the stringent wind uplift recommendations of FM Global, the insurance industry leader in property loss research and prevention.
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Jacobs Receives Contract From NASA for Aerospace Testing Support at Ames Research Center

June 24, 2009

PASADENA, Calif., June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) announced today that it received from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) the follow-on contract to provide aerospace testing and facilities operations and maintenance at Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. The contract has a potential value of approximately $200 million with a two-year basic period of performance and three one-year award options. Its effective date is July 1, 2009. In making the announcement, Jacobs President and CEO Craig Martin stated, "We are pleased to continue our longstanding relationship with NASA and our support for Ames' world-class aerodynamic and aerothermal test capabilities that are vital to current and next-generation aerospace programs." In this project, Jacobs serves as the prime contractor, and has teamed with two subcontractors: Sierra Lobo Inc. and Qualis Corporation. The team will provide support for aerospace testing, and facilities maintenance and operations, including project development, operation of support facilities, and maintenance of aerospace facilities at Ames.
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Otis Lifts Vehicles to 94th Floor of Tallest Building on Chinese Mainland

June 24, 2009

FARMINGTON, Conn., June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Otis Elevator Company has designed and installed a unique elevator that is being used to transport vehicles to the 94th floor exhibition hall in mainland China's tallest building. This elevator is among 30 elevators and 34 escalators that Otis installed in the 101-story Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC). Otis is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) . "Otis is proud to have contributed in such a unique way to the magnificent Shanghai World Financial Center," said Otis President Didier Michaud-Daniel. "We know the array of high technology Otis products in this building will provide safe, reliable and efficient service to many thousands of passengers for years to come." The vehicle elevator will transport passenger vehicles and other heavy loads more than 90 floors from ground level to the exhibition hall in about two minutes. This elevator, with its more than 3-ton capacity, is part of an extensive Otis installation that includes 16 super double-deck elevators that provide space-saving solutions for highly efficient travel within SWFC. The super double-deck elevators in SWFC are the first such elevators installed in China. Double-deck elevators serve two floors simultaneously using the same hoistway. The design allows more passengers to be served than in a single-deck, single-hoistway configuration. A super double-deck elevator includes a scissor-like connector between the two cars, allowing the height of the top car to be adjusted. The adjustment takes place as the elevator moves and is not noticed by passengers. This feature gives developers flexibility in designing buildings with floors of different heights.
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Solar Power, Inc.’s 200-watt Class Module Receives Number One PTC Ratings From California Energy Commission

June 24, 2009

Solar Power, Inc.'s 200-watt Modules Now Hold Top Three Performance Rankings ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Power, Inc. ("SPI") (OTCBB: SOPW) announced today that two of its 200-watt modules, have been ranked number one and number two in comparative performance ratings awarded by the California Energy Commission ("CEC"). In April, SPI announced another of its 200-watt modules had been ranked number three by the CEC. Solar Power, Inc. currently sells three versions of its 200-watt module. Each of SPI's modules has been tested using the Photovoltaic USA Test Conditions ("PTC") to achieve the PTC rating that is the basis for their comparative rank. At present, the CEC lists 13 modules within the 200-watt category that have been tested using the PTC test conditions. Solar Power, Inc.'s SP200 modules currently hold rankings in the numbers one, two and three positions placing them squarely at the top of their class. The performance difference between SPI's number-one ranked 200-watt module and the fourth-ranked competing module is 1.7%. SPI's modules are tested to evaluate performance characteristics by the independent, Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, Intertek located in Lake Forest, CA. PTC ratings provide a measurement of how modules will behave in real-world conditions and is widely recognized by solar professionals as the best way to compare module performance. PTC test results are used by the CEC to rank and rate solar module performance for the CEC's SB1 Guidance Listings. PTC values on this list are calculated using strict laboratory tests to establish comparative rankings. Higher performance ratings translate into greater rebates for home and business owners when installing solar systems within the state of California. The CEC's SB1 listing of modules reflecting these new rankings will be published in early July.
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Solar Power, Inc.’s 200-watt Class Module Receives Number One PTC Ratings From California Energy Commission

June 24, 2009

Solar Power, Inc.'s 200-watt Modules Now Hold Top Three Performance Rankings ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Power, Inc. ("SPI") (OTCBB: SOPW) announced today that two of its 200-watt modules, have been ranked number one and number two in comparative performance ratings awarded by the California Energy Commission ("CEC"). In April, SPI announced another of its 200-watt modules had been ranked number three by the CEC. Solar Power, Inc. currently sells three versions of its 200-watt module. Each of SPI's modules has been tested using the Photovoltaic USA Test Conditions ("PTC") to achieve the PTC rating that is the basis for their comparative rank. At present, the CEC lists 13 modules within the 200-watt category that have been tested using the PTC test conditions. Solar Power, Inc.'s SP200 modules currently hold rankings in the numbers one, two and three positions placing them squarely at the top of their class. The performance difference between SPI's number-one ranked 200-watt module and the fourth-ranked competing module is 1.7%. SPI's modules are tested to evaluate performance characteristics by the independent, Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, Intertek located in Lake Forest, CA. PTC ratings provide a measurement of how modules will behave in real-world conditions and is widely recognized by solar professionals as the best way to compare module performance. PTC test results are used by the CEC to rank and rate solar module performance for the CEC's SB1 Guidance Listings. PTC values on this list are calculated using strict laboratory tests to establish comparative rankings. Higher performance ratings translate into greater rebates for home and business owners when installing solar systems within the state of California. The CEC's SB1 listing of modules reflecting these new rankings will be published in early July.
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Veolia Energy Upgrades Grand Rapids District Energy System to Increase Energy Efficiency

June 24, 2009

Local project will provide economic and environmental benefits to Grand Rapids, including local jobs and a more efficient system with a reduced carbon footprint GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Veolia Energy North America, a leading provider of sustainable energy services and facility operations and management solutions, announced today that the company has awarded a design/build contract to Progressive AE to upgrade Veolia Energy's Grand Rapids district energy (heating and cooling) system. Based in Grand Rapids, Progressive AE will design and install a cutting-edge condensing heat exchanger, which is a sophisticated heat recovery technology that will reduce the volume of fuel consumed by at least 5 percent. This major upgrade will ensure competitive steam rates for customers served by the Grand Rapids district energy facility, while lowering the cost per pound of steam produced and reducing its overall carbon footprint. The reduction in carbon dioxide will be approximately equivalent to the emissions of 1,000 cars. Scheduled to be completed by November 2009, the project will be implemented using local subcontractors and will employ nearly 25 local workers during various periods of construction. Williams & Works, another local engineering firm, will serve as Owners' Representative for the project. "The City applauds Veolia Energy for its continued commitment to Grand Rapids," said Mayor George Heartwell. "In just six months since it purchased the County's steam system, Veolia Energy has made significant efficiency upgrades that have helped Grand Rapids become a more sustainable community while investing in local businesses and workers."
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Johnson Controls Named Green Business of the Year by Milwaukee Business Journal

June 23, 2009

Company's Ward Komorowski also honored as Green Business Leader of the Year MILWAUKEE, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) has been named Green Business of the Year in southeastern Wisconsin as part of the inaugural Green Business Awards program by the Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee. Ward Komorowski, director of facilities and building services for the company, was also recognized as the region's Green Business Leader of the Year. "The awards are an important recognition of our employees who work hard and are dedicated to creating a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world, not only at our headquarters but around the world," said Charles Harvey, vice president, Diversity and Public Affairs at Johnson Controls.
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Joint Statement of 'Twin Towers II' and the Twin Towers Alliance

June 23, 2009

NEW YORK, June 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The time has come for the future of Ground Zero to be decided at a national summit. The current stand-off has demonstrated that, try as they may, state and local officials are ill-equipped to give us the World Trade Center our city and country deserve. It makes no sense to limit the revival of such a signature site to what New York and New Jersey can afford. There is no reason why those two states should bear the entire country's burden -- or be allowed to undermine our collective recovery. The target on September 11, 2001, wasn't New York or Washington. Osama bin Laden gloated in October, 2001: "The values of this Western civilization under the leadership of America have been destroyed. Those awesome symbolic towers that speak of liberty, human rights, and humanity have been destroyed. They have gone up in smoke." It was the very idea of America that was attacked, which makes our paralysis at Ground Zero a national disgrace and our true resurgence an imperative. Most Americans have always wanted to see the Twin Towers back where they belong. The Towers were uniquely exuberant -- just like the country that produced them. They were a reflection of who we are. That is why they became such celebrated icons -- they actually stood for something. Their rebirth now would rebuild our confidence as nothing else could.
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KONE Inc. and Power Efficiency Corporation Sign Agreement to Launch Digital EcoStart(R) for New, Modernized and Retrofitted Escalators

June 23, 2009

Companies Will Work in Partnership to Provide Customers Energy Savings LISLE, Ill. & LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KONE Inc. (OMX: KNEBV), one of the world's leading elevator and escalator companies, and Power Efficiency Corporation (OTCBB:PEFF), a clean tech company focused on efficiency technologies for electric motors, announced today that they signed an agreement to launch the digital EcoStart(R), to be included in new and modernized escalators, and offered to customers as a retrofit option. The KONE EcoStart is a unique motor efficiency controller that incorporates Power Efficiency's proprietary E-Save Technology(R) to improve the efficiency of electric motors in escalators. The EcoStart is a complete motor control device that soft starts a motor, bringing it from rest to full speed, and then protects the motor from adverse conditions, such as voltage and amperage spikes. Furthermore, when the motor is operating at full speed, Power Efficiency's E-Save Technology in the EcoStart monitors the motor and improves its efficiency, typically reducing energy consumption by 20-35%. The EcoStart is manufactured by Power Efficiency Corporation exclusively for KONE.
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Optima Engineering Earns First LEED Platinum Certification in Charlotte Region

June 23, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- - Optima Engineering, P.A. earned LEED(R) (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its South End office at 1927 South Tryon St. The LEED Platinum certification is the highest rating available, and Optima Engineering is the first to achieve this certification in the Charlotte area. LEED features include the use of rapidly renewable materials, such as bamboo flooring and reclaimed sorghum straw wood, as well as the use of skylights, electric daylight sensors and a highly efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning system. The building's location in a dense urban environment close to clients, light rail, and restaurants and retail also contributed to the platinum rating. In addition to meeting LEED standards, Optima Engineering's 16,000-square-foot office building features a rooftop solar photovoltaic system. The system produces electricity to sell to Duke Energy and non-profit NC GreenPower, making Optima Engineering a utility in North Carolina. "We strongly believe that renewable energy can play a part in every building - new and existing," Optima Engineering President Keith Pehl said. "Not only do we engineer such systems for others, but we also utilize their potential ourselves."
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Recycled PVC Environmental Barriers Can Save Billions of Dollars on Highway and Rail Projects

June 23, 2009

Highway and rail improvements under federal stimulus and state road plan will require increased use of sight and sound barriers LISLE, Ill., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitigating negative quality-of-life impacts of highway and rail improvement and expansion projects is an increasingly important aspect of planning for state and local government transportation officials. The boost in highway work under the federal stimulus highlights the need for more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable sight and sound barriers. Sight and sound barrier systems made of recycled PVC are as much as one-third the cost to manufacture and install as pre-cast. The cost for pre-cast barriers averages about $2.6 million per mile of highway, compared to about $1.8 million for the PVC alternative. Savings derive from much lower manufacturing, transportation and installation costs. A 2008 report by the group Transportation Alternatives entitled Streets to Live By states that property values increase by 0.4 percent for every point reduction in decibels. That can add up to as much as 10 percent on the value of a home, according to the report.
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Telkonet and Lutron Advance Hospitality Energy Efficiency with Next Generation Integrated Solutions

