School curriculum is exciting when it teaches students how to program a computer that will machine high precision parts, instructs students in the fine art of creating a banquet menu for one hundred people, install solar panels or replace the computerized braking system on an automobile. And yet, the value of these learning experiences continues to be questioned as equally rigorous when compared to traditional curriculum. This debate has raged across our nation ever since our federal government began funding Career and Technical Education (CTE) in 1917. However, one thing is changing. The debate is receiving greater attention as our global economy is shifting to require a highly skilled workforce capable of executing technical skills in problem based work settings. This conversation has landed at the doorstep of our leaders in Albany, and Albany is listening.

People generally come down on either side of this debate. Listen to the conversations at family graduation parties or discussions around the office water cooler as parents talk about the high school and post-secondary academic track of their children. Then watch the body language change when one parent proudly describes the technical certificate their daughter just earned in heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

Perhaps some simple facts may help get the conversation back on track and make direct eye contact at the water cooler a little easier:

We are a nation that continues to want the shiny and wonderful new things being developed but do not have the people to build them, work on them, and fix them and if we do not find them pretty quick the American economy will be in real trouble. (James Brady, Secretary of Maryland Dept. of Business & Economic Development, View From Government, 2001)

Thinking and problem solving is the work of the future no matter what educational environment you develop these skills in. Applied learning environments do it the best. (NAVE Report, June 2004)

In New York, if current trends continue, the state will have a deficit of 350,000 employees by 2020 for mid-level technical skills jobs, which are considered to be those requiring more than a high school diploma but, less than a four-year college or university degree. (Chmura Economics and Analysis, 2013)

Only 12 percent of New York high school students concentrate in a Career & Technical Education field (OECD 2008, Education at a Glance, 2008), yet more than 50 percent of current high skilled jobs require these skills.

Thirty-seven percent of Americas three million annual high school graduates go directly to work after receiving their diplomas; most are not prepared with any technical skills. (NAVE Report, June 2004)

According to the National Association of Manufacturers, Despite high unemployment, 600,000 jobs in advanced manufacturing remain unfilled because of a lack of skilled talent, (2014)

The USA ranks well behind a majority of European nations in preparing youth for employment after formal education. (OMabony and De Bair, 2002)

Read more:
Speck: 'My daughter, the HVAC technician' why the new graduation pathways model is so important

Designed and built in just 21 months, a new building on the campus of the South Beach Psychiatric Center will open in the coming months after it was wiped out in Hurricane Sandy. The new structure is designed to withstand even the most ferocious storm. NY1s Amanda Farinacci filed the following report.

The surveillance video above captured water bursting through the basement of the South Beach Psychiatric Center moments before Hurricane Sandy hit.

The water moved with such force that it broke through two doors held shut with dead-bolt locks. The fast-moving flood rose more than 12 feet before it soaked the camera and ended the recording.

"It was devastating. I didn't think that we were going to recover from it, said Robert Giammarino of the center.

More than 300 clients living at the center were evacuated before the storm hit.

When workers returned to survey the damage the next day, they discovered its electrical, heating and cooling systems were destroyed.

It took three weeks to do enough repairs to make the campus resident-ready again, using makeshift kitchens and backup generators.

But now, two years after the storm, the state office of mental health is showing off a new, stronger, more resilient facilities space, called the central services building, or CSB.

Its first floor is 20 feet above sea level, the second, 35 feet.

"You have the boilers, the chillers, the electrical gear, the generators, all that critical infrastructure that was immobilized by the storm, sitting 35 feet above sea level within the confines of the building here. So it really is what's going to allow us to continue to face these storms, said Ed Killeen of the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Original post:
Sandy-Destroyed South Beach Psychiatric Center Close to Opening New, Stronger Facility

Photo by Dean Morrill

Posted: Tuesday, October 28, 2014 7:53 am

'Heat Up Minnesota' helps Walker man get new furnace by Dean Morrill Editor dmorrill@pilotindependent.com The Pilot Independent

Kurt Glassmann of rural Walker received his new furnace last Friday, and thanks to Minnesota Lennox Heating dealers and Ikes Heating in Nevis, it was free.

This is the third year in a row Lennox Internationals Heat Up Minnesota program has been providing free high-efficiency furnaces to those who have had setbacks or have fallen on tough times, and who need heat. And Ikes Heating is one of the participating Lennox dealers in Minnesota that donates their time and tools to install the furnace.

An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.

To become a new online only subscriber, please choose this option. By doing so, you will first proceed to a registration form. Upon completion of the registration form you will then continue by completing the subscription form. For assistance please call (218) 547-1000. Thank you.

Please note - If you have already registered during a previous visit to this web site go to directly to the login button at the top right and then proceed to the subscription form.

To become a new online only subscriber, and have your payment automatically charged every four weeks, please choose this option. By doing so, you will first proceed to a registration form. Upon completion of the registration form you will then continue by completing the subscription form. For assistance please call (218) 547-1000. Thank you.

Please note - If you have already registered during a previous visit to this web site go to directly to the login button at the top right and then proceed to the subscription form.

Continued here:
'Heat Up Minnesota' helps Walker man get new furnace

Since 1975 Area Heating & Cooling, Inc has worked hand in hand with the local contractors in Clark & Cowlitz County. We know what it takes to get your job done on time to keep your project moving. If you are a builder looking for a heating contractor to get your job done right and on time, call us for an estimate on your upcoming projects! We specialize in custom and spec homes.

