ALPHARETTA, Ga. On the heels of brand-new air conditioning product launches, LG Electronics is reinforcing its deep commitment to the future of the HVAC industry by introducing the LG Technology Roadshow a unique LG mobile showroom on wheels providing customers across the U.S. an opportunity for a hands-on experience with LGs latest air conditioning technologies.

Last month, LG unveiled the future of the connected building with the launches its new controls platform, LG MultiSITE, with the goal of supplying building owners the tools they need to make the best operational choices for their businesses and bottom lines. LG also launched the Multi V 5, the new flagship product in LGs air-source variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, which not only has reduced space and weight requirements, but also helps to reduce installation costs.

Both innovations will be featured in the LG Technology Roadshow, which will be touring the U.S. throughout 2017, starting in California. The 30-foot-long mobile showroom, which displays more than a dozen air conditioning innovations, is designed to help educate engineers, contractors, architects, and building owners across the country about advances in commercial and residential comfort systems.

The LG Technology Roadshow demonstrates our unparalleled commitment to both our customers and the future of the HVAC industry. We look forward to enabling potential customers to experience our technologies firsthand and understand how they can improve every installation, from retrofits to new builds, said Kevin McNamara, senior vice president, Air Conditioning Technologies, LG Electronics USA.

Kicking off last month in Los Angeles, the roadshow is scheduled to make stops this spring in Bakersfield, Fresno, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, and Sacramento, California; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Reno, Nevada; and Irving, Texas. It will move east for the remainder of the year.

The roadshow features 15 of LGs most sought-after technologies, including outdoor units, indoor units and controls:

LG MultiSITETM Controls Suite

The LG MultiSITE Controls Suite represents the future of controls for the HVAC industry. Launched at AHR Expo 2017, the LG MultiSITE Remote Controller, LG MultiSITE Communications Manager, and LG MultiSITE VM3 Building Management Solution empower operators to take control of their buildings in ways that were not previously possible.

The LG MultiSITE Remote Controller features a highly intuitive, customizable user interface that allows system managers to configure functionality and home screen appearance to meet the needs of a specific zone. The LG MultiSITE Communications Manager integrates the power of LG VRF technology into an existing third-party building management system, directly integrating with a VRF system and eliminating the need for a gateway. The LG MultiSITE VM3 building management solution maximizes the sophistication of control in each building system for cohesive building operation and synergistic performance.

LG Multi V 5

The new flagship product in LGs air-source VRF systems, Multi V 5, represents the next generation in the popular LG Multi V family. The LG Multi V 5 is available from 6- to 42-tons, with a choice of three-phase 208V, 230V, or 460V electrical power as heat recovery/heat pump outdoor units. New to the Multi V line-up are the single frame 16-, 18-, and 20-ton units. The 20-ton unit represents the largest tonnage single frame on the market today. As a smaller and lighter solution, the Multi V 5 20-ton not only reduces footprint requirements, but also helps to reduce installation costs.

While the footprint of the Multi V 5 has been reduced, its performance has increased. Building upon Smart Load Control of the Multi V IV, the Multi V 5 features Advanced Smart Load Control which proactively addresses the impact of pending weather changes ensuring optimal comfort for all of the building occupants. The Multi V 5 also features LG Intelligent Heating technology that defrosts as needed rather than responding once frost has reached a preset point. On top of active response capabilities, the Multi V 5 also features a new biomimetic fan design that draws from natures design and enables the unit to operate more efficiently and increase airflow while reducing the perceived noise level by approximately 20 percent.

Art CoolTM Premier

LGs Art Cool Premier wall-mount duct-free split system is a quiet outdoor unit that features an inverter compressor, which consumes less energy than conventional air conditioners. The inverter compressor ramps up or down to match the outdoor temperature load and provides precise control based on the each rooms set point. When the selected temperature is reached, the inverter compressor operates at a low speed to maintain comfort level instead of continuing to cycle on and off, using less energy.

Earning the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2016 designation, the LG Art Cool Premier system also features LGRED High Performance Heating with low ambient heating operations down to -13 Fahrenheit, ensuring continuous operation and efficient performance during even the coldest winter months. It boasts one of the highest SEER ratings in its class and works seamlessly with the LG Smart AC, allowing the end-user to wirelessly connect, control, and monitor the indoor units full array of functions and features through an intuitive smart phone app.