June 23, 2009

Combined Guest Room Technology Delivers Single-Source HVAC and Lighting System for Optimal Operating Efficiencies GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Telkonet, Inc. (NYSE Amex:TKO), a Clean Technology company that develops and manufactures proprietary energy management and SmartGrid networking technology, announces a new integrated solution initiative with the leading designer and manufacturer of lighting controls, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. Telkonet and Lutron are working closely together to harness their individual product strengths, offering a unique single solution that provides fully integrated in-room, occupancy-based heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) energy management and lighting control. With this initiative, the two companies have dynamically advanced the concept of a complete hospitality solution, enabling hospitality property management a single-source energy efficiency platform. With lighting and HVAC representing over 70% of a hotel's average energy usage, a single-source, fully-integrated solution enables property management to more easily adopt a comprehensive energy management strategy, realizing significant cost advantages by streamlining purchasing, installation and support from one vendor. The Connected Guestroom offering including Telkonet is part of the newly launched Lutron Hospitality Solution as an option within the integrated hospitality portfolio. Michael Linck, Strategic Relationships - Hospitality at Lutron commented, "We are pleased to have Telkonet's energy management products available as an integrated HVAC component to our hospitality solutions. We look forward to the continued development of our complementary, integrated solutions to enhance the guest experience and deliver operational efficiencies to hospitality properties."
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Skanska to Lease and Start up Bassängkajen – Investing SEK 240 M in a New Green Office Project in Malmö

June 22, 2009

STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Skanska is to lease 3,300 square meters of office space to Malmö University at Universitetsholmen in central Malmö. The lease implies that Skanska will now again start up the office project Bassängkajen. The office property will be seven floors high with an underground garage and will include a total of 16,000 square meters of leasable space in two phases. Skanska's investment in the first phase of 8,500 square meters amounts to approximately SEK 240 M and is scheduled for completion in summer 2011. Bassängkajen will be a modern office building with a distinct environmental profile. The property will comply with requirements for the EU GreenBuilding labeling, which means that the building's energy consumption will be at least 25 percent lower than the standard requirements for new buildings stipulated by the Swedish Board of Housing. It will also be one of the first properties in Malmö to be certified according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, which Skanska will be introducing in all its new properties in the Nordic region and Central Europe.
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National Pest Management Association Separates Pest Myths from Pest Facts

June 22, 2009

NPMA examines "common wisdom" and real risks as summer pest season begins in earnest FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As summer pests are a natural part of the outdoors and typically viewed simply as a nuisance, many believe that they have a full understanding of the risks associated with such. Yet, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) warns that there are a multitude of myths about summer insects that homeowners subscribe to – most of which wrongly minimize the threats of stinging insects, mosquitoes and ants. Consider the myth of stinging insects, which many believe must be physically provoked to attack and sting. However, stinging insects, especially wasps, do not have to be physically touched/provoked to attack and sting. Rather, these pests must only feel that they or their colony is threatened, which can simply happen when a human gets too close. Stinging insects send over half million visitors to hospital emergency rooms every year. Another prominent pest myth is that mosquitoes are only active at dawn and at dusk. Although most active then, mosquito activity is not limited to these times of day. Mosquitoes feed on blood, which means that they will be seeking out meals whenever they prepare for reproduction. Although known for causing itchy, red welts, today, mosquitoes pose a much different threat due to their ability to transmit West Nile virus.
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National Semiconductor and West Holdings Collaborate to Promote SolarMagic Power Optimizers in Japan

June 22, 2009

- National Starts Sales of SolarMagic Power Optimizers in Japan through National's First Japanese PV Partner TOKYO, June 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM) , of Santa Clara, Calif. (USA), and West Holdings, Japan's leading company in environment-compatible home remodeling and improvement businesses such as photovoltaic (PV) systems, all-electric home appliances and house insulation services, today said that the two companies have signed an agreement to promote and sell National Semiconductor's SolarMagic(TM) power optimizers in the Japanese market. This announcement makes West Holdings the first Japanese PV business partner for National. West Holdings today said House Care, one of its group companies, began selling SolarMagic power optimizers on June 22 by providing its customers with residential PV systems combined with SolarMagic. SolarMagic power optimizers are already available in the world's important PV markets including Europe and North America.
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California Regulators Approve Southern California Edison Proposal to Create Nation's Largest Solar Panel Installation Program

June 19, 2009

ROSEMEAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A plan proposed by Southern California Edison (SCE) for the largest U.S. installation of advanced solar panels on otherwise unused large commercial rooftops across Southern California was approved today by the California Public Utilities Commission. During the next five years SCE will install, own and operate 250 megawatts of solar generating capacity. The utility also will conduct competitive solicitations offering long-term power contracts to independent solar power providers who will install an additional 250 megawatts, bringing to 500 megawatts the total generating capacity of the project — the largest photovoltaic program ever undertaken. "This innovative solar rooftop project is part of Edison International's 25-year commitment to developing cleaner renewable and alternative energy sources for our customers," said Theodore F. Craver, Jr., Edison International chairman and CEO. "The program will create hundreds of neighborhood solar power plants, strengthen local grid reliability and produce hundreds of new green jobs to bolster Southern California's economic recovery." During the fall of 2008, SCE completed the first of what eventually will be about 150 sites making up this program, a 600,000-square-foot Fontana, Calif. distribution warehouse roof. The rooftop now holds 33,700 advanced thin-film solar panels with a generating capacity of 2.4 megawatts of direct current power, known as DC power — the largest single rooftop solar photovoltaic array in the nation. SCE already has begun construction of its second installation atop a 458,000-square-foot industrial building in Chino, Calif. First Solar of Tempe, Ariz. was the winning bidder to supply panels for these first two installations.
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GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Encourages Congress to Support Development of Recycling Technology to Turn Used Nuclear Fuel into an Asset

June 19, 2009

As U.S. Evaluates Used Fuel Strategy, GEH Details Benefits of Proposed Advanced Recycling Center WILMINGTON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the White House and U.S. Congress create a new national strategy for managing used nuclear fuel, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is encouraging lawmakers to support the research and development necessary for recycling nuclear fuel. Testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives' Science & Technology Committee on Wednesday, Lisa Price, a GEH senior vice president, briefed lawmakers on GEH's proposed Advanced Recycling Center (ARC). The concept offers a timely solution to the industry's most significant public policy and environmental challenges by turning used nuclear fuel into an asset. "The nation faces a choice today: We can continue down the same path we have been on for the last 30 years, or we can lead a transformation to a new, safer and more secure approach to nuclear energy," said Price, GEH Senior Vice President for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle and CEO of Global Nuclear Fuel LLC. "We need an approach that brings the benefits of nuclear energy to the world while reducing concerns about nuclear waste." As the only nuclear reactor vendor that is majority-owned by a U.S. company, GEH is offering the ARC, which would put U.S. technology to work to improve economic prosperity through job creation, enhance national security, help curb greenhouse gas emissions and provide a unique opportunity to regain the historical U.S. leadership position in nuclear science and technology. The ARC—comprised of a "PRISM" sodium-cooled reactor, combined with an electrometallurgical or dry nuclear fuel recycling facility—is being evaluated by the U.S. Department of Energy and Congress as the government considers a new long-term strategy for used nuclear fuel.
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Lutron Electronics and Exceptional Innovation Announce Breakthrough Hospitality Technology Partnership

June 19, 2009

New Industry Alliance Delivers Seamless Integration of Guestroom Technology, Hotel Amenities, and Hotel Network Infrastructure COOPERSBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., and Exceptional Innovation announce a breakthrough partnership that will transform the way hotels create and maintain a unique guest experience. Combining innovative Lutron technology and market expertise with groundbreaking interface and integration software created by Exceptional Innovation, the two companies will be showcasing the Lutron Hospitality Solution at HITEC 2009, booth 278, at the Anaheim Convention Center. This powerful new solution merges all guestroom technology into one integrated system, offering hotel guests pushbutton control of lighting, window treatments, HVAC, and more through an easy-to-use, personalized interface. The Lutron Hospitality Solution also directly connects guests to every service and profit center in the hotel, so they can instantly make restaurant reservations, book spa appointments, contact the concierge, even reserve tee times—all through the same intuitive interface. Plus, the solution brings guests the latest information regarding the surrounding community—including shopping, entertainment, and transportation—further expanding revenue opportunities for the property. In addition, the solution integrates with the building’s systems, allowing for data sharing across the hotel’s backend, resulting in an efficient, seamless experience for guests and property staff alike. By providing higher guest contact with the hotel property at a lower cost, the Lutron Hospitality Solution is a high-value revenue opportunity that results in a lower total cost of ownership for the hotel. And, because the solution integrates resort systems and services as well as most brands of lighting, HVAC, and access control, hotels are able to deliver an unforgettable, full-featured guest experience.
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PGE’s Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Expanding Daily

June 19, 2009

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Portland General Electric Company (PGE) (NYSE:POR) announced today that the first turbines erected for phase two of its Biglow Canyon Wind Farm have begun generating electricity and supplying power on the Pacific Northwest’s electricity grid. “This major capital investment is moving forward on time and on budget,” said Jim Piro, PGE president and CEO. “Our customers place a high priority on renewable power, and Biglow Canyon is an important step toward helping PGE meet Oregon’s Renewable Energy Standard.” Phase one of Biglow Canyon was completed in 2007, with 76 turbines and an installed capacity of 125 megawatts of electricity. Trucks laden with wind-turbine parts for this second phase began rolling into Biglow in mid-April. A total of 65 new turbines are scheduled for completion this spring and summer — with about 10 truckloads of parts delivered per wind turbine. Twelve turbines are currently generating power. Each of the new turbines will be capable of generating up to 2.3 megawatts, bringing Biglow Canyon’s combined installed capacity to nearly 275 megawatts by the end of 2009. A third phase with another 76 turbines is slated for commercial operation in 2010, which will bring the wind farm to a combined installed capacity of 450 megawatts. Given the variability of wind power, the plant is expected to produce an average of around 150 megawatts – enough to power the homes of about 125,000 average PGE residential customers. The Biglow Canyon Wind Farm is located near Wasco in Sherman County, Ore. It is PGE’s newest renewable energy project. When complete, it is expected to be one of the largest wind power facilities in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to providing carbon-free and emissions-free generation of electric power, the wind farm is also creating jobs, providing income for local businesses, generating tax revenues for local government, and providing easement payments to landowners.
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Alexan CityView, Largest LEED for Homes Multifamily Community in the Country Officially Opens

June 18, 2009

NJ BPU and USBCG Executives Take Guided Tour BAYONNE, N.J., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The 544-unit Alexan CityView, the largest LEED for Homes multifamily community in the country, is officially open with the recent move-in of the first residents of the luxury rental community, according to Richard Murphy, managing director of Trammel Crow Residential (TCR), developer of the property. Alexan CityView, offering studio to three bedroom units, is situated on 297 acres on the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor at 302 Constitution Ave. Today, Murphy conducted a guided tour of Alexan CityView, including the 10,000-square-foot clubhouse as well as model apartments, for Jeanne M. Fox, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU) and Nate Kredich, vice president, residential market development, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
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Blue Is the New Green: Four Ways to Make Your Pool More Eco-Friendly This Summer

June 18, 2009

CARLSBAD, Calif., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking to make waves this summer by transforming your pool into a lean, green, energy-saving machine? According to Randy Mendioroz, principal of Aquatic Design Group (ADG), annual operating costs for an outdoor pool can cost thousands with natural gas (71% of total cost), electricity (14%), pool chemicals (10%), and water (5%). Following are four ways to "green up" pool operations from ADG, a nationally renowned pool and aquatic design and consulting firm.
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Custom-Bilt Metals Shines with FusionSolar(TM) More Affordable Solar Power System