Dear ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Awardee,

Congratulations! In recognition of your commitment to providing our nations homebuyers with ENERGY STAR certified homes, your company has earned a 2012 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award. This award recognizes your organizations work in promoting energy efficient construction and helping to protect the environment through its partnership with ENERGY STAR.

Despite the downturn in the housing market, it is clear that both home builders and home buyers are continuing to invest in high performing homes. To date, more than 1.3 million ENERGY STAR certified homes have been built with more than 127,000 constructed in 2011. All of this is thanks to the hard work and dedication by more than 5,400 active ENERGY STAR for New Homes partners!

Last year alone, with the help of ENERGY STAR and partners like you, Americans saved nearly $400 million on their utility bills, and avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of more than 510,000 vehicles. We appreciate the contribution that your organization has made to help ENERGY STAR achieve this great level of success, and your continued partnership.

This year, EPA is proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR program. For two decades, ENERGY STAR has helped millions of Americans and thousands of businesses save energy, save money, and protect the climate. Over the past 20 years, Americans, with help from ENERGY STAR, have saved nearly $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Attached you will find a certificate recognizing you for your achievements in energy efficient new home construction. Please accept this as a token of our appreciation for your hard work and dedication to the ENERGY STAR Program. We will also be sending you a separate email that will includes a press-release template and marketing ideas for advertising your Leadership in Housing Award.

EPA is pleased to offer this certificate, in addition to the opportunity for partners to order their own plaques, if they so choose. Sponsoring organizations will also have the opportunity to order plaques on their local partners behalves as well. The organization name to appear on your plaque will be the same as that which is listed on your certificate, unless otherwise specified. Directions for purchasing one or more plaques on behalf of your organization will be sent in a separate message.

The Leadership in Housing Awardee page

The ENERGY STAR for New Homes Team

See the original post here:
Area Heating and Cooling Inc. - Air Conditioners, Heat ...

HOT SPRINGS, AR (News release) - The Arkansas Energy Office, a division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, will host a Weatherization Day event on Thursday, October 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Hot Springs Farmers Market, 121 Orange Street, to showcase the benefits of the Arkansas Weatherization Program.

The event is free and open to the public. The Arkansas Weatherization Program utilizes advanced diagnostic technology, including a computerized energy audit, to determine the energy-efficiency needs of a house or mobile home, investing up to $6,902 to weather strip or replace doors and windows; caulk and seal cracks and holes; insulate walls, ceilings and attics; repair or replace heating and cooling systems; vent space heaters; retrofit furnaces; replace energy-inefficient refrigerators and electric water heaters; install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and low-flow shower heads; and make other improvements to reduce air filtration.

Arkansass Weatherization Assistance Program is a great tool for individuals and families looking for cost-effective and manageable ways to make their homes more comfortable in extreme weather conditions, said J.D. Lowery, director of the Arkansas Energy Office. I encourage everyone interested in keeping warm this winter to come out and learn more about the Weatherization program along with basic tips anyone can implement to save money and conserve energy.

The Weatherization Assistance Program, established by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1976, is the nation's largest residential energy efficiency program. Its mission is to reduce energy costs for low income families, particularly for the elderly, people with disabilities and children by improving the energy efficiency of their homes while ensuring health and safety.

Since the inception of the program, more than $165 million has gone toward making 78,000 Arkansas homes more energy efficient, safe and healthy.

A study done by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock showed that more than 3,800 recipients in the past three years reduced their use of electricity an average of 1,562 kilowatt hours and of natural gas 106,000 cubic feet, generating a combined annual savings of more than $2.4 million.

The program is free for those who meet the following annual income guidelines:

Weatherization Day, celebrated in Arkansas since 2000, is part of the Weatherization Assistance Program conference, being held October 27-30 at Clarion on the Lake in Hot Springs. The conference targets agencies involved in residential energy efficiency. The emphasis is on quality performance. Four speakers - Rick Karg, Robert Scott, Rhett Eldridge and Bill Eckman - have been brought in to provide key information on new weatherization technologies.

Continued here:
Weatherization Day Event Oct. 30 in Hot Springs

StatePoint

Preparing your home for colder weather can help ensure your family stays warm and safe, as well as save you money on energy-related costs and potential damage to your homes structure.

I recommend homeowners do a thorough home inspection at least every five years, said Tom Capuano, a franchisee of Pillar To Post Home Inspectors, North Americas largest home inspection franchise.

The experts at Pillar To Post recommend homeowners take the following steps to cover their bases.

Doors and Windows

If you can feel cool air coming through the bottom of the door, replace the weather stripping and door sweeps to save about one-third of your average annual heating and cooling costs. Next, caulk drafty windows and replace old single-pane windows with thicker, more modern versions. Install storm windows and insulate walls and attics.

Chimney and Flue

Annual inspections of the chimney and flue minimize the threat of chimney fires. Additionally, add a chimney cap to keep out moisture and ensure your chimney has an appropriate liner to separate system emissions from the homes structure. Inspect and maintain chimney flashing.

Outdoor Areas

Ensure gutters and downspouts are flowing freely. Clogs can cause water to make contact with the foundation walls of your home and creep under your roofing.

See the rest here:
Tis the season to change seasons

By LOUISE RONALD Palladium-Item

CAMBRIDGE