Art Cool Gallery

LG provides owners the opportunity to express an individual sense of style while cooling or heating their space with the duct-free Art Cool Gallery. This innovative indoor model allows the user to display an image in the customizable frame. The Art Cool Gallery is compatible with single and multiple zone outdoor units.

Key features of the Art Cool Gallery include remote control operation, quick and easy installation, natural air flow, and auto operation modes. It maintains a quiet sound for both indoor and outdoor units. The LG Art Cool Gallery Inverter duct-free split system provides both comfort and a stylish aesthetic for all-season comfort.

Art Cool Mirror

The Art Cool Mirror indoor units have a flat panel with a charcoal mirror finish to complement any design aesthetic. It integrates a motorized guide vane that allows the control of airflow from side to side, as well as a motorized louver that can automatically change airflow by directing the air up and down for a uniform air distribution.

For more information, visit http://www.lghvac.com.

Publication date: 4/14/2017

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!

Read the rest here:
LG Roadshow Brings Advanced Air Conditioning Technologies to Customers - ACHR NEWS

The construction on Mac Field will culminate in the installing of geothermal wells, which will allow for eco-friendly heating of the new HSCC. Photo by Mayu Sakae.

By Kate Irwin irwinkat@grinnell.edu

Grinnell students returned from spring break to find the perimeter of Mac Field surrounded by a fence and covered in mechanical equipment. To many students, this new construction site was a surprise.

To compensate for the loss of Mac Field for intramural sports, such as Ultimate Frisbee, Facilities Management has been working with the Athletic Department to find a new place for teams to practice. The area they found is east of the softball fields, making it accessible for student use. Unfortunately, Mac Field will not be usable as an intramural field until the fall of 2018, due to the growing season of the grass.

Currently, Mac Field is under construction for a geothermal well field for the Humanities and Social Studies Complex (HSSC). The new HSSC will be heated by these geothermal wells, as will several other buildings on campus. Mac Field was selected, as this is the only area of land on campus that is large enough to install the necessary amount of geothermal wells in order to properly heat the HSSC.

The whole idea is to make the HSSC as environmentally friendly as possible, so were using geothermal technology, Rick Whitney, Vice President of Facilities Management, said.

Geothermal technology is incredibly environmentally friendly. It allows for heating and cooling to happen simultaneously, making the process extremely efficient. It uses around half the amount of energy as a traditional system.

The project is already underway, as several wells have currently been placed in Mac Field. There will be underground lines between the HSSC and the well field and this construction will begin towards the end of this April. There will also be an underground vault that will be finished during the later months of summer.

Soon after the construction finishes, the restoration of Mac Field will begin. In addition to the standard restoration process, a grade will also be established, making water drainage more efficient.

The idea to use geothermal technology is one example of the College enacting its commitment towards sustainability.

[The idea to use geothermal technology started due to] the design of the building and our pursuit of being as ecologically friendly as we could with this large facility being almost 200,000 square feet, Whitney said. We wanted to be sure we were doing as little to the environment as we could.

Facilities Management has also partnered with Alliant Energy. Alliant Energy calculated that the amount of geothermal energy would save the College at least $250,000 a year.

According to Whitney, a lot of input went into the creation of this project. A building committee that consisted of administrators, faculty and students worked with the architect to make sure that the plan lined up with the goals and mission of the College.

But while the project has generated a lot of buzz, geothermal technology is not new to Grinnells campus. The Colleges natatorium also utilizes this technology, but for a different purpose. There, geothermal technology is employed to dehumidify the air, which takes a considerable amount of energy.

This [geothermal technology] has been working really well and this is what gave us the confidence to take this bold step, Whitney said.

Excerpt from:
Geothermal wells to provide energy to new HSSC - Scarlet and Black

The Indiana Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill Thursday aimed at shielding from child neglect charges people who anonymously surrender babies in newborn safety devices at hospitals.

The bill, now on its way to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature, also provides civil immunity to hospitals that install the boxes and receive a baby, and it allows two existing boxes at fire stations near Michigan City and Woodburn to continue operating.

I'm super excited ecstatic, said Monica Kelsey, a firefighter and medic, and founder of Woodburn, Ind.-based Safe Haven Baby Boxes. This has been a long fight for us, but I've never given up hope, and legislators have agreed this has to happen in Indiana.

The bill expands Indiana's existing Safe Haven Law, which enables a person to anonymously give up an unwanted infant without fear of arrest or prosecution, in a face-to-face interaction with an emergency medical services provider.

