How Microbes May Save The World

My all-time favorite sci-fi flick was "War of the Worlds," both the 1950s classic and the remake of a few years ago starring Tom Cruise. In both movies, as well as the H.G. Wells novel that sparked them, lowly bacteria accomplished what our most powerful military weapons could not in vanquishing the oh so ruthless invaders from beyond our planet.

Here's an interesting peek at a scientist with ideas for getting microbes to come to the real-life rescue of our earthly environment. -- Jim Olsztynski

In this edition:

• Siggy's New Glitch & Fix -- Converting A Two-Pipe Steam System
• Last call for Global Green Expo
• Feds are energy hogs
• RRP update
  

Free Sign-Up Ends Aug. 5
For Global Green Expo
Here's your chance to be part of something groundbreaking - the first all-green virtual conference and expo designed for readers of our print magazines, Web sites, eNewsletters and digital editions. Click on the headline link above or the icon at right for more information about this all-day event.

Feds Said To Be Biggest Energy Hogs
The environmental impact of U.S. buildings is surprisingly large, with CO2 emissions alone approximately equaling the combined emissions of Japan, France and the United Kingdom for transportation, industry and buildings. The U.S. Federal government is the nation's single largest energy consumer and greenhouse gas emitter, and the U.S. House Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement held a hearing on Wednesday, July 21 to examine the federal government's role in greening buildings.

EPA Okays RRP Test Kits
EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics has posted preliminary results of the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) assessment of lead test kits on its website (go to www.epa.gov/lead/ and look for a "New" image link on the right side of page). The ETV testing was conducted pursuant to the 2008 Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) regulation to determine if any manufacturer-submitted lead test kits meet both a false negative and a false positive response criterion as required in the RRP rule. Based on the preliminary ETV results, no new kits failed to meet the criteria.

Free Energy Monitoring Resources CD
Onset, a leading supplier of data loggers, announced the availability of an informative resources CD offering hands-on tips for applying data loggers in building performance monitoring applications. The CD includes white papers, webinars and podcast interviews discussing how portable data loggers can streamline energy efficiency projects to yield optimum building energy performance. To request a free copy, visit http://www.onsetcomp.com/cdpr.

ISH China Goes Annual
Following the success of its 2010 PHC trade fair, ISH China has become an annual event with the next show scheduled for March 1-3 2011 at the China National Convention Center, Beijing. In 2010 the show attracted 332 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions who showcased their products in 22,000 sq. meters of exhibition space, a 49% increase from the 2008 show held in Shanghai. In 2010, visitor numbers more than doubled from 7,100 in 2008 to 14,802.

ASHRAE Calls For Papers
Papers addressing advances in alternative technologies and net-zero buildings, as well as HVAC&R fundamentals and commissioning, are being sought for ASHRAE's 2011 Annual Conference in Montreal. The deadline for paper submissions is Sept. 17, 2010. For complete information on submittal requirements, visit www.ashrae.org/montreal. The 2011 Annual Conference takes place June 25-29.

Hilti Offers Tool Diagnostic/Repair Centers
Hilti offers a network of Hilti Centers for minor tool repairs, battery testing, laser calibration check and other services. Repairs for cords, switches, and other selected parts are just a few of the services that can be performed on the spot as well analyzing and conditioning of Hilti lithium-ion batteries. For more information or to find a Hilti Diagnostic Service Center near you, click here for Hilti's U.S. locations, or here for Hilti's Canadian locations.

Triangle Tube Brings Water To African Village
"A Drink for Tomorrow," in partnership with Triangle Tube, will fund the construction of a freshwater well in the village of Labala, located in Botswana, Africa. This project, made possible entirely by Triangle Tube's donation, will consist of a newly drilled well. Updates on the well's construction will be provided as available on A Drink for Tomorrow's website, www.adrinkfortomorrow.org . Shown in photo, A Drink for Tomorrow founder Stephanie Weaver with Triangle Tube President Daniel Lasserre.

Grand Hall Promotes Two VPs
Grand Hall, producer of the Eternal Condensing Hybrid Water Heater, announced the promotion of Paul Home (left) to Vice President of Product and Marketing, and Yolanda Perteet (right) to Vice President of Operations. Home joined Grand Hall in 2003 and managed brand positioning and product development during the initial launch of the Eternal Hybrid. Perteet has been with Grand Hall for 10 years, beginning as an accounting manager and proceeded to manage several different departments.

Noritz Promo Grand Prize Is Super Bowl Trip
Plumbing and heating contractor members of the Noritz PROCard Program can win a free trip for two to Super Bowl XLV in February 2011, as well as other special prizes, by entering the Noritz Big Game Sweepstakes. The Grand Prize includes roundtrip airfare for two to Dallas, a three-night stay at the Hilton Arlington Hotel, and a pair of tickets to the 2011 Super Bowl at nearby Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

DDI Releases Updated Software
DDI System has released Version 23 of its Inform software for distributors. New features include:Transaction Auditing (automatically record user made changes), Visual Financial Reporting (drill-down to transaction based details), Inform Analytics (graphical dashboards for executive business reporting), and Advanced Report Writer (visually design customized report fields and layouts). A free demonstration will be held August 25 at 1 pm EST /10 am PST. To register visit www.seeinform.com.

