Atlanta — ASHRAE announced the recent launch of the Building Energy Quotient (Building EQ) Portal, which provides a faster, more automated approach to receive a Building EQ Performance Score. “The primary goal of the Building EQ program is to promote more energy efficient buildings and give owners actionable recommendations to improve a building’s energy use,” Read more
Industry News
Atlanta — ASHRAE announced the recent launch of the Building Energy Quotient (Building EQ) Portal, which provides a faster, more automated approach to receive a Building EQ Performance Score.
“The primary goal of the Building EQ program is to promote more energy efficient buildings and give owners actionable recommendations to improve a building’s energy use,” says Hugh Crowther, Building EQ committee chair. “We’re excited to launch this integrated resource that will help users identify opportunities to lower building operating cost and make informed decisions to increase value.”
Building EQ rests on ASHRAE methodologies and standards and the experience of credentialed practitioners. These characteristics assure owners they are receiving reliable and consistent results and recommendations.
Two different evaluations—In Operation and As Designed—can be used independently to compare a candidate building to other similar buildings in the same climate zone or together for an assessment of a building’s design potential compared to actual operation. In Operation compares actual building energy use based on metered energy information. As Designed compares potential energy use based on the building’s physical characteristics and systems with standardized energy use simulation. The In Operation rating is available now and the As Designed rating will be available in early 2018.
Building EQ In Operation rating assists in the preparation of an ASHRAE Level 1 Energy Audit to identify means to improve a building’s energy performance including low-cost, no-cost energy efficiency measures and an Indoor Environmental Quality survey with recorded measurements to provide additional information to assess a building’s performance.
Metered energy data can now be downloaded into the Building EQ Portal from the ENERGY STAR™ Portfolio Manager. Other features include an Online Data Entry and submission process, Median EUI calculation aligned with ENERGY STAR® and an improved submission approval process.
The portal delivers the following items:
• Building EQ Performance Score rates the building’s performance and is shown on the screen at all times for all projects.
• User Input Report documents the data entered into the Building EQ Portal for a specific project and is available for all submissions.
• Building EQ Label Report displays the Building EQ Performance Score and is available for approved submissions.
• Building EQ Disclosure Report presents key energy use information for compliance with disclosure ordinances and will be available for a fee for approved submissions.
• Audit Report Spreadsheets will be automatically populated with the information gathered during the In Operation assessment for use in a final audit report and will be available for a fee for approved submission.
To learn more about the Building EQ Portal, visit www.ashrae.org/buildingEQ.
The Wilo Group was awarded the renowned 2018 National German Sustainability Award last Friday in Düsseldorf as one of the top 3 of ‘Germany’s most sustainable large companies 2018’. In making the award, the high-profile jury – under the patronage of the President of Germany Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier – stated the emphasis Wilo puts on resource-saving high-efficiency products Read more
The Wilo Group was awarded the renowned 2018 National German Sustainability Award last Friday in Düsseldorf as one of the top 3 of ‘Germany’s most sustainable large companies 2018’. In making the award, the high-profile jury – under the patronage of the President of Germany Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier – stated the emphasis Wilo puts on resource-saving high-efficiency products and the holistic approach of the globally active group.
“Future-oriented company management means sustainably maintaining the balance between the economy, the environment and social issues. We see this as our obligation and our responsibility, also for the sake of future generations,” commented Oliver Hermes, CEO of WILO SE, on the prize which was awarded at the gala event hosted at the Düsseldorf Maritim Hotel and attended by approximately 2,000 guests, including representatives from research, politics and business. This obligation and responsibility is true for both the company’s digital transformation as well as its making of inroads into new markets. Within this context, Oliver Hermes made explicit mention of intelligently networked conurbations, the so-called ‘smart urban areas.’ “These are the future markets, in which urban infrastructures and many spheres of life will be interconnected, both digitally and smartly,” explained Hermes. “Today already, half of mankind is living in urban areas, with this trend rapidly on the rise.” All the challenges of current mega trends are therefore concentrated in these areas, e.g. digitalization, water shortages, power shortages or urbanization. As a digital pioneer of the pump industry, Wilo will also be developing resource-efficient smart solutions to meet these demands. Dr Markus Beukenberg, chief technology & strategy advisor of the Wilo Group and responsible for sustainability management, warmly welcomed this outlook, “Only when you know the direction in which you are heading can each and every employee contribute on a daily basis. Wilo has a clear heading; the sustainability commitment of our colleagues is exemplary and continues to grow.”