June 18, 2009

Simplicity of turn-key system lowers cost of installation, delivers a better solar power solution, and wins the "Cool Products" award at PCBC 2009. SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Custom-Bilt Metals, a company with a long history of environmental leadership through product innovation, launches its new FusionSolar(TM) system, a more-affordable, turn-key rooftop solar power system. When builders, contractors and homeowners specify FusionSolar with a standing seam roof, they get a complete system, including all necessary components, detailed schematics and specifications for wiring and electrical components that an electrical subcontractor needs for installation. Since no specialized solar installer expertise is required, sheet metal and roofing professionals are able to install the standing seam roof just as they would a standard metal roof. "By focusing on two core principles, simplicity and a lower cost of installation, we're delivering a better solar power system," said Tony Chiovare, president of Custom-Bilt Metals. "Additionally we are providing builders, contractors and their prospective customers with an ROI report to help them determine their payback period and to understand how much of their total power consumption they stand to offset by generating clean, renewable and dependable solar power." Custom-Bilt Metals has consistently led the market in metal roofing materials by delivering environmentally sustainable metal roofing products through "cool roof" innovation. The new and innovative solar system is an effective roofing solution for virtually any roofing project, new building or replacement roof. The company is also pleased to have the FusionSolar system awarded the PCBC 2009 "Cool Product" designation in the energy saver category.
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Federal Court Consolidates Chinese Drywall Cases

June 18, 2009

Pre Trial Conference Set for July 9, 2009 MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On May 27, 2009, the Multi District Litigation (MDL) Panel heard argument for consolidating thousands of Chinese Drywall lawsuits throughout the United States. In an order that was entered on June 15, 2009, the MDL selected the Eastern District of Louisiana Federal United States District Court. The MDL Panel selected experienced trial Judge Eldon E. Fallon to oversee the cases. A pre trial conference has been set for July 9, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Judge Fallon's courtroom, Room C-468, United States Courthouse, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. 100,000 cases from across the nation are expected to be consolidated for pretrial matters and discovery in the dry wall litigation that has impacted homeowners throughout the country. Florida is expected to have 35,000 cases filed within the next year regarding this problem. "This is the largest construction defect case in the history of the United States and consumers need help now," said Ervin A. Gonzalez, one of Florida's leading lawyers that have been representing hundreds of homeowners with dry wall problems. "By consolidating the cases, the Court will allow for the more efficient and effective handling of these claims. Ultimately it should reduce the expense involved in litigating the cases and should promote global resolutions of these claims." The Court will likely select an Executive committee for the Plaintiffs and Defendants to run the litigation on behalf of all interested parties and soon after require a joint case management plan to be submitted that outlines the parties' pleading and practice schedule as well as the proposed discovery schedule. Given that many of the Defendants are from foreign countries like China and Germany and were served under The Hague Convention requirements, the Court may attempt to simplify and streamline the service and notice requirements on the foreign corporate parties in order to keep the cost of litigation down and to speed up the process.
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Pivot, Pivot: Indiana Company Margco International Wins National Retailer Choice Award for 'Green Toad' Pivoting Paint Brush System

June 18, 2009

Award Given by Hardware Retailing's Panel of Home Improvement Retailers National Hardware Show 2009 LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Margco International LLC – an Indiana company that makes the 'Green Toad' Pivoting Paint Brush System – won the Retailers' Choice Award at the 2009 National Hardware Show in Las Vegas for their 'Green Toad' Pivoting Paint Brush System. The award is given by Hardware Retailing magazine's panel of home improvement retailers to manufacturers for their innovative and outstanding products. For more than 35 years, Hardware Retailing magazine has been conducting its Retailers' Choice Awards in conjunction with the National Retail Hardware Association (NRHA). Each year, Hardware Retailing assembles a panel of progressive hardware, home center and lumberyard operators and asks them to scour the floor at the National Hardware Show with one mission – find new and unique products that they feel hold sales potential for their stores. The result of this search yields only 25-30 dynamic new products which earn the distinction as a Retailers' Choice Award winner.
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AECOM Joint Venture Wins US$82-Million Design Contract for Hong Kong High-Speed Rail Terminus

June 17, 2009

Design-services project is the world's largest underground facility of its kind LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AECOM Technology Corporation (NYSE: ACM), a leading provider of professional technical and management support services for government and commercial clients around the world, announced today that a joint venture of which it is a part has been awarded a design-services contract worth US$82 million for the Mass Transit Railway Corporation Limited's Hong Kong High-Speed Rail Terminus project, which will connect to the high-speed rail network in Mainland China. The multi-level terminus, which will be the largest underground facility of its kind, will have a footprint of more than 25 acres with a topside commercial development north of the proposed West Kowloon Cultural District – between the existing Airport Railway Kowloon Station and the West Rail Austin Station. "AECOM is proud to play a key role in the design of this important high-speed rail infrastructure project," said John M. Dionisio, AECOM president and chief executive officer. "The terminus will provide the strategic linkage from Hong Kong to the comprehensive high-speed rail network in Mainland China."
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Energy Opportunities in a Changing Economy: Powerful Business Conference to Provide Practical Energy Solutions for Local Business Interests

June 17, 2009

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Puget Sound Energy: What: The Powerful Business Conference, Energy Opportunities in a Changing Economy, a popular bi-annual one-day energy conference is coming to the Bellevue Meydenbauer Center on June 17, 2009. Presented by the Electric League of the Pacific Northwest, BetterBricks and three local utility companies -- Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light and Snohomish PUD -- the conference will provide practical energy solutions for business owners, facility professionals and the professional consultants who support them. KC Golden, policy director for Climate Solutions, will present the keynote speech during lunch. Presentations throughout the day will highlight proven strategies to improve energy performance and sustain operational cost savings. An exhibit reception will close the day's activities. Four concurrent presentation tracks will feature practical strategies to improve business energy performance and how to sustain those operational cost savings over time. Session descriptions are available at www.electricleague.net. This year's tracks will focus on: * Business Case for Energy Efficiency * Proven Building Technologies * Facility Optimization * Building Design and Construction Registration information and schedule are both available online. Advanced registration is required by June 11, by calling the Electric League at 425-646-4727 or by visiting www.electricleague.net. Registration fee is $125. When: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
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Santiago Calatrava to Design Cornerstone for University of South Florida Polytechnic's New Campus

June 17, 2009

World-Renowned Architect Calatrava to Make Mark on Florida with His First U.S. Higher Ed Building LAKELAND, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The University of South Florida Polytechnic (USFP) has commissioned the acclaimed architectural firm Santiago Calatrava/Festina Lente Services (FL), Inc. to design the first building for the school's new campus in Lakeland, Fla., and update the campus master plan, University of South Florida President Dr. Judy Genshaft announced today. Santiago Calatrava will design the 100,000 net square foot USFP Science & Technology building, which will sit on the northernmost corner of the campus at the intersection of Interstate 4 (I-4) and the Polk Parkway. The Science & Technology building will be the cornerstone of the new campus, and will establish the design scheme for all buildings within phase I of the campus master plan. Groundbreaking is expected late this year, with a scheduled opening in late summer 2012. Calatrava is best known for his celebrated designs of bridges, transportation centers and cultural institutes throughout the world. The USF Polytechnic facility will be his first design in the southeastern U.S.
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Vegetated Roof Systems from Cell-Tek Geosynthetics Grow Green and Save Green

June 17, 2009

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Roofs are now going green and taking our nation by storm. Many building owners and homeowners are replacing standard roof shingles with Cell-Tek's stabilizer grid and vegetation in order to reduce their carbon footprint and enjoy significant savings in their heating and cooling bills. Vegetated green roofs offer many earth conscious advantages. A roof is considered "green" when covered with soil and vegetation. Although the concept of green roofs has been around for centuries, they're growing in their popularity in our green world. Consider its advantages – energy reduction, reduced storm water runoff, reduced heat island effect, increased habitat area, extended roof life and let's not forget its sheer beauty. A standard dark colored roof’s temperature is about 175°F compared to a living roof where the temperature reduces to a mere 95°F. This drastic reduction in the roof temperature can ultimately reduce heating costs up to 25% and cooling costs up to 50%.
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Ceremony at Passavant Area Hospital to Launch Efficiency Improvements

June 16, 2009

- Study Finds Upgrades Will Save Money and Improve Standard of Care - JACKSONVILLE, Ill., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Passavant Area Hospital will soon undertake $2.3 million in infrastructure improvements to address aging infrastructure and high energy and operating costs. The improvements, which will be completed in February 2010, are estimated to save more than $313,000 annually, which would pay for the project in 6.5 years. A formal audit conducted by the hospital also found that the improvements will positively impact the environment of care for patients and staff while decreasing power consumption by 19 percent. The hospital will formally launch the infrastructure improvement project with a ceremony and reception on Thursday, June 18 at 1:30 p.m. in the main lobby of Passavant Area Hospital, 1600 West Walnut in Jacksonville, Ill.
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Digital Realty Trust, Inc. Earns LEED-CI Gold Certification for Datacenter in California

June 16, 2009

Digital Realty Trust Facility Utilizes Airside Economization to Increase Datacenter Energy Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability SAN FRANCISCO, June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) , the world's largest wholesale datacenter provider, has earned LEED-CI Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its 1500 Space Park facility in Santa Clara, California. The datacenter is the first building in Santa Clara to earn a LEED Gold certification. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System(TM) is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED(R) for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) is the USGBC's certification program for high-performance green interiors.
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ECO by Cosentino(TM) Achieves Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification and Is Recognized for Contributing to LEED Certification

June 16, 2009

Revolutionary New Eco-Friendly Surfacing Material Sets New Standards for Sustainable Design NEW YORK, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading the movement towards sustainable surfacing materials, ECO(TM) by Cosentino (www.ecobycosentino.com) announces it has been awarded silver level Cradle to Cradle Certification and has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council for contributing towards five to nine credits in the LEED certification system. ECO(TM) by Cosentino is an innovative new line of eco-friendly countertop and surfacing material composed of 75% recycled material. Cosentino is one of the largest stone importers and the world leader in quartz surfacing, most widely known for the brand Silestone(R). The launch of ECO(TM) by Cosentino in April set a new standard for the kitchen and bath industry in sustainable and socially conscious design. "To achieve this level of sustainability with the launch of our first eco-friendly brand is a major milestone in our company's history, the future of our business and the industry as a whole," said Roberto Contreras, Jr., President of Cosentino North America. "Our goal now is to educate our distribution partners, the green building industry and consumers about the importance of using sustainable surfacing materials," he added.
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International crane buyers bid at Ritchie Bros. Edmonton and Houston auctions

June 16, 2009

More than 110 cranes sold at unreserved Ritchie Bros. auctions during week VANCOUVER, June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, sold more than 110 cranes and millions of dollars of other heavy equipment and trucks at its unreserved public auctions last week, including a CA$58 million (US$52 million) auction in Edmonton, Alberta (June 10 & 11, 2009) and a US$41 million auction in Houston, Texas (June 10 - 12). EDMONTON, ALBERTA - More than 4,700 people from 18 countries registered to bid on-site and online at the unreserved auction conducted by Ritchie Bros. at its permanent auction site in Edmonton, Alberta on June 10 & 11, 2009. The auction included more than 4,100 heavy equipment items and trucks and generated gross auction proceeds in excess of CA$58 million (almost US$52 million). Among the items sold: 33 hydraulic truck, crawler, rough terrain and other cranes, including two 2002 Liebherr 200-ton crawler cranes that sold for CA$800,000 (US$715,000) each.
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New World Home Achieves Two Historic Green Milestones

June 16, 2009

- First LEED Platinum Factory-Built Home in Georgia - First LEED Platinum Home of Any Type in Georgia Designed Without Need for Renewable Energy Sources ATLANTA, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- New World Home has been awarded LEED(R) for Homes Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for outstanding achievement in green homebuilding, representing the first factory-built home in the state of Georgia to earn this designation. In addition, the New World Home project is the first home of any type in Georgia to earn the prestigious Platinum rating without the need for any costly renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines or geothermal systems. The New World Home project, located in East Cobb County, also earned EarthCraft Gold certification as well as National Green Building Certification Gold, which is administered by the NAHB Research Center. "This home brings green living to its highest level," says Mark Jupiter, co-founder and President of the Product Division for New World Home. "It also reflects our mission to provide traditional-style houses that incorporate a 'whole systems' design approach that results in a minimum 50 percent energy savings annually, reduces water consumption by thousands of gallons a year, provides a non-toxic indoor environment for the occupants and will save homeowners thousands of dollars a year in maintenance costs starting from day one."
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STRATEGECO SOLAR ENEOVIA: China: 1st Professional International Solar Energy Fair in Chengdu, Capital of Central China

