Benefits of Adjustable-Frequency Drives
By Neil Koepke
Adjustable-frequency drives help support efficient equipment operation...[MORE]

ASHRAE President's State of the Society Address
What is the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) doing to advance energy guidance? Read ASHRAE President Kent Peterson's State of the Society address, delivered during ASHRAE's 2008 Winter Meeting in New York City...[MORE]

Boiler-Industry Official Predicts Good Year
During the American Boiler Manufacturers Association's (ABMA's) Annual Meeting, ABMA President Randy Rawson predicted that general economic growth will slow in 2008, but the boiler market will continue to benefit from customers' need for new boiler systems to ensure reliability, greater efficiency, ongoing productivity, and low emissions in boiler rooms. Rawson also reported that industry members in almost every boiler and burner sector "are seeing sales and inquiry volumes not seen in years" and predicted that "a leaner, more competitive" industry arising out of the last recession "is better positioned than ever to meet market challenges ahead."...[MORE]

Drought Affecting Nuclear-Power Plants
Because a drought is drying up rivers and lakes that supply power plants with the cooling water they need to operate, some U.S. nuclear reactors may be forced to temporarily shut down later this year. Nuclear reactors that are built on the shores of lakes and rivers rely on submerged intake pipes to draw billions of gallons of water for use in cooling and condensing steam after it has turned the plants' turbines...[MORE]

New City Built on Landfill
The first phase of construction of New Songdo City, a metropolis being built on the western coast of South Korea, 40 miles from Seoul, is expected to be completed in August 2009. The city is being developed on 1,500 acres of landfill by New Songdo International City Development. All of New Songdo City's buildings, including a hospital, schools, and convention center, will be designed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Environmental Engineering Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System...[MORE]

Facility-Management Program
Grainger contributed $15,000 to Northern Illinois University (NIU) to assist in the creation of professional-development opportunities for facility managers. With the help of this money, a new program called the Certified Facility Manager Exam Review and Seminar Series was developed. The program will be divided into 11 sections covering all aspects of facility management, including planning and project management, operations and maintenance, quality assessment, and innovation...[MORE]

EGB to Return to Vegas in 2008!

Renowned green-building-industry leader and author Jerry Yudelson will present the keynote address for HPAC Engineering's fifth annual Engineering Green Buildings (EGB) Conference and Expo, which will be held Oct. 21 and 22 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The EGB Conference and Expo is the only green-design event focused on green engineering applications as they apply to mechanical systems for commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. The 2007 event attracted more than 300 participants, including mechanical-system designers and specifiers and manufacturers demonstrating the green characteristics and applications of their mechanical systems, components, equipment, products, technology, and services.

Individuals interested in attending or exhibiting at EGB 2008 should contact Jeff Ferenc, conference manager, at 312-848-8405 or jeff.ferenc@penton.com...[MORE]

HPAC Engineering Co-Sponsor of Global Engineering Conference
Designed for global consulting and design engineers, Carrier Corp.'s 10th Global Engineering Conference, co-sponsored by HPAC Engineering, will feature new technology and engineering topics in the HVAC industry. The event will focus on designing and building for sustainability and will take place April 9-11 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas...[MORE]