The search for a rep just got a lot easier.

The 2010 Rep Locator, brought to you by the publishers of Supply House Times, PM Engineer and Plumbing & Mechanical Magazines in partnership with AIM/R, provides a comprehensive database of manufacturers' reps in the plumbing market.

Year-Round Reference

• Published in print in the June issues of Supply House Times, PM Engineer and Plumbing & Mechanical
• Fully searchable online at www.locatearep.com year-round (launching June 2010)
• Key information all in one source, complete contact info, lines represented, states and territories served and much more.
• Online extras like company brochures and line cards, live web and email links, Google-based keyword search, and more, right at the fingertips of manufacturers, plumbing contractors, engineers and wholesalers to locate products and representatives.

Reps who wish to stand out from the crowd may purchase print ads, listing enhancements and online upgrades. Pricing and packages are available for every budget. AIM/R members receive special discounts and exclusive options.

Contact Deborah Reda at redad@bnpmedia.com or 630-694-4389.

If you have listed your rep firm in AIM/R's printed Locator in the past, your account is already set up. For new listings, changes or inquiries contact Breanne Rozek at rozekb@bnpmedia.com, or 248-244-6259.

Digital 2010 Radiant Flooring Guide Now Available

Are you at a client's home and forgot to bring a copy of the 2010 Radiant Flooring Guide? Or are you at a convention and need some quick information about using cork flooring over a radiant heating system?

Open your Internet browser, key in this address - http://tinyurl.com/rfg-digitalmag-2010 - and browse through the pages at your convenience. The Table of Contents contains links to take you directly to the article you want to read. Or you can browse through page by page as you would with the printed version.

Ads are linked to advertisers' web sites to provide more information on products or services readers are interested in.

The 2010 Radiant Flooring Guide is an indispensable tool for architects, heating contractors, mechanical contractors, floor covering retailers and installers, builders, wholesalers, radiant system specifiers and homeowners. It provides all the information for making proper choices on flooring over radiant heating systems, including an updated directory of radiant floor product manufacturers.

To purchase printed copies of the 2010 Radiant Flooring Guide for $15, contact Stephanie Weingartz at weingartzs@bnpmedia.com, phone 248-244-1275, or visit www.AECstore.com.

Quotes To Live
(Or Die) By

"Get good or get out." -- Peter Drucker 

Happy Birthday To Standard 90.1

This year marks the 35th anniversary of publication of the ASHRAE/IES energy standard, now known as ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings . Since being developed in response to the energy crisis in the 1970s, Standard 90.1 has become the basis for building codes, and the standard for building design and construction throughout the United States.

The anniversary of the standard was celebrated at ASHRAE's 2010 Annual Conference. For more information about the standard, visit www.ashrae.org/90.1history.

©2010, J. Siegenthaler - all rights reserved

Click here to access a full-size PDF version.

Converting A Two-Pipe Steam System

The Glitch

Overview: An old New England home has been heated with a two-pipe steam system serving plenty of sturdy cast-iron radiators. As part of an extensive renovation and insulation upgrade, the owner decides to upgrade the heat and convert the system to a high-efficiency, gas-fired condensing boiler. The piping system installed by the local plumber is shown below. It leaves as much of the two-pipe distribution in place as possible.

Exercise: What are some design details that you think are incorrect or missing?

The Fix

Over decades of use, lots of "mud" can build up in a steam heating system with cast-iron radiators. It's really a shame to push that mud into new portions of the system, and especially into the compact heat exchanger of the new boiler. I'd recommend a high-quality dirt separator on the receiving end of the flowing mud, and installed at a low point in the piping whenever possible.

Be sure to leave room for a blow-down valve at the bottom because you are sure to be using it. Also be sure the flow velocity into the dirt separator is at or less than 4 feet per second. A hydraulic separator could also be used in place of the closely spaced tees, air separator and dirt separator.

Another problem is the arrangement of the circulator in the boiler loop. It should be pumping into the condensing boiler (because the latter has a high-flow-resistance heat exchanger).

Other details that are incorrect:

• If you expect hydraulic separation between circuits, do not install closely spaced tees as shown in the Glitch drawing. Instead, provide a minimum of 6 pipe diameters of straight pipe both upstream and downstream of the closely spaced tees.
• There should always be a good microbubble air separator on the outlet of the boiler.
• In the Glitch drawing, the circulator is at the low point of the distribution system - the most probable location for sediment to collect.
• Install an air vent on each radiator. 

Visit www.hydronicpros.com

AEC Store Corner

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Geothermal and Radiant Heating DVD -  $51.95
Not only is a ground source heat pump an ideal solar thermal collector, when coupled with a radiant heat distribution system, it is both highly energy-efficient and comfortable. Get the technical details on the design and installation of geothermal systems(35 minutes).

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