June 16, 2009

An exceptional opportunity for Western companies to position themselves on the Chinese market Solar Energy Fair New Energy int'I PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Municipal People's Government of Chengdu (Province of Sichuan) has commissioned the French group STRATEGECO SOLAR ENEOVIA to hold the Solar Energy Fair from September 4 through 6, 2009 and the New Energy int'I Forum from September 4 through 5, 2009. The main sponsors are the Chinese Association of Renewable Energies, the United Nations Development Program, the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association, the German Development Office and major manufacturers. As part of the 11th five-year plan (2007–2011) and China's stimulus plan announced during the 1st quarter of 2009, the Chinese Central Government will invest 400 billion dollars in renewable energies, mainly in photovoltaic and solar thermal energy, over the next ten years. China has chosen to focus on the Province of Sichuan in terms of investment and energy infrastructure. The region contains almost 70% of the country's silicon.
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Solar Power, Inc. Enters Into 2-Megawatt Product Supply Agreement with German Installer of Residential and Commercial Solar Systems

June 16, 2009

Bayer and Raach to Purchase Solar Power, Inc.'s Modules and SkyMountTM Commercial Rooftop Systems ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Power, Inc. ("SPI") (OTCBB: SOPW) announced today that it has executed a supply agreement with Bayer and Raach, a German solar installation company serving the residential and commercial market segments throughout Germany and Southern Europe. The two-megawatt agreement calls for SPI to provide one megawatt of SPI's 200-watt modules and one megawatt of modules with SPI's proprietary SkyMountTM commercial mounting system. SkyMountTM is designed for minimal or non-penetrating commercial rooftop applications. "We look forward to providing the Bayer and Raach team with our products. They have built a superb reputation on the quality of their installations throughout their market area. We are very pleased to have our products become an integral part of the systems they are building," said Bradley Ferrell, President of SPI's Commercial Sales Division. "This supply agreement further extends our penetration into the European market and adds incremental reach into the German market, which is currently one of the most significant markets for solar anywhere," Mr. Ferrell concluded.
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WILLIAM A. BERRY & SON ANNOUNCES PAPERLESS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT RESULTS

June 16, 2009

Bluebeam PDF Revu used to eliminate 42,000 pages of paper and 1,557 lbs of CO2 Danvers, MA and Pasadena, CA (June 16, 2009) – Today, construction management firm William A. Berry & Son, Inc. (Berry) announced impressive results in its quest for a paperless project. Using Bluebeam PDF Revu, Berry, project architect Perkins+Will and all sub-contractors electronically redlined over 42,000 pages of construction documents in PDF – making the project almost completely paperless. By reviewing these documents electronically, the team reduced the project's carbon footprint by 1,557 lbs of CO2. Based on this exceptional achievement in sustainable communication, Berry is applying for a LEED Innovation & Design Credit from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Berry achieved this milestone by deploying Bluebeam PDF Revu, a PDF creation, markup and editing solution, to the entire project team working on the Overlook Center. Berry managed the core and shell construction, and is currently managing the fit out of this 100,000 square foot building in Waltham, MA. Developed by Bluebeam Software, Revu was selected due to its specialized features for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals. Unlike other redlining tools, Bluebeam PDF Revu includes industry standard markups and takeoffs, an exclusive Tool Chest for storing custom annotations, a drawing comparison feature, integrated tracking and tablet PC compatibility. Combined, these features enabled all project documents – submittals, RFIs, punch lists and more – to be reviewed and redlined in a light-weight, universal file format. "Bluebeam was instrumental in helping us review and respond to project documents electronically," said Jay Bradley, Project Manager at Perkins+Will. "We found that Bluebeam was an essential part of streamlining and simplifying the construction administration process. The inherent simplicity of utilizing Bluebeam technology was key in helping achieve a cost effective, time sensitive, and sustainable solution to our daily work output." To ensure project-wide adoption, Berry and Bluebeam collaborated to train its staff, the Perkins+Will architectural team and sub-contractors on best practices for PDF markup and editing. As a result, Berry created a blueprint for paperless workflows that is being replicated on all of its future projects. "Bluebeam PDF Revu helped us transform the way we manage project communication and its unique tools for AEC allowed us to design an electronic workflow that is scalable," said Jake Chace, Senior Project Manager at William A. Berry & Son. "We're already using this process on current green building projects to eliminate paper usage and distribution, and hope that the example we've set will be recognized by the USGBC." "The paperless project has been the holy grail of the construction industry," said Richard Lee, CEO of Bluebeam Software. "Berry has proven that it is possible to go virtually paperless and engineer an electronic workflow that can be duplicated using Bluebeam technology. By recognizing paperless workflows in the LEED standard, the USGBC can incentivize green builders to follow Berry's lead in process sustainability, and affect real and significant change industry wide. Using Berry's results as an example, we estimate that the USGBC would be responsible for the reduction of over 25 million tons of CO2 emissions annually." Berry has submitted a LEED Silver application for the Overlook project and is currently awaiting notification from the USGBC. About William A. Berry & Son, Inc. Founded in 1857, William A. Berry & Son, Inc. is one of the nation's oldest construction companies. A top-ranked construction management firm by such leading publications as ENR, Building Design & Construction and Modern Healthcare, Berry has an extraordinary portfolio of institutional and corporate construction projects throughout the Northeast. About Perkins+Will Since 1935, Perkins+Will has collaborated with globally recognized clients to set worldwide standards for design innovation and exceptional service. Our practice spans Corporate + Commercial + Civic, Aviation, Healthcare, Higher Education, K-12 Education, and Science + Technology. With more LEED-Accredited Professionals than any other firm in North America, Perkins+Will is recognized as the preeminent sustainable design firm in the country. Our areas of expertise include architecture, interior design, branded environments, planning + strategies, and urban design. Perkins+Will routinely ranks among the world’s top design firms and has received hundreds of awards, including the prestigious American Institute of Architects' "Firm of the Year Award." About Bluebeam Software, Inc. Bluebeam Software invents, develops, and commercializes PDF software intelligently designed to meet the needs of design, engineering and business professionals. As the trusted standard in PDF technology for architects, engineers, and construction, Bluebeam produces high quality, easy to use products that allow project teams to improve communication and collaboration immediately with virtually no learning curve. For more information about the company, latest news, and purchasing information, visit Bluebeam Software at www.bluebeam.com.
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Zwahlen's Ice Cream & Chocolate Co. Goes Green With SRS Energy's Sole Power Tile(TM) System

June 16, 2009

- Family-Owned Shop is First Commercial Installation of New Solar Roofing Tile - PHILADELPHIA, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- SRS Energy, a leading developer of sustainable solar roofing products, has installed the Sole Power Tile(TM) system, the first building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing product designed for curved roofing systems, at Zwahlen's Ice Cream & Chocolate Co., a beloved family-owned and -operated ice cream parlor in Audubon, Pa. Zwahlen's new solar roofing is the first commercial installation of the Sole Power Tile(TM) system for Philadelphia-based SRS Energy. "The installation is a great example of how time-tested traditions and cutting-edge technology can meet to create something beautiful," said Marty Low, CEO of SRS Energy and owner of Zwahlen's. "The entire family at Zwahlen's is honored and excited to harness clean, sustainable solar energy to produce and serve our ice cream and chocolates."
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20 High-tech Programs Go Online As NYU-ePoly Launches This Fall

June 15, 2009

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than doubling its online high-tech graduate degrees this fall, Polytechnic Institute of New York University will add 8 new programs to the 7 currently online in its newly launched e-learning unit, NYU-ePoly (www.poly.edu/epoly). With new executive programs offered by Poly's Enterprise Learning (www.poly.edu/enterprise) in sustainability, clean energy, technical communications, and technical leadership, altogether 20 online programs will be delivered this fall. Stepping up virtual classes dramatically, NYU-ePoly will offer new online master's degrees in computer engineering, cyber security, wireless innovation, manufacturing and industrial engineering. New online graduate certificates in bioinformatics, power systems, and computer engineering are also being added. Online master's in bioinformatics, electrical engineering, telecommunications, and organizational behavior will continue this fall. "Students all over the world are eager to enter exciting growth fields," remarked NYU-Poly's Provost Dianne Rekow, "They will now have access to in-demand and on-demand management, technology, and engineering programs taught online by our talented faculty."
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Lend Lease Collaborates With First Solar to Provide Solar Energy Solutions Across Its Australian Portfolio

June 15, 2009

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Building on its leadership position in the delivery of sustainable property solutions, Lend Lease today announced a supply agreement with First Solar, Inc.,(Nasdaq:FSLR) one of the world’s leading solar technology providers. Lend Lease's project management and construction business, Bovis Lend Lease, has signed a contract with First Solar for the supply of 10 megawatts (MW) of solar panels. Lend Lease is looking to leverage this relationship across its Australian construction business, as well as its existing development portfolio. Tony Costantino, Bovis Lend Lease's Australian CEO, said this relationship is a significant step forward in the provision of solar technology not only for Lend Lease but also Australia. "We are pleased to be working with First Solar, one of the leading solar companies, and to be entering the solar procurement market. This relationship allows us to meet the growing demands in renewable energy for our clients and ensures that solar energy is a consideration on every project. We look forward to working together on future opportunities." Solar energy is the most readily available form of renewable energy in Australia and First Solar's innovative technology provides access to this abundant resource via the most cost-effective form of photovoltaic (PV) technology available in today's market.
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Acoustiblok, Inc. Combines Sound Abatement and Insulation Materials at Broward County Waste to Energy Plant to Reduce Industrial Noise Pollution

June 15, 2009

TAMPA, Fla., June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Public awareness of the health risks of industry-related noise pollution has never been higher. Industrial plants worldwide are incorporating serious sound abatement strategies into their infrastructure to protect employees and visitors from hearing loss and other medical issues raised by industrial noise pollution. When supervisors at the South Broward Waste to Energy (WTE) plant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida were faced with a 30-day project to overhaul the plant's turbine, it was determined that the plant's steam bypass system would take over the turbine's waste management responsibilities 24-hours a day for one full month. The problem with such a transition was the unbearable blare of the bypass system, which channels 900 psi of compressed steam through a 14-inch line and into a 7-foot diameter pipe at a noise level of 126 dB - somewhere between the sounds of an adjacent pneumatic riveter and a jet engine launch. The noise was so deafening that even with earplugs, employees and visiting contractors could not spend more than brief periods of time in the vicinity without risking hearing damage. Verbal communication was impossible, even if they shouted, while working on or around the system.
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Angry International Investors Demand Investigation in $630 Million Dubai Real Estate Scandal

June 15, 2009

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A major real estate scandal is unfolding in Dubai as 500 angry unit buyers and investors in the $630 million Ebony Ivory Towers project demand a full government investigation of developer Al Fajer Properties and its agent Dynasty Zarooni Inc., according to Ebony Ivory Investors Group." Misleading advertisements and press releases, overselling of non existing space and the missing down payments are among the buyers' documented complaints, according to Moses Oye, a British investor and spokesperson for the Al Fajer Properties Investors Group having investors from US, UK, Russia, Iran, India, Canada & Pakistan. "We are calling on Dubai's Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and the Dubai Ruler's Court to investigate the developer, cancel the Ebony Ivory project and compel a refund of our $140 million in down payments," said Oye. Oye cited a series of fake construction photographs that ran in a local newspaper in July 2008 with Al Fajer Properties logo. The photos showed a structure rising six floors above ground with the following caption: "Shot on location on 10th June 2008, Ebony Ivory, Jumeirah Lakes Towers." In reality, the photos were taken at another Al Fajer site and currently there is only a hole in the ground at the Ebony Ivory project, according to Oye. "Had we known that Al Fajer Properties was presenting false and misleading photographs, we would never have invested in the development," he said. "In fact, some investors have already filed criminal cases for misrepresentation with the Dubai Public Prosecutor."
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Ritchie Bros. to sell remaining 37 concrete pump trucks of Pumpco complete dispersal in Atlanta unreserved auction

June 15, 2009

Final opportunity for interested buyers to purchase from large inventory of concrete pump trucks ATLANTA, GA, June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, is conducting an unreserved public equipment auction at the Company's permanent auction site in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, June 18, 2009 starting at 8:00 a.m. The auction will feature close to 1,300 items of equipment including 37 concrete pump trucks and other concrete equipment. The concrete pump trucks being sold in the Atlanta auction are the last 37 concrete pump trucks in a fleet of more than 160 concrete pump trucks that were sold in Ritchie Bros. unreserved auctions from May to June 2009 in Forth Worth, Orlando, Nashville and Houston as part of a complete dispersal of the former assets of Pumpco Inc., a concrete pumping service company with operations throughout the Southern and Southeastern United States. "Buyers in the market for one of these concrete pump trucks should take advantage of the large inventory we'll have in our Atlanta unreserved auction and buy now," said Darrin Hogeboom, Regional Manager, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "It's a great opportunity to bid on a large grouping of concrete pump trucks all in one place at one time."
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Green Building Alliance Offices Receive LEED Platinum Rating, the Highest Possible

June 12, 2009

PITTSBURGH, June 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Green Building Alliance's (GBA) 3,850-square-foot office space in the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA, has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED(R)) Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Located in the historic River Walk Corporate Centre, GBA's offices were designed and constructed in 2008 as a model of resource and material efficiency, as well as a green building teaching tool and demonstration project. They serve as an example of how old industrial buildings can be converted into environmentally friendly spaces, and are the first project in Western Pennsylvania to receive USGBC's highest rating. GBA is also the first USGBC chapter or affiliate to achieve LEED certification for its offices.
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Solar Energy Initiatives Announces Supply Contract with Suntech America

June 12, 2009

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. (OTCBB:SNRY) today announced that it has reached an agreement with Suntech America where Suntech will serve as the sole supplier of solar electric generation equipment for a 1+ MW installation for a US mountain state municipality. Solar Energy Initiatives is executing on a grass roots campaign, "RENEW THE NATION", to help redeploy a portion of the U.S. workforce and focus on reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuels by selling solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) technologies. "We are extremely pleased to have chosen Suntech America to be the provider of solar panels for our first municipal contract," stated, Mr. David Fann, Chief Executive Officer of Solar Energy Initiatives. "This agreement validates Solar Energy Initiative's position within the rapidly growing solar energy market and our ability to attract the top panel providers in the world. We believe that President Obama's recent promise to earmark $467 million in stimulus funds exclusively for solar energy development coupled with our recent influx of contracts and newly formed relationships leave us well positioned to increase our market share in the solar energy industry."
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The Campo Band of Mission Indians of the Kumeyaay Nation, Invenergy and SDG&E to Develop Wind Energy Project on Tribal Land Native American

June 12, 2009

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Campo Band of Mission Indians of the Kumeyaay Nation, Invenergy and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today jointly announced a plan to build a wind energy project capable of generating up to 160 megawatts (MW) of renewable power. The three parties signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of a wind project on tribal land that could offset as much as 57.6 million pounds of carbon-dioxide emissions annually. The project will be the tribe's second wind generation facility, further establishing the Campo Band as a leading tribal developer of renewable energy in the country and the East County San Diego region as a national model for harnessing renewable resources. "Development of this project will expand the Campo tribe's leadership as the largest producer of clean, renewable wind energy on Indian lands in the United States," said Monique La Chappa, Campo Chairwoman. "We are excited to be working with Invenergy and San Diego Gas & Electric to bring this project to reality for the benefit of our tribal members and residents of San Diego County."
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City of Encinitas Civic Center Chooses CALMAC's IceBank(R) Energy Storage Tanks as Part of Energy Retrofit Project

June 11, 2009

Shifts HVAC Energy Demands from Day to Night, Reducing the Demand on the Grid FAIR LAWN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CALMAC, a leader in energy storage systems, announced its participation in an energy retrofit project at the City of Encinitas Civic Center that will reduce the center's utility bill by 74 percent. As part of the city's Energy Efficiency Improvements Project, CALMAC provided three IceBank(R) Energy Storage tanks to help the center towards their goal of reducing utility costs and energy consumption. By storing ice at night, when utility rates are far less expensive, CALMAC's IceBank allows the civic center to reduce cooling costs and minimize its effect on the energy grid by shifting energy demands from day to night. CALMAC's involvement in the project began when Xnergy, an engineering, construction and alternative energy leader, proposed the project to the city council and selected CALMAC to help provide cooling to the civic center. Apart from CALMAC's IceBank tanks, the project also includes alternative measures to reduce the civic center's energy use, including solar panels (photovoltaic), natural lighting and lighting controls. Facilitated by the CALMAC tanks, the civic center's greatest cost savings came from shifting the electrical demand from on-peak to off-peak periods.
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Green Building Services Forges Partnership with Comprehensive Design Institute in China

June 11, 2009

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At a formal signing ceremony today in Shanghai before a crowd of over 200 distinguished guests, Green Building Services Inc. (GBS) enters into a partnership agreement with the East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI). A state-owned large-scale design institute, ECADI is a professional provider for comprehensive design services including architectural design; structural and mechanical engineering; interior and landscape design; and urban planning. GBS will provide consulting services to support ECADI's sustainable design, research and training efforts throughout China and across the globe. "GBS is fully committed to ensuring the success of ECADI's vision and goals for sustainable development, and we are excited to be involved with such an amazing world-class organization," says Jay Coalson, president of GBS. China is already showing leadership in sustainable design and construction, as the country has more than 100 LEED-certified buildings. ECADI's highly acclaimed design expertise and company spirit of innovation ideally positions the institute to further these efforts. GBS is pleased to add its proven knowledge and progressive approaches to sustainable practices as evidenced by the firm's involvement in more than 130 LEED-certified projects, LEED faculty members and nationally recognized green building experts.
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Otis Elevator Company Recognized for Leadership in Environmental Sustainability

June 11, 2009

LEED(R) Gold awarded to Otis facility in China FARMINGTON, Conn., June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recognized Otis Elevator Company today for its leadership in environmental sustainability. Otis is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) . Located in China's Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), the Otis Elevator Company TEDA Center office building has achieved Gold-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. LEED is the USGBC's rating system for designing and constructing the world's greenest, most energy-efficient, and high performing buildings. LEED was established for market leaders to design and construct buildings that protect and save precious resources.
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Spencer's Crossing is the Nation's 1st Residential Development to Achieve Both a Certified Green Status With the GE Ecomagination Program and a Gold Level Status With the U.S.G.B.C. LEED for Homes Program

June 11, 2009

BALTIMORE, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- MICHAEL PHELPS ISN'T THE ONLY "Michael" IN BALTIMORE BRINGING HOME THE GOLD: Spencer's Crossing, developed by Michael Sabracos and BUILDERS One, achieves the nation's 1st Gold Level Project status with the U.S. Green Building Council LEED for Homes program, along with a Certified GREEN status in the homes inspired by GE's Ecomagination(SM) program. By turning the GREEN into GOLD, the homeowners at Spencer's Crossing can put more GREEN back in their pockets. A large group of green building advocates, representatives of GE Ecomagination and the U.S.G.B.C., and Baltimore County Officials celebrated the grand opening of Spencer's Crossing -- our nation's first residential development to achieve both a Gold LEED status (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and a Certified Green status with the GE Ecomagination program. Developed by Michael Sabracos and the local firm BUILDERS One, these new carriage homes are guaranteed to cut home heating and cooling costs by 53% compared to standard construction.
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9/11 World Trade Center Expert to Give 100th Talk in San Diego Area

June 10, 2009

SAN DIEGO, June 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2009, architect Richard Gage, AIA, will give his 100th talk on behalf of more than 640 architects and engineers who cite evidence of explosive demolition as the cause for collapse of the three World Trade Center buildings on 9/11. After careful examination of forensics data inconsistent with the official account, these professionals are calling for a new, independent investigation into the 9/11 atrocities. A practicing architect for more than 20 years, Gage is the founder of Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth (AE911Truth). Comprised of more than 3,600 petition-signers, members, architects and engineers, the organization contends at its Web site, AE911Truth.org, that the official FEMA and NIST reports provide insufficient evidence to explain the towers' destruction. AE911Truth points in particular to the destruction of the third high-rise, World Trade Center 7, which was not hit by an aircraft yet came down in less than seven seconds. The group bases its conclusions solely on forensic evidence and does not engage in conspiracy theories or in assigning blame for the destruction.
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A Gypsum Industry First as Two CertainTeed Products Receive GREENGUARD(R) Certification in Both the U.S. and Canada

June 10, 2009

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- CertainTeed Gypsum is pleased to announce its ProRoc(R) Moisture and Mold Resistant Gypsum Board with M2Tech(TM) and ProRoc(R) LITE Sand Setting Compounds recently achieved GREENGUARD(R) Indoor Air Quality Certified(R) and GREENGUARD Children & Schools SM Certification. The company is the first to offer GREENGUARD-certified finishing compound and moisture-resistant gypsum board in both the U.S. and Canada. "Achieving GREENGUARD certification reaffirms CertainTeed's commitment to manufacturing sustainable building products throughout North America," says Doug Gehring, director of marketing technical services for CertainTeed Gypsum. "Building professionals can be confident that the materials available through CertainTeed Gypsum meet the stringent indoor air quality certifications for both residential and commercial projects."
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Research and Markets: The Essential 2009 U.S. Offices of Real Estate Appraisers Industry Report is Now Available

June 10, 2009

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.researchandmarkets.com/research/12a5c9/2009_u_s_offices) has announced the addition of the "2009 U.S. Offices of Real Estate Appraisers Industry Report" report to their offering. The U.S. Offices of Real Estate Appraisers Industry report, published annually, contains timely and accurate industry statistics, forecasts and demographics. The report features 2009 current and 2010 forecast estimates on the size of the industry (sales, establishments, employment) nationally and for all 50 U.S. States and over 900 metro areas. The report also includes industry definition, 5-year historical trends on industry sales, establishments and employment, a breakdown of establishments, sales and employment by employee size of establishment (9 categories), and estimates on up to 10 sub-industries, including real estate appraisers.
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Texas' Largest Solar Project Completed at Pearl

June 10, 2009

CPS Energy and Pearl Partner on 200 Kilowatt Solar Array; Interactive Display Offers Real-Time Updates on Power Generation SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A 200-kilowatt solar power project, currently the largest in Texas, has been completed at the former Pearl Brewery redevelopment, partners CPS Energy and Pearl announced today. The project at the Full Goods Building at Pearl includes an interactive display offering information about solar energy with real-time updates on the amount of power produced and environmental equivalents in terms of pollutants avoided. Pearl solar display content is also available at http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/pearl.kiosk-view.com The $1.35 million solar installation was funded with $950,000 from Pearl and $400,000 from CPS Energy in a public/private partnership to test the viability of solar energy in a large, real-world commercial application, said Milton Lee, CPS Energy CEO. "This project gives us an opportunity to gather information right here in San Antonio's climate, real information about what this size solar array can do to offset the energy demands of a large building in our weather conditions, and that information will be very valuable moving forward," Lee said.
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Aerojet and Solar Power, Inc. Announce 3.5 Megawatt Solar Installation at Aerojet's Sacramento Site

June 09, 2009

Aerojet Project Will Be One of the Largest Industrial Installations in the U.S. ROSEVILLE, Calif. & SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE:GY) company, and Solar Power, Inc. ("SPI") (OTCBB:SOPW) announced jointly today that they have entered into an agreement to build a 3.5 megawatt solar system at Aerojet's Sacramento, California facility. The site is located within the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). This is the first solar system Aerojet has installed and it is a significant part of the company's environmental and sustainability initiatives. During its first year of use, the Aerojet system is expected to offset approximately 4,200 tons of carbon dioxide, 16.7 tons of sulfur dioxide and approximately 6.5 tons of nitrogen oxide that would have otherwise been produced using fossil fuel power production. The first-year net clean energy benefits equate to offsetting approximately 8,270,000 car miles driven or the clean air benefits realized from planting 976,520 trees. With a system life expectancy of 25 years, the cumulative life-cycle environmental offsets for a system of this scope are significant.
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Apartment Guide iPhone app Reaches over 230,000 Downloads

June 09, 2009

Apartment Industry's First iPhone App Recognized as Top 20, Free Utility App ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apartment Guide, a leading resource for apartment searches nationwide, today announced that its free iPhone application, which gives users the ability to search, view, call and e-mail apartment listings directly from their iPhone or iPod touch, has reached over 230,000 downloads. The initial launch, in October 2008, stood as an apartment industry first. Since that time, the Apartment Guide app has been listed as a top 20, free utility app and featured in one of Apple's iPhone television commercials. "The number of times our Apartment Guide iPhone app has been downloaded is indicative of people wanting to be able to search for a place to live anytime, anywhere," said Arlene Mayfield, president, Apartment Guide. "As the first in our industry to launch an apartment app, we will continue to meet consumer demand and push innovation in mobile. Further, with our newly enhanced version of the app, it's easier than ever for consumers to research available apartments and local communities and view property photos while on-the-go." In March 2009, Apartment Guide released an enhanced version of its iPhone app with better search logic and an additional 30,000 apartment listings across the U.S. It continually monitors consumer feedback to improve user experience and plans to issue a completely updated app in June 2009 to include features requested from our users such as advance search, mapping and sorting functionality.
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Philadelphia-Based SRS Energy to Introduce Sole Power Tile(TM) to Its Hometown at the PV America Convention

June 09, 2009

- SRS Energy Offers First Integrated Solar Roofing Tile for Curved Clay Roofs - PHILADELPHIA, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- SRS Energy, a leading developer of sustainable solar roofing products, will exhibit the Sole Power Tile(TM) system, the first building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing product designed for curved roofing systems, in its hometown of Philadelphia at the PV America convention. Presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association, the exhibition takes place June 8, 2009 through June 10, 2009 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. "The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania invited SRS Energy to be a part of its exhibition at PV America, and we couldn't be more honored to be recognized by government leaders as a contributor to the commonwealth's growing green economy," said Marty Low, CEO of SRS Energy. "We are very excited to share the Sole Power Tile(TM) system with our hometown, local contractors and the solar community at large." Headquartered in Center City Philadelphia, SRS Energy developed and manufactures the Sole Power Tile(TM) system, a curved solar roofing tile designed to integrate seamlessly with premium clay roof tiles offered by distribution partner US Tile, the largest clay tile manufacturer in the United States. Valley Forge-based CertainTeed, the country's third-largest roofing company, also acquired an equity stake in SRS Energy in 2008.
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Servidyne Helps Historic Office Tower Win LEED-EB(C)Gold

June 09, 2009

The Hurt Building becomes the first commercial facility in downtown Atlanta to receive the prestigious rating, proving its excellence in environmental sustainability ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SERVIDYNE, INC. (NASDAQ: SERV), a building performance efficiency and real estate company, announced today that its consulting engineers have successfully guided the historic Hurt Building in its achievement of a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (LEED(C)-EB: O&M) Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Hurt Building, an 18-story office building located in downtown Atlanta, is owned and managed by an affiliate of Harbor Group International (HGI). It is the first commercial building in downtown Atlanta to achieve the prestigious LEED-EB Gold Certification, a rare distinction that denotes a high-level of commitment to sustainable operations and maintenance of an existing facility. Servidyne was selected in 2008 to manage the building's certification process and ensure that the operations and maintenance practices would meet the stringent LEED-EB: O&M Gold Certification standards. In this role, Servidyne developed sustainability policies for the facility, including standards for exterior building management, green cleaning, waste management and sustainable purchasing practices.
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City of Seattle Drives Down Energy Costs with Verdiem

June 08, 2009

City Deploys Verdiem PC Power Management Software and Reduces Energy Costs by More Than 35 Percent SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of The City of Seattle's nationally recognized initiatives and leadership in addressing global warming, the City of Seattle and Verdiem, Inc. today announced the results of the City's deployment of Verdiem's SURVEYOR(TM) PC Power Management Software. Since implementing SURVEYOR's PC power management enforcement policies to more than eight thousand City PCs, the City of Seattle has reduced PC energy consumption by more than 35 percent. "The City of Seattle has set an ambitious agenda to address climate change and the results we are achieving with Seattle-based Verdiem in reducing the City's PC energy consumption demonstrate, in a very tangible way, how we can collectively save on energy costs and protect our planet," said Seattle's Mayor Nickels. Mayor Greg Nickels is nationally recognized for his leadership in setting an ambitious agenda for climate protection. On February 16, 2005, in conjunction with the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol – the international agreement to address climate disruption -- Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels launched the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to advance the goals of the Kyoto Protocol through leadership and action. Two years later, The U.S. Conference of Mayors launched the Mayors Climate Protection Center to administer and track the agreement and by November 1, 2007, there were more than 710 signatories to the Agreement. In 2008, Mayor Nickels also championed a resolution establishing city priorities in a federal cap-and-trade system that embraced 80 percent reductions of global warming pollution from 1990 levels by 2050 as the appropriate and necessary national goal, and urged the federal government to act quickly to enact cap-and-trade legislation.
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Charter Homes & Neighborhoods Will Create Pennsylvania's First TerraPark Natural Playground in Mechanicsburg's Walden Neighborhood

June 08, 2009

MECHANICSBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Charter Homes & Neighborhoods announced that it will create a 1.5-acre TerraPark(R) natural playground, in its Mechanicsburg (PA) Walden neighborhood, as part of the 9.5 acre Walden Woods. It is the first of its kind to be built as part of a new-home neighborhood and the first in Pennsylvania. It will open for play in September, 2009. Natural playgrounds are designed to provide opportunities for kids to climb trees, roll down hills, scramble up rocks, listen to the wind, track animals, make mud pies, dam-up water, hide in the grass, build forts and invent new games. Unlike manufactured playgrounds, kids actually play in these miniature natural landscapes, which look and feel as if they've been there forever. A TerraPark, exclusive to Charter Homes & Neighborhoods, is a natural playground that combines landscape elements, sun paths, weather patterns, drainage courses, plant groupings and other site features with natural materials, structures, and features to create safe, accessible, age-appropriate natural play areas. Walden Woods has been incorporated into the Walden plan since early on. It is the main focus of neighborhood activities and provides significant public, outdoor space, that enriches the lives of people who live in Walden.
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Nestle Waters North America Facility Earns U.S. Green Building Council's Gold Standard for Sustainability

June 08, 2009

Pennsylvania Facility Receives Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Certification; Becomes Company's Sixth LEED-Certified Facility BREINIGSVILLE, Pa., June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestle Waters North America's Nestle(R) Pure Life(R) water bottling facility in Breinigsville, Penn., today officially received the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(R) (LEED) Gold certification. This is the first food manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania to receive LEED Gold status.
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One Week Left to Largest Sale of Top Level Real Estate Dot Com Domains

June 08, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With less than a week left before auction, interest continues to rise for the highly anticipated auction of the world's largest collection of real estate listing domain names. J. P. King Auction Company, the nation's leading real estate auction marketing firm, will manage the sale of this once-in-an-internet-lifetime opportunity to own lucrative pieces of virtual real estate on June 11, 2009 in San Francisco at The Fairmont Hotel. Transfer services are provided by Moniker, one of the fastest growing providers of domain name registrations, domain asset management and monetization services. Internet developer, Craig Harrison from RealEstateNet LLC, strategically began acquiring a collection of more than 2,600 domain names 10 years ago, which is now set to pay dividends for a savvy real estate investor at auction. Imagine a domain portfolio investment of over 2,600 domains containing 2,300 USA cities, with a population of 35,000 plus. The portfolio also includes 100% of Nielsen Media market cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Houston, Boston, etc.
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Sixtron's SunBox Wins International Solar Technology Award at Intersolar 2009

June 08, 2009

Silane-Free Technology Honored as Key to Cost Improvement in Solar with Cell Award Intersolar 2009 MUNICH & MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--During a ceremony held at Intersolar 2009 in Munich, Germany, the Sixtron SunBox, an efficient silane-free system for applying anti-reflective coatings, was awarded the Cell Award for Best Process Technology in Crystalline Silicon Cell Manufacturing. The Cell Awards are judged by a consortium of the solar industry's leading companies and research organizations, including Q-Cells, Suntech Power and Fraunhofer ISE, and recognize products with the most potential to lower the cost of solar technology. "Our panel of judges from across the solar industry knows all too well how difficult it is to expand manufacturing operations when burdened with silane safety infrastructure and procedures," said David Owen, managing director of Photovoltaics International. "Sixtron's technology is alleviating this liability, and we believe it will become an important part of solar's journey toward grid parity." The SunBox is an on-site gas generation system that uses a solid polymer source material to safely and effectively deposit anti-reflective and passivation layers on crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells. The SunBox system is plug & play compatible with industry standard plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) equipment on both new and existing manufacturing lines.
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High-Speed Train Board Swears in New Members, Approves Oversight Contract and Examines Progress in Southern California

June 05, 2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At an agenda-packed monthly meeting, the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board recognized former state legislator Richard Katz and union business manager Russell Burns as two newly appointed members, and David Crane as returning member of the board, which is responsible for oversight of the development of the state's 800-mile high-speed train system. David Crane, 55, of San Francisco, was reappointed to the board by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Crane has served on the authority since 2007. He is a special advisor to the Governor for jobs and economic growth and is also a member of the California Economic Development Commission. Richard Katz, 58, of Sherman Oaks, was appointed to the Authority Board by Governor Schwarzenegger. Since 1997, he has served as a private economic consultant based in Los Angeles. He is Director of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and he served for 16 years in the state legislature beginning in 1980. Katz was a senior advisor to Governor Gray Davis for energy and water. Russ Burns, business manager of Operating Engineers Local 3, was appointed to the Authority Board by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass. He previously served on the Cal-OSHA Standards Board Subcommittee for Certification of Crane Operators. A third-generation operating engineer and Local 3 member, Burns started his career as a crane operator on a variety of high rises, bridges, refineries and large treatment plants throughout Northern California and Reno, NV.
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NeighborWorks America Salutes National Homeownership Month

June 05, 2009

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NeighborWorks(R) America today announced a series of consumer outreach efforts to support affordable, sustainable and healthy homes and neighborhoods during the 2009 National Homeownership Month. "For more than thirty years, NeighborWorks(R) America and its network of affiliates around the country have supported and encouraged affordable and sustainable homeownership," said Ken Wade CEO of NeighborWorks(R) America. "We're continuing those efforts and this month are launching increased marketing and social media efforts to put the right information in the hands of potential homeowners so that they achieve the American Dream of homeownership for the long-run."
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Ritchie Bros. large unreserved Houston auction to sell 50 concrete pump trucks in final stages of Pumpco complete dispersal

June 05, 2009

Thousands of other items to be sold include construction and transportation equipment, oilfield related equipment, cranes, aerial platforms and agricultural tractors HOUSTON, June 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, is conducting a three-day unreserved public equipment auction at the Company's permanent auction site in Houston, Texas on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 to Friday, June 12, 2009 starting at 8:00 a.m. each day. More than 2,600 items of agricultural, construction, transportation and aerial and lifting equipment from more than 295 owners, including 50 concrete pump trucks and concrete equipment, will be sold to the highest bidders on auction day with no reserve prices or minimum bids.
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The Tower Companies Leads With Six LEED Projects

June 05, 2009

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tower Companies (towercompanies.com), the largest Green Builder in our Nation's Capital and an early proponent of the US Green Building Council's LEED certification, today announced that Tower's corporate offices at 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard, designed by Kishimoto.Gordon.Dalaya PC (KGD), were awarded LEED Platinum certification under the USGBC's Commercial Interiors green building rating system. Additionally, The Tower Building (towerbuilding.com), an Energy Star building named 2003 Green Office Building of the Year by Apartment and Office Building Association (AOBA), was awarded LEED Silver certification under the LEED for Existing Buildings rating system, making it the sixth LEED certified project for the company. Tower's award-winning LEED certified buildings include: 1050 K Street (1050kstreet.com), a co-development with The Lenkin Company, an 11-story jewel-box office building in DC incorporating the natural elements of air, water, earth and light, is LEED Gold; The Millennium Building/1909 K Street, (millenniumbuilding.com) is the first and only multi-tenant commercial office building in DC to achieve LEED certification through LEED for Existing Buildings and was the first green office building in Washington, DC; The Blair Towns (blairtowns.com) is nationally recognized by the US Green Building Council as America's first LEED Certified multi-family development in the United States. The new corporate headquarters, 2000 Tower Oaks Blvd, is a 200,000 square foot Fortune-Creating(SM) Vedic building, also designed by KGD, and is the area's first multi-tenant commercial office building to be certified LEED Platinum. In 2009, Tower began one of the largest LEED renovations in the country at The Blairs, including 1,400 apartment units on a 27-acre live-work-play community in Silver Spring, Maryland. Tower now has 7 buildings under renovation for LEED EB.
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BidBridge Saves the City of Norton 14.5 Percent of Construction Budget

June 04, 2009

Reverse Auction/eProcurement Provider Promotes Competition, Saves Taxpayer Dollars LOUISVILLE, Ky., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- BidBridge, an eProcurement services provider for the public and private sectors, today announced that a recent construction bid performed on behalf of the city of Norton, OH concluded by saving 14.5 percent versus Norton's budget and logged a separation of .17 percent between first and second place suppliers - a strong indicator the city purchased services at near market value. BidBridge facilitates a secure, real-time electronic sealed bid platform that allows suppliers to place multiple bids, replacing the public sector's traditional process of a one price per supplier response. In this event, the suppliers placed a total of 207 bids over the course of the two hour event, with first place changing hands 108 times. The bid took place on April 30 between five competing construction companies. "In this instance, Norton's relationship with BidBridge saved the city close to $200,000," said Rick Ryland, City Administrator for Norton. "With BidBridge, the city of Norton has been able to allocate money more efficiently, allowing us to effectively undertake several large construction projects."
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Capital Health Launches Energy Reduction Initiative

June 04, 2009

Tozour Energy Systems and Sofame Technologies Partner for Groundbreaking Installation KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tozour Energy Systems, Inc. a full-service HVAC and building automation provider, and Sofame Technologies Inc. (TSX-V:SDW), a leading manufacturer of commercial-industrial heat recovery equipment, have been selected for the boiler plant energy reduction project at Capital Health System's Fuld hospital in Trenton, NJ. The impact of this project on the city of Trenton will be significant. By installing a customized, high-efficiency steam pump in its boiler plant, the hospital will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 1,276 tons of CO2, or the equivalent of 281 cars removed from daily use on Trenton's roads. In addition, the boiler plant updates will reduce fuel consumption by 25 percent, saving the hospital a substantial amount per year on energy bills. This will allow Capital Health to use the savings toward other facility improvements that will benefit patients at the 269-bed hospital. "Through this project and other sustainability initiatives, Capital Health's Fuld hospital is reducing its carbon footprint and making a positive contribution to the city's public health," said Greg D'Adamo, vice president of Support Services at Capital Health. Kevin Duffy, COO of Tozour Energy Systems, said "As part of our sustainable building value proposition, this project's goal is to help Capital Health improve the energy efficiency of its boiler plant while reducing the hospital's impact on the environment." "Sofame is proud to work with Tozour Energy Systems on our first hospital installation in the United States. Together, our work will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city of Trenton," said John Gocek, COO of Sofame Technologies Inc.
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Green Builder(R) College Curriculum Offered at Colleges Throughout United States

June 04, 2009

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Builder(R) Media announced that it has expanded the reach of its online educational platform, Green Builder(R) College, through a partnership with ProTrain LLC. Green Builder College's online courses will be included in the curriculum of 135 colleges across the country, including University of Arizona, University of Georgia, Rutgers State University, University of Washington, and Texas A&M University. "The landscape for workforce education is changing," says Sara Gutterman, CEO of Green Builder Media. "Students are increasingly looking for online training. Green Builder College offers the highest-quality online content focused on residential sustainable development—the most relevant topic in the building industry today." Green Builder College's comprehensive curriculum covers topics such as land, energy, water, materials, indoor environment quality, green design, operations/maintenance, and environmental impact. All courses are taught online by acclaimed building professionals. The College's Level I track consists of 40 hours of premium building science content; Level II contains 20 hours of coursework based on Environmental Building Alliance's (EEBA) Houses that Work program; the Environments for Living track contains 20 hours of coursework based on Masco's corporate building science program; and the Continuing Education Courses address a variety of green building and design topics. Green Builder College offers students an interactive experience with videos, study guides, and quizzes. Through the College, building professionals can become Green Builder Certified, allowing them to increase their credibility and validation in the marketplace.
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Universal Fibers Wins Innovative Green Design Award

June 04, 2009

New York House magazine selects Universal Fibers(R) for its inaugural competition. BRISTOL, Va., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second time this year, Universal Fibers(R) is being recognized for its commitment to sustainability by being honored with an environmental award. Schein Media announces that ReFresh Fibers(R) is a winner of the New York House magazine Innovative Green Design Award in the Flooring/Floor Coverings Category. Winners represent the greenest materials, most sustainable methods of manufacturing, highest energy efficiency, greenest innovation, minimal carbon footprint and best-looking design in each category. The Universal brand, ReFresh Fibers(R), is made from a sophisticated multi-step process that takes post-consumer carpet and turns it back into usable nylon 6,6 fiber maximizing the use of an abundant resource that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Universal Fibers(R) is the first in the industry to produce post-consumer Nylon 6,6 fiber. The panel of judges felt ReFresh Fibers(R) product and manufacturing processes were exceptional and deserved the distinction of winner. Judges included Chris Madden, celebrity designer and television personality, and other leaders in the Green furnishings industry.
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Echelon's Technology Incorporated Into Industry Leading Solar Inverters

June 03, 2009

Increases Data Reliability and Compatibility in Renewable Energy Generation SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ:ELON) announced today that its LonWorks(R) technology is being used in solar energy installations by SMA America, Inc., a subsidiary of Germany-based SMA Solar Technology AG, the world leader in solar inverter technology. Echelon's i.LON(R) SmartServer, equipped with communications drivers for SMA's inverters, is used to monitor the health of and measure the electricity generated by the panels in a solar array for service, reporting, and verification purposes – helping to maintain their efficient operation. SMA is using the i.LON SmartServer with their Sunny Central 250U and Sunny Tower inverters. An inverter changes direct current (DC) electricity generated by a solar panel into alternating current (AC) for use in buildings and homes. The U.S. solar industry continued to grow at a record pace in 2008, according to a recent report by the Solar Energy Industries Association, aided by generous customer rebates in California and New Jersey — by far the largest U.S. solar markets. These rebates combined with federal tax credits have trimmed system prices by a third or more. "We are excited to work with SMA, the world leader in solar inverter technology, and to be part of the fast-growing solar market," said Anders Axelsson, Echelon's senior vice-president of sales and marketing. "The i.LON SmartServer is perfect for developing and deploying all types of energy management solutions, including solar and other alternative energy solutions."
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Homeowners, Renters and Businesses Are Urged to Prepare for Disaster Before It Strikes

June 03, 2009

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As those living near the Gulf of Mexico and along the Eastern Seaboard prepare for another Atlantic Hurricane season, which began June 1 and runs through November 30, the U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding small businesses, homeowners and renters nationwide to write down their emergency preparedness plan before disaster hits. Regardless of where you live, it's a good idea to be ready for any kind of crisis. "Every threat, from wind storms, floods and wildfires, to power outages and computer system failures, reminds us to be proactive when it comes to building strategies to survive a disaster and recover quickly," said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. "The catastrophic events of the last few years demonstrate the need for preparedness at the individual level, to diminish the risk to life and property." In the aftermath of last year's Midwest Floods, and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike—which pounded parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas last summer—the SBA approved more than 23,000 disaster loans for a total of $1.2 billion.
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Mazzetti Nash Lipsey Burch Announces New LEED(R) Accredited Professionals

June 03, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thirty Mazzetti Nash Lipsey Burch (M+NLB) employees became U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED(R)) Accredited Professionals (LEED(R) AP), within the last six months, bringing the rapidly growing total of M+NLB firm-wide accreditations to fifty seven. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED Accredited Professionals have the knowledge and skills to successfully navigate the LEED certification process on behalf of clients. Mazzetti Nash Lipsey Burch is an active member of the U.S. Green Building Council. Fourteen of the firm's projects have acquired LEED ratings, including seven Gold. Walt Vernon, M+NLB CEO, believes that "helping our clients find creative ways to build a greener, healthier, and more humane world through the vehicles of their projects brings meaning to our work."
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Petersen-Dean's SmarterRoof(TM) Leads the Way for Clean Energy and Consumer Savings

June 03, 2009

Petersen-Dean Combines Heat-Reflecting Tiles and Integrated Solar Panels for a Longer Lasting Roof That Saves Energy and Hundreds of Dollars Each Month NEWARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Petersen-Dean Roofing and Solar Systems, the nation's largest, privately-owned roofing and solar company, is launching a revolutionary new concept — a SmarterRoof(TM). SmarterRoofs incorporate a specially-designed, light color tile and Energy Star(R) coating that reflect the sun's rays to keep building temperatures cooler, while rooftop solar panels capture that sunlight and transform it into free, clean, renewable energy to power the home or commercial buildings. "We call it the 'one-two' punch because the SmarterRoof can reduce energy consumption while providing electricity generated by the sun," said Jim Petersen, CEO of Petersen-Dean Roofing and Solar Systems. "We have seen an overwhelming level of demand for our SmarterRoofs as they're helping to save you money from the first day they're installed." On a summer day a typical roof can heat up to more than 170 degrees by absorbing heat from the sun, raising temperatures by as much as 30 degrees. Buildings with dark roofs that absorb the sun's rays also have higher operating costs and the roof deteriorates faster than one that reflects sunrays. "Every home and building should have a 'cool roof' made of lighter, sun reflecting roofing materials to help reduce and reverse the impact of global warming," said Bernadette Del Chiaro, clean energy advocate for Environment California. "What's so promising about Petersen-Dean's SmarterRoofs product is that it combines the cool roof concept with clean, renewable solar energy helping consumers protect both the environment and their pocketbooks."
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Solar Power, Inc. Sells Two More Yes! Solar Solutions(TM) Franchise Territories. Celebrates Grand Opening of First East Coast Energy Outlet.

June 03, 2009

Bozeman, Montana and Pueblo, Colorado to Be Served by the Two Newest Yes! Solar Solutions Energy Outlets. ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yes! Solar, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Solar Power, Inc. (OTCBB:SOPW), announced today that it has executed franchise agreements for two additional territories within the states of Colorado and Montana. The newest territories in the Yes! Solar Solutions(TM) retail network of are located within Pueblo, Colorado and Bozeman, Montana. The two territories extend national coverage of the growing retail solar franchise network and will introduce the Company's unique solar energy offerings to approximately 95,000 homeowners as well as the many small businesses within these territories. The Bozeman, Montana franchise will be operated by owners John and Theresa Huyser, long-time residents of the area. Theresa will manage sales and marketing, while John will focus on managing day-to-day operations. "We look forward to providing our friends, families and the community where we live with a clean, reliable and cost-effective alternative to utility-sourced electricity," said Ms. Huyser. "The Yes! Solar Solutions franchise business model is a perfect fit for us and our environmentally minded community members." The Bozeman franchise territory harbors approximately 50,000 owner occupied dwellings and numerous businesses throughout its territory where many residents are engaged in leading green lifestyles.
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Engineering News-Record and the Construction Users Roundtable to Host Construction Business Forum on June 9-10 in Arlington, VA

June 02, 2009

NEW YORK, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- McGraw-Hill Construction's Engineering News-Record (ENR) and the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) will bring together construction industry leaders at the third annual ENR-CURT Construction Business Forum on June 9-10, 2009, at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, VA, to discuss "Embracing Change: The Impact of the New Administration on Construction." At the Forum, owners, contractors, construction managers, engineers, architects, and equipment and building product manufacturers will examine the business impact of economic uncertainties, the stimulus package, the changing regulatory landscape, workforce issues, global events and more. A high-level panel on how associations are affecting public policy includes CEOs and executive directors from the Business Roundtable, the Associated General Contractors of America, the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Associated Builders and Contractors. A panel of energy sector leaders will address updating the nation's energy infrastructure, and Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction, will share updated facts and figures from McGraw-Hill Construction's 2009 Construction Outlook, which projects U.S. construction start activity for the rest of 2009.the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells and at commercializing the new technology quickly on our production lines."
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Critical Next Stage of Green Building Industry Will Focus on Water Efficiency, According to Report from McGraw-Hill Construction

June 02, 2009

NEW YORK, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the next five years, water efficiency and conservation will become critical factors in green design, construction and product selection, according to McGraw-Hill Construction's latest SmartMarket Report, Water Use in Buildings, released today with support from The Chicago Faucet Company and Sloan Valve Company. Architecture and engineering (A/E) firms, contractors and owners report that water efficiency is rapidly becoming a higher priority than other aspects of green building, such as energy efficiency and waste reduction. According to the United Nations Environmental Program, buildings consume 20% of the world's available water, a resource that becomes scarcer each year. Efficient practices and products, such as grey water treatment and low-flow plumbing fixtures, provide significant opportunities for the A/E industry to respond to this trend and build high-tech, low-water-demand projects that will turn the tide on the water crisis and create the conscientious buildings of tomorrow. "This study sheds light on the shift in what will define a green building," said Harvey Bernstein, vice president of Industry Analytics, Alliances & Strategic Initiatives, McGraw-Hill Construction. "The results are especially telling--the increasing importance of water issues, the business benefits from water-efficient products and processes, and building owner buy-in all point to how critical it will be for the industry to address responsible water practices in the future."
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Dallas Cowboys New Stadium Opens

June 02, 2009

Largest NFL Stadium Incorporates Cowboys Tradition in an Iconic Modern Form ARLINGTON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Dallas Cowboys Stadium officially opens on June 6 as George Strait takes the stage at the venue's first public event. The new sports and entertainment venue in Arlington, Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth, is the home of the Dallas Cowboys, the country's most-watched NFL team. Designed by the HKS Sports & Entertainment Group, the venue enhances the international Cowboys brand with its modern, progressive architecture while incorporating elements of Texas Stadium's heritage such as the shape of the roof's opening and the Ring of Honor. The 3 million-square-foot stadium has an approximate capacity of 80,000 fans. As the largest NFL venue ever built, the new stadium boasts the most spectacular column-free room in the world, stretching a quarter-mile in length. "In recognition of the time-honored traditions and timeless dynamic nature of the Dallas Cowboys, we chose a modern palette of simple forms and materials that creates a fittingly progressive architectural expression for the new stadium," said Bryan Trubey, AIA, principal designer, HKS Sports & Entertainment Group.
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Historic and Innovative Project Labor Agreement Signed for Construction of Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Facility

June 02, 2009

WASHINGTON, June 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America's Building Trades Unions today announced the signing of a milestone labor agreement with Bechtel Construction Company (Bechtel) for Bechtel's portion of the work on the proposed new nuclear energy facility at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Station in Lusby, Maryland. The project is expected to create 4,000 jobs during the peak of construction and another 360 permanent jobs once the facility is operating. The agreement is a modified version of the Building and Construction Trades Department's National Construction Agreement (NCA) and includes a provision for the establishment of an on-site training center that will ensure a steady supply of the skilled craft workers needed for the construction of such a complex facility. Further, the agreement includes a provision for an on-site labor relations coordinator who shall "provide leadership and maintain harmonious relations among employees, the Unions, the Employers, and the Owners." The coordinator will also be involved in exploring ways to improve efficiencies and cost effectiveness.
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Telkonet Hosts Free Energy Management Webinar: Occupancy-Sensing Technology – Reducing Energy Costs in College Dorms and Classrooms

June 02, 2009

Covers how to reduce HVAC costs and maintenance with intelligent building technologies GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Telkonet, Inc. (NYSE Amex: TKO), a Clean Technology company that develops and manufactures proprietary energy management and SmartGrid networking technology, announces that it is hosting a free-access, energy management Webinar for colleges and universities on Tuesday, June 23, 2009. Reflecting the Government drive to support energy efficiency projects, the Webinar will focus on occupancy-sensing technologies that reduce energy costs in dorms, classrooms, and portable buildings. Energy audits and retrofits in commercial buildings form a key component in the recently announced $3.2 billion investment program available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for energy efficiency projects, and a growing number of educational institutions are taking tangible steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise awareness of global warming. This includes signing up to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). Featuring industry expert Pete van der Have and Telkonet's resident expert, Robert Zirpoli, Telkonet's Webinar will cover how occupancy-based technologies differ from other energy management systems, and how these systems take into account changing occupancy schedules to deliver significant energy savings without compromising occupant comfort, along with longer HVAC product life and reduced maintenance.
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Yingli Green Energy, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands and Amtech Systems Announce Research Collaboration to Develop Next Generation High Efficiency Solar Cells

June 02, 2009

Patented method for improved solar cell efficiency expected to lower solar energy costs BAODING, China, and TEMPE, Ariz., June 1 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE:YGE) ("Yingli Green Energy"), one of the world's leading vertically integrated photovoltaic ("PV") product manufacturers, the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands ("ECN"), a leading solar research center in Europe, and Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYS) ("Amtech"), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, today announced a three-party research collaboration agreement to develop next generation high efficiency solar cells. The joint project under the agreement endeavors to develop and implement high efficiency N-type silicon solar cells, named PANDA, at Yingli Green Energy's pilot production line in Baoding, China. The high efficiency cells will utilize the cell design of ECN, the solar diffusion technology and dry PSG removal expertise of Tempress Systems, Inc., Amtech's solar subsidiary ("Tempress"), and Yingli Green Energy's leading cell process technology. The construction of the pilot production line does not require significant capital expense, as it only requires moderate changes to the current production lines. "Yingli Green Energy always strives to be at the forefront of the latest technological developments in the PV industry," said Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy. "To that end, we are very pleased to be entering into a cooperation that combines our strong commercialization capabilities with the strengths of a global research institution and a leading equipment supplier. We look forward to playing a crucial role in the introduction of the next generation of high efficiency solar cells. PANDA aims at significantly raising the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells and at commercializing the new technology quickly on our production lines."
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NRG Energy, United Illuminating Officially Break Ground on GenConn's New 200 Megawatt Peaking Power Plant in Milford, Connecticut

June 01, 2009

—GenConn Energy LLC to develop Devon peaking generation plant, which will support over 160,000 homes— PRINCETON, N.J. & NEW HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GenConn Energy, a 50-50 joint venture between NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) and The United Illuminating Company (UI), a subsidiary of UIL Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UIL), today officially broke ground on a new 200 megawatt peaking power plant at NRG's Devon site in Milford, Connecticut. The new facility, scheduled to be in operation by June 1, 2010, will be able to provide power to more than 160,000 homes during periods of peak usage, such as hot summer and cold winter days. Anthony Marone, UI Vice President, Client Services, stated, "UI is pleased to be part of a project that will bring benefits to the state of Connecticut and all of its electric customers, especially during those peak times when the reliability of the electric grid is critical." On-hand for today's groundbreaking was Milford Mayor James Richetelli. "Today we demonstrate our continuing commitment to Connecticut as we begin construction on the new Devon peaking units less than one year after NRG commissioned new generating units at our Cos Cob site. It is great news for Connecticut consumers that this project is officially underway and on-schedule," said Drew Murphy, President of NRG's Northeast Region. "By building this new plant, GenConn will help reduce costs for electric customers and improve electric reliability in an area where it is needed the most."
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Point Park University Awarded $3.95 Million Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative Grant for Academic Village Project

June 01, 2009

PITTSBURGH, May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that Point Park University has been awarded a $3.95 million grant from its Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative. The grant, which will support critical upgrades and enhancements to the Wood Street corridor as part of the Academic Village at Point Park University, is the largest of 50 grants awarded throughout the state. "Point Park University is pleased and grateful for this significant investment in the Academic Village Initiative," said Paul Hennigan, president, Point Park University. "Our local legislators were essential in leveraging the sustainable merits and economic impact of the project. With the support of Governor Rendell and PennDOT, we can move from the planning phase to construction -- a key step in realizing our $244 million campus and public enhancement space plan." The Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative grant will provide funding to upgrade Wood Street, the heart of Point Park University's Downtown Pittsburgh campus. The planned enhancements include milling and resurfacing of Wood Street; installation of accessible sidewalks and curbs; and the addition of distinctive pedestrian-scaled street lighting and new and efficient signaling systems at the intersections with the Boulevard of the Allies and Third Avenue.
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Unions and Management Agree to Major Construction Cost Reductions at Twelve Large Development Sites in New York City

June 01, 2009

Historic Economic Recovery Project Labor Agreement is Expected to Stimulate 10,000 Jobs and over $2 Billion in Construction Activity NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Under a historic compact that will deliver significant cost reductions at major construction sites across the city, New York City's construction unions and their management counterparts have agreed to reduce building costs by an average of 16-21 percent at a dozen, previously delayed or stalled development projects. "The Economic Recovery Project Labor Agreement" (PLA) will stimulate over $2 billion in construction activity, creating or saving 10,000 jobs. In addition to the twelve projects where the PLA has been approved, the potential exists for thousands of more jobs to be created and billions more in construction spending to be sparked on more than two dozen additional projects for which applications to use the PLA have been submitted and are in the process of being reviewed for approval. The unprecedented agreement between the Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC) and the Building Trades Employers' Association (BTEA), which in effect represents the majority of the unionized construction industry in New York City, is the by-product of months of negotiations between labor and management. Under the terms of the Economic Recovery Project Labor Agreement (PLA), the cost of private unionized construction is expected to decline by an average of 16-21 percent at each location. Reductions will come from work rule changes accepted by labor and from reduced profit margins and other concessions accepted by construction contractors. As a result of the agreement, construction is now expected to move forward at the twelve sites.
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Odebrecht, American Airlines and Miami-Dade County Unveil Historic JFK Airport Murals at MIA

June 26, 2008

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Officials Welcome Renowned Murals by Brazilian Artist Carybe MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, along with American Airlines and Miami-Dade County today will unveil the iconic Carybe murals at Miami International Airport's (MIA) South Terminal, where they will be permanently displayed. These important works of art associated with U.S. aviation and created by the renowned Brazilian artist had adorned the American Airlines terminal at JFK International Airport since 1960. In 1959, Carybe won first and second prizes for the murals in a competition aimed at bringing public art to JFK Airport. The murals ran the risk of being destroyed when the terminal at JFK was slated for demolition in 2007. Odebrecht invested in the preservation of the murals, including removing, restoring, transporting and re-installing them in Miami. An agreement signed in June 2008 transferred ownership of the Carybe murals from American Airlines to Miami-Dade County and was approved by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, County Manager George Burgess, Aviation Department Director Jose Abreu, American Airlines Senior Vice President Peter J. Dolara and Odebrecht USA CEO Gilberto Neves. "Odebrecht is proud to see this special project come to completion. Thanks to our partnership with Miami-Dade County and American Airlines, and our commitment to building communities, MIA is now home to two great pieces of art that serve as a legacy honoring all who have journeyed throughout the Americas," said Gilberto Neves, CEO of Odebrecht in the USA. The two murals, "Rejoicing and Festival of the Americas" and "The Discovery and Settlement of the West", are considered two of the most important works of art on display at U.S. airports. Each measures 16 ½ ft. x 53 ft. and depicts scenes of festivals and pioneer life in the Americas.
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