Picture “Wilo SE – German Sustainability Award”:
Members of the Executive Board of Wilo SE, Oliver Hermes (Chairman & CEO, 7th from left), Carsten Krumm (Chief Sales Officer, 5th from left) and Georg Weber (Chief Technology Officer, 8th from left) were delighted, together with Thomas Westphal, Managing Director Wirtschaftsförderung Dortmund (left), and Wilo employees about the award at the German Sustainability Awards 2018.
‘Benchmarking our efforts with the best is important’
The prize was awarded for the tenth time in 2017 and is one of the most renowned prizes of its type in Europe. Wilo has been able to compete with companies such as IKEA and now ranks in terms of sustainability with companies such as Deutsche Telekom and TUI. “The field of entrants shows how the bar has been raised this year,” concluded Prof. Dr Günther Bachmann, chairman of the jury of experts and general secretary of the German Council for Sustainable Development. Nobody should think they can “rest on their laurels,” said Bachmann, “Commitment and competence meet at the German Sustainability Awards. Because, when talking about sustainability, it is the benchmarks and yardsticks of the best that are important.”
Highly efficient and resource-saving
Wilo won over the jury with factors ranging from its product portfolio to the building of a new company headquarters. In 2001, the innovation leader in the pump sector had already invented the first high-efficiency pump in the world, which to this day still meets the ever higher EU benchmark. Further innovations have followed – more recently, Wilo presented the Wilo-Stratos MAXO (in 2017), which is the first smart-pump in the world. Wilo’s high-efficiency product portfolio was a decisive factor for the jury in awarding the prize to the Ruhr-based technology company. Another aspect was the building of a new headquarters under the project name Campus 2020, where Wilo also internally focused on energy efficiencies by using particularly efficient building equipment. In addition, the Smart Factory production site, which belongs to the campus, will be powered entirely by ‘green’ electricity from a captive photovoltaic system. At the Dortmund production site, resource efficiency is also on the increase. It is already possible to remove the permanent magnets from pumps and recycle valuable raw materials in this way, such as rare earth elements.
Indianapolis — Delta Faucet launched its bi-annual Homeowner Index to track renovation, design and purchase habits among today’s homeowners while investigating key seasonal insights related to the home. A resource for industry decision makers, from builders and developers to architects and designers, the Index keeps a pulse on consumer behavior as it relates to the Read more
Indianapolis — Delta Faucet launched its bi-annual Homeowner Index to track renovation, design and purchase habits among today’s homeowners while investigating key seasonal insights related to the home. A resource for industry decision makers, from builders and developers to architects and designers, the Index keeps a pulse on consumer behavior as it relates to the ever-important consumer preferences in the home.
“At Delta Faucet, we are grounded in work that identifies consumer habits to develop products and innovations that deliver against consumers’ wants and needs,” said Paul Ponsford, senior market research manager at Delta Faucet. “The index allows us to track the ever-changing landscape bi-annually and offer perspective on seasonal trends, particularly as they relate to the kitchen and bath as well as form and function.”
In its first iteration, Delta Faucet found many homeowners (56%) avoid hosting a party at home because they felt their home first needed to be updated or remodeled. Those upgrades may not be as costly and time consuming as homeowners assume given that half of those surveyed cite a multi-functional shower head as a must-have for hosting guests, far outweighing upgrades like heated flooring (21%) or wireless speakers (18%).
Other key findings the Index revealed include:
• Parental Priorities. The vast majority of parents (85%) would rather receive the gift of a free kitchen upgrade this holiday season than free babysitting every weekend for a year.