Indiana child welfare and health experts have opposed the boxes, saying people should abandon babies only directly to care providers. Kelsey said she agrees that's preferable but it's naive not to realize that some mothers can't bear the shame of that, especially in small rural communities where they are more likely to know the provider.

Kelsey said her biological mother, who had been raped, abandoned her two hours after she was born at a small hospital in Williams County, Ohio, in 1972. Authorities later found her mother and agreed not to prosecute her if she signed adoption papers, which she did.

The boxes, which install into an exterior wall, have heating and cooling elements, depending on the temperature outside, and weight and motion sensors that notify emergency responders when an infant has been placed inside.

The bill does not specify that fire stations are immune from civil liability, and Kelsey said she will not install more boxes at fire stations until the law is again changed to include them.

Kelsey said she already has contracted with a Michiana hospital to install a box, expected within 90 days, but she declined to identify the hospital yet.

Last year she had planned to install a box at The Life Center, 2018 Ironwood Circle, in South Bend, but the center changed its mind and withdrew from their contract in the face of opposition from the Indiana State Department of Health, said Shawn Sullivan, a South Bend attorney, anti-abortion activist and founder of the Catholic-based center.

The ISDH said they were going to fight it legally, Sullivan said. That caused a number of people to get cold feet, including the Knights of Columbus, which had planned to buy the boxes.

Sullivan said he was confident his center will eventually install a box, but how fast that happens will depend on the state health department's reaction to the new law, assuming Holcomb signs it.

The bill passed the Senate 47-3, receiving support from all Michiana area legislators. Voting against it were Sens. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville; Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis and Jean Breaux, D-Indianapolis.

Breaux said she voted against the bill because of the Indiana Department of Child Services' continued opposition to the boxes, the lack of regulated standards on their design and construction, and the uncertainty over how quickly someone would retrieve a baby left in one.

Breaux said women should know that they can surrender babies face-to-face, without giving any information, in no judgment zones.

We certainly shouldn't make it easier for them to circumvent what is in the best interest of that child and not handing it over to a responsible adult is not in the best interest of that child, Breaux said.

The bill also cleared the House 92-4. Breaux said that emotion often times rules where rationality should.

More here:
Despite concerns of child health experts, baby box bill clears Indiana legistlature - South Bend Tribune

By Philip Qvarnstrom

When the University of Massachusetts Medical School unveiled its $400 million, state-of-the-art Albert Sherman Center in early 2013 on its Worcester, MA, campus, it was said that it would allow the school to enter a new era of biomedical research, medical education and campus collaboration. That final word collaboration would also play a prominent role in how the 11-story, 512,000 square foot building would be cooled during the warm and humid summer months that are quite common in the state.

That collaborative effort was driven by the needs of the University of Massachusetts Building Authority, which was responsible for the operation of the buildings cooling system, and the ability of Konvekta AG, a St. Gallen, Switzerland-based developer and provider of high performance, energy recovery systems, to meet those needs.

When we opened the Sherman Center, we knew we would have to add cooling capacity and someone recommended Konvekta, recalled David MacNeil, senior mechanical project manager for the Department of Facilities Management at the UMass Medical School. We looked at their system and we liked what we saw.

In order to ensure that the Sherman Center was properly cooled when temperatures and humidities would inevitably reach summer extremes, Konvekta determined that it would need to install two dedicated air handling units for use by the facility. After reaching that determination, the next step for Konvekta was to decide which type of heat exchanger to use to properly recover the heat that would be generated during the periodic operation of the two air handling units.

In the end, Konvekta chose to outfit the units with brazed plate heat exchanger (BPHE) technology.

The design of BPHEs is what helps set them apart when compared to the performance of competitive technologies, such as gasket plate heat exchangers (GPHE). BPHEs are constructed as a plate package of corrugated channel plates that have a filler material between each plate. During the plates vacuum-brazing process, the filler material forms a brazed joint at every contact point between the plates, creating channels through which the media will flow. This also allows media at different temperatures to come into close proximity and enables heat or cold from one media to be transferred to the other in a highly efficient manner.

The concept is similar to other plate-and-frame heat-exchanger technologies, but without the need for gaskets and frame parts that can fail and leak, leading to potentially high cleanup, maintenance, and replacement costs.

Other advantages that BPHEs can offer in cooling applications include compact size; more efficient operation; installation flexibility; self-cleaning operation; lower life cycle cost; and the ability to be customized for the needs of an installation.

Simon Buehler, sales manager for Konvekta, recommended BPHEs for the air handling units, and specifically suggested BPHEs from SWEP, a Sweden-based supplier of BPHEs for use in the HVAC and industrial markets.

Our business relationship with SWEP began many years ago in Germany, said Buehler. Today, SWEP is our main supplier of BPHEs. SWEP has an excellent SWEP Software Package (SSP) calculation platform that makes it very easy for out engineers to select the right BPHE for the project.

In the case of the air handing units at the Sherman Center, Buehler and Konvekta recommended a pair of B50H BPHEs be installed. The B50H models were the best choice because SWEP has designed them to be used in demanding applications. With three different plate combinations and 2.5 (63.5 mm) connections, they are an ideal solution for high-volume applications that can require flow rates of as much as 56 m3/hr (246 gpm).

SWEP B-type heat exchangers are able to optimize the use of energy, material, and space in cooling systems, said Buehler. They are compact, cheap when compared to other solutions, durable and have high heat-transfer performance. The B50H model is also perfect for operations with low pressure drops, high flows and where the temperature difference between the two media is typically very small. At the Sherman Center, the temperature difference between the cooling-water inlet and water/glycol outlet is only 4F.

The SWEP BPHEs began operating in conjunction with the air handling units for the Albert Sherman Center on the UMass Medical Schools campus in mid-2015 and, according to MacNeil, have performed without a hitch in the ensuing 16 months.

We really only need them when its really hot out, those days when its 97 and humid, thats when we get the supplemental cooling we need from the BPHEs, said MacNeil. Theyre so simple and work well; you just install them and you very rarely have any issues. They definitely meet our needs.

Qvarnstrom is the project development manager for SWEP North America, Inc., located in Tulsa, OK. Founded in 1983 and acquired by the Dover Corporation in 1994, SWEP is a supplier of brazed plate heat exchangers (BPHEs) for use in HVAC and industrial applications. SWEPs North American sales network is headquartered in Duluth, GA, with the manufacturing center located in Tulsa.

More:
Heat Recovery Helps Cool UMass Med School Facility - Facility Executive Magazine

Post-war consumerism has engulfed us to the point that weve been conditioned to buy rather than make. Planned obsolescence means having to buy the latest version of a product even the old ones still serving its purpose well. Repairs are practically impossible to do because of the way products are designed. Almost every big brand features proprietary technology, too, so you always have to involve companies even for service and after-sales concerns.

It is, therefore, refreshing to see movements that have deconstructed technologies and products in favor of the so-called maker culture. As much as previous generations are criticizing Millennials for being too glued to their smartphones and the internet, its not as if all Gen Xers and Boomers actually spent their youth apprenticing under skilled tradesmen toiling around in workshops to feel that they are a generation of creators who relied on brawn and lived by the sweat of their brows.

In fact, the available technology today encourages a certain level of involvement through a maker culture, which has spawned a new generation of do-it-yourselfers. This means that millennials might even be more involved in the maker culture than previous generations.

So, its actually great that technology today is creating a new age of do-it-yourself (DIY). Connected devices for home use are now being built for ease-of-use with DIY installation and configuration. The Nest thermostat is designed to be self-installed (complete with the tools and guides) and is made to work with most standard heating and cooling systems.

Even home security products like SimpliSafe come in DIY kits that do not require professional installation compared to other popular subscriber-based home security systems. The sensors and alarms are all designed to be self-installed within minutes, and the system can likewise be self-managed through the users smartphone, and it also through a centralized contact center when an alarm is activated.

While some may argue that these kinds of DIY activities arent exactly producing creations, these product designs encourage an active participation from users. One may even think of these as gateway activities to engaging in more creative DIY projects. Just like in cooking you dont attempt complex dishes without knowing how to boil the water first.

For those keen in more creative pursuits, developments in personal electronics and connectivity have allowed computing enthusiasts to foster the maker culture. We can think of this movement as people revisiting the creative space of workshops, garages, and sheds. People are out to change the world through inventions not too different in pursuit as the inventors of the industrial revolution.

Microcontroller kits Arduino and Raspberry Pi are probably heaven-sent technologies for tinkerers. These have paved the way for a multitude of personal and mobile computing projects. While these essentially function as barebones pocket computers, their functionalities can be expanded through a variety of peripherals such as sensors and servos. Users can even explore robotics with these kits. Weve seen people integrate synthesizers, voice activation, and even health sensors for a variety of projects.

The emergence of 3D printing is also pushing this DIY maker culture to new heights. Components can easily be printed from open source diagrams using a variety of materials including ceramic, plastic, metal, and now even biological materials. This allows for quick and easy fabrication of any conceivable part for any project.

Wi-Fi and Ethernet modules can also be integrated into these kits to allow devices to come online. These pave the way for data collection, access, and control, from virtually any device, which can result in purposeful integration among different devices.

In Gartners latest estimates, the firm says 2017 will see 8.4 billion connected devices this year. In three years time, that number is expected to explode to more than 20 billion. The maker movement is helping push those numbers.

The maker movement has also made its way into our schools, which aim to inspire students to express creativity through technology projects. The new levels of creativity that we see from various projects are absolutely fascinating as hobbyists and tinkerers can now even outpace companies in rapidly building prototypes of potentially life-changing devices. These may come soon enough for the older and aging generations to enjoy and benefit.

These developments at least hint at a shift in the mindset wherein people simply just have to pay for everything. Maker culture is all about bringing back creation and activeness. This may even spell the disruption of planned obsolescence models on which many companies have built their product life cycles on and forced into our lives.

Read the rest here:
The maker culture: The Rise Digital DIY Gadgets - Techworm

WATE 6 On Your Side

Heating and air contractor takes Morgan County veteran's money, doesn't install unit WATE 6 On Your Side DEER LODGE (WATE) A retired Air Force sergeant says he regrets answering a Facebook ad for a heating and air contractor. The contractor and his partner traveled from Oak Ridge to rural Morgan County where they were supposed to install the unit.

Read more:
Heating and air contractor takes Morgan County veteran's money, doesn't install unit - WATE 6 On Your Side

Hector Uriarte wants locals to conserve water one toilet flush at a time.

Through a program from the Community Service and Development, Proteus Inc. is offering free replacement of water inefficient toilets.

Uriarte, energy division community development liaison, said homeowners or renters can have toilets with a 1.28-gallon or bigger tank replace with ones that are water efficient.

The swap, given the homeowners or renters qualify, is free.

People reduce water conservation and see a reduction in their water bill, Uriarte said.

The toilet replacement program is just one initiative Proteus, Inc. is offering, including weather-striping, door replacement, glass repair and heating and cooling.

Additional water-saving programs Proteus, Inc. offers include the installation of low-flow shower heads, replacement of high-energy consuming washers and fitting of faucet aerators.

Already in place for nearly a year, the toilet replacing program has meant 7,065 water inefficient toilets are no cost. The cost can add up to $250, with parts running up to $150.

We want people to conserve water, Uriarte said.

There are three ways to qualify for the program: income, reside in a disadvantaged community or live in a city with a water basin or drought stricken area. The program is offered in Tulare, Fresno, Kings, Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino.

It takes up to four weeks to complete the process, Uriarte said. Those interested are encouraged to call Proteus, Inc. and provide initial information.

Uriarte said state officials have already determined the locations where the program is in effect. County residents are likely to qualify.

After the initial step, an assessor responds to the address and ensures the toilet is one thats water inefficient, Uriarte said. Then, all the information is sent to state officials for final approval.

Once the paperwork is in proper order, an installation appointment is set and the replacement occurs.

On Wednesday, thats exactly what happened at Arsenia Espindolas Visalia home.

After completing the paperwork process, which started late last month, the water-saving toilet was installed. She said she waited on calling about the program. She had received a letter from Southern California Edison, telling her she had a good chance to qualify.

It took me longer to make the phone call than for them to have the installation done, Espindola said. They know what they are doing.

Espindola said she welcome the installation of the water-saving toilet.

Its a good program, she said. Residents need to conserve and save water.

During her home survey, the accessor took photos and told Espindola she could also qualify for a replacement refrigerator, washer, heater and the cooler.

Espindola said power bill get high during the hot summer months.

Uriarte said residents have until May 31 to apply for the toilet replacement program.

The sooner they can get in, the better it is, he said.

Information: 888-255-2142.

Waterwise is a news and notes column Reporter Luis Hernandez compiles. Send waterwise ideas and suggestions to the reporter on twitter @lfhernanvtd.

Read or Share this story: http://vtd-tar.co/2opR2Ox

Go here to read the rest:
Waterwise: Conservation by the toilet flush - Visalia Times-Delta

(The following letter is addressed to MLA Linda Larson.)

Four years ago when you applied for the job as our MLA you were (as were all other candidates) outraged at the high cost of electricity from FortisBC. For a while you made mention of your efforts in your publications to the constituents of Boundary-Similkameen. Of late there has been little news.

I cannot for the life of me understand why this punitive two-tiered billing system is being continued. I have for four years complained to you, to the BC Utilities Commission and to the people through the newspapers about how unfair this billing practice is to people with electric heat. This system was forced upon the electric utility by the BC Utilities Commission who received their instructions from your government. During the initial hearings to establish this reverse Robin Hood billing plan, Fortis told the commission that this change would be devastating to electric heat customers. No one at the commission listened because they had their marching orders from your government. Electric heat customers were just collateral damage to their plan.

Should we take out our anger and frustration on FortisBC? No we should not. This policy was ordered to be implemented by your Liberal government, and to this day your government continues to defend this unfair billing system.

If your government did not wish people to use electricity for home space heating all they had to do was change the building codes to ban the use of electricity for space heating. This has not been done. In fact the concept of heating electrically was promoted with rebates and allowances to install heat pumps. So now all of the folks that do not have access to gas are now stuck with a heating system that has become so expensive that electric heat users must take drastic actions to find enough money to pay the electric bill or freeze in the dark.

I can guarantee you that poorly heated homes result in illness which can and will impact upon medical costs to the province.

My latest electric bill was for $279.59 for Jan. 4 through to March 6. One could say what are you complaining about? This is a reasonable cost especially considering the very harsh winter. I ask you to bear with me here. For this sum I was able to keep my house at 16.3 C for January and 15 C in February. I ran out of Tier 1 rates on February 13, which meant that the 20 days left in the billing period were all at 15.617 cents for every kWh used. If we had dared to keep the house at 20 C during the day and 17 C at night our cost would be approximately double what we actually paid.

I have installed a high efficiency heat pump, energy saving appliances, energy efficient lighting, a timer on my hot water tank (it runs only eight hours per day), energy saving window coverings, insulated our heating/cooling duct work, installed solar film for summer heat reduction and we practice preventing energy waste by not having any electrical item left on when not in use. We seldom use the electric oven and select foods that we can cook using the less costly microwave. Our house has an energy efficiency rating of 82.7 out of a possible 83 points for a home of this vintage. We can do nothing more except pay the inflated rates or freeze in the dark.

Your government likes to say that electric consumption has declined under the tiered pricing. You are mistaken in this belief.

I do not want something for nothing. I already pay above the cost of production. All I ask is a flat rate (fair to all) or at the very least a different winter rate structure for electric heat users.

My final option now is to not vote for any government or party which refuses to correct this unfair billing practice. Therefore I will not support your re-election and neither will I vote for the NDP party who also is not listening to the rural electric customers who do not have access to natural gas and who are penalized for wanting heat in their homes at a fair price with an environmentally clean product.

I suggest to everyone who can, to switch to a fuel source which is priced fairly, although these options have detrimental environmental consequences.

I am tired of freezing in the dark. Your government does not offer tax subsidies for solar installations and obviously supports the use of polluting fuels over clean options.

I am sure that the Liberal government knows that there are more voters who heat with gas than there are those who depend upon electricity for their space heating.

We who oppose two tiered billing are not going away and will not give up fighting for what is fair.

James B. McGinnigle, Oliver

Read more from the original source:
Tired of two-tier plan and freezing in the dark | Oliver Chronicle - Oliver Chronicle

MEDFORD During a special meeting Friday, the Medford school board reached a decision regarding replacement of HVAC units on the schools roof.

The district awarded the contract to the lowest of four bidders, Owatonna Heating & Cooling, to install 36 Aaon units at a total cost of $2,243,070. The districts account from bond sales currently has $1.6 million remaining, so theyll cover the rest of the HVAC costs with money from the general fund.

Both decisions to install all 36 units, and to pay for it through a combination of bond sale money and fund balance were unanimous. Bids for the HVAC project were received March 30, and the project was split into four groups for bid purposes for both Aaon and Carrier units for a total of eight groups (one base bid and seven alternates.)

Bids were for 20 units, 25, 29 or the 36 the board ultimately opted for, and work is scheduled to be completed by the time the 2017-2018 school year begins this fall. The bids included labor, materials, electrical and structural work, but not assorted fees and an 8 percent contingency built in for unexpected costs.

The initial structural analysis was completed for the weights of the Aaon units. Since the Carrier units are heavier, they wouldve required additional structural work according to Rich Dahman, Medfords superintendent. While the Carrier units are less expensive, they wouldve led to roughly $50,000 in added structural adjustment costs.

The Aaon units also provide better control in AC mode, have a longer warranty on heat exchangers and boast better filters, according to the HVAC project summary provided by the district. In addition, Aaon units will provide consistency with current units and eliminate the need for additional structural work.

Dahman recommended accepting the bid from Owatonna Heating & Cooling to install 36 Aaon units, advice the board followed. Other options the board could have selected included awarding the project to a different bidder, utilizing Carrier units, and/or reducing the number of units replaced in 2017.

He also recommended paying any additional costs for the project, above the funds available in the bond sale account, out of the districts fund balance, which the board also accepted. Other options included paying for additional costs through a capital facilities bond and/or delaying the replacement of some units.

Delaying a portion of the project would have allowed the district to remain within budget, according to the project summary. In addition, the units over the locker rooms have been the most trouble-free to date, so delaying that group couldve potentially allowed Medford to replace them and the roof which is on the 14th year of a 20-year warranty at the same time, placing the district on a timeline where Medford is not replacing all units at the same time.

The total cost would have increased, however, if a portion was delayed, due to inflation, buying less in bulk and labor costs, and completing the entire project this summer will create consistency with one contractor installing all the units, according to the summary. This ensures that all units and controls are working together effectively.

Paying additional costs from a bond sale wouldve spread the costs out over time and increased flexibility with a larger fund balance while also increasing the total cost interest and fees and leaving less for future projects, according to the summary. Paying additional costs from the fund balance avoids fees and interest, and that method still leaves Medford above the districts policy of 25 percent of expenditures.

Reach reporter Ryan Anderson at 507-444-2376 or follow him onTwitter.com@randerson_ryan

Read the original here:
Medford school board approves bid for HVAC work this summer - Southernminn.com

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Window Film Association (IWFA), a nonprofit trade association representing leading manufacturers, distributors and dealers, is proud to recognize April 30, 2017, as the fourth annual National Window Film Day (NWFD). In alignment with proclamations issued by governors and mayors across the United States, NWFD is a day dedicated to furthering public education of the many benefits of professionally installed window film including: energy efficiency, indoor temperature comfort, blocking 99% of the sun's UVA rays, the reduction of fading of furnishings and possible harmful exposure to skin and eyes.

TWEET THIS: For National Window Film Day on 4/30, @IWFAinfo shares new "Go Green & Save Green" infographic: http://bit.ly/GoGreenInfographic#WindowFilmDay

"From increased energy efficiency to protection from 99% of UV rays, professionally installed window film offers home and business owners an affordable improvement to help save money and the environment," said Jack Mundy, President, IWFA. "As a part of the IWFA's celebration of National Window Film Day, we are pleased to share a new 'Go Green' infographic."

The free "Go Green and Save Green" infographic (download here) highlights the many benefits of window film and emphasizes how professionally installed window film is a good choice for the environment over replacing older windows entirely. A professional installation of window film helps consumers save on heating and cooling costs and may also be eligible for "Go Green" energy rebates.

"Window film offers a significant economic benefit at many levels - from employment to energy savings to improved health, to the reduction of our carbon footprint," said Darrell Smith, Executive Director, IWFA. "We are very happy to see the growing support of National Window Film Day and the window film industry from our nation's officials."

To find professionally accredited window film installers near you, visit the IWFA's Find An Installer; for more information on NWFD, visit IWFA website.

About the International Window Film Association The International Window Film Association (IWFA) (www.iwfa.com) is a unified industry body of window film dealers, distributors, and manufacturers that facilitates the growth of the window film industry though the use of education, research, advocacy and consumer awareness. The organization builds alliances with trade associations, utilities and government agencies to advance dealers' and distributors' businesses and provide value to their customers.

Contact: Erin Vadala; Warner Communications Erin@warnerpr.com; 978-468-3076

Read More

More here:
New "Go Green" Infographic Celebrates Professionally Installed Window Film Ahead of National Window Film Day - Yahoo Finance