• Hey, Big Spender. Homeowners note, on average, they would be willing to spend $13,500 to remodel their entire kitchen.
• Timeless Steel Style. More than half the homeowners surveyed (53%) prefer Stainless Steel as the finish of choice in the kitchen, more than double the second choice, Nickel (24%), while Matte Black (20%) and Chrome (20%) rounded out the preferences.
• Rosie the Remodeler. More than half of women surveyed (54%) report they would do some, if not all, of the work on a kitchen or master bathroom remodel, compared to men (46%).
For additional information on Delta brand initiatives and product solutions, visit: deltafaucet.com.
Jackson, Miss. — Milwaukee Tool is expanding operations at three Mississippi locations, investing $33.4 million and creating 660 jobs. The expansions are planned for the company’s sites in Greenwood, Jackson and Olive Branch. “Once again, Milwaukee Tool confirms its commitment to doing business in our state by growing its existing operations and providing hundreds of Read more
Jackson, Miss. — Milwaukee Tool is expanding operations at three Mississippi locations, investing $33.4 million and creating 660 jobs. The expansions are planned for the company’s sites in Greenwood, Jackson and Olive Branch.
“Once again, Milwaukee Tool confirms its commitment to doing business in our state by growing its existing operations and providing hundreds of Mississippians with good, stable jobs. The state values the partnership we share with Milwaukee Tool and is thrilled to play a role in the industry leader’s continued growth,” Gov. Phil Bryant said.
Milwaukee President, Steve Richman, addresses the assembled crowd.
Milwaukee Tool will create the additional jobs at all three of its Mississippi facilities over the next four years to accommodate cordless power tool manufacturing, accessory manufacturing and additional distribution capacity.
“Milwaukee Tool is dedicated to driving growth and creating new jobs in the United States,” said Milwaukee Tool Group President Steve Richman. “We currently employ over 3,500 people in the USA, more than 1,600 of which are in Mississippi. We are deeply committed to investing in our people as we continue to deliver disruptive innovation and the highest quality products for our users and distribution partners.”
The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance for building renovations and site improvements at Milwaukee Tool’s Jackson and Olive Branch locations. MDA is providing assistance for public infrastructure improvements at the Greenwood location. The city of Greenwood is receiving a loan through MDA for the purchase of an existing building and parking lot improvements.
“This is Milwaukee Tool’s fourth expansion in Mississippi since 2012,” said MDA Executive Director Glenn McCullough, Jr. “The company’s success demonstrates the state’s commitment to supporting our corporate partners through dedicated teamwork and providing a business environment that enables companies to achieve their goals in Mississippi.”
The National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) has released an updated version of its online education website, Learning.NORAweb.org. Learning.NORAweb.org provides tens of thousands of oilheat technicians a source for online video courses, NORA certification andcontinuing cducation credentials and other valuable education resources. The site, launched in 2015, has been relaunched with an updated, faster and more Read more
The National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) has released an updated version of its online education website, Learning.NORAweb.org.
Learning.NORAweb.org provides tens of thousands of oilheat technicians a source for online video courses, NORA certification andcontinuing cducation credentials and other valuable education resources. The site, launched in 2015, has been relaunched with an updated, faster and more user friendly design.
Users will find access to their account information and other resources displayed on the home page in easy to see and understand “quick link” tiles. Each tile brings the user to the information of choice. NORA will be adding tiles as more features to the site become available.
With just one click, a technician may find a list of all their NORA certifications and CEU courses, regardless of where the courses were taken, along with a quick link to download their credentials. Another quick link tile goes directly to the user’s profile for easy reference or editing. Other tiles go to: the NORA store, Certification upgrades and renewals, NORA news, the Silver Certification Review, a CEU count and more.
The popular NORA online Video courses are also accessible from the home page and offer more than 20 courses crediting 2 CEUs each.
NORA encourages all oilheat technicians to have an account.The site is free as it is fully funded by the NORA assessment fees.
John Huber, NORA president, said, “It is NORA’s specific mission to provide quality, easily accessible technical education and training to the industry. Learning.NORAweb.org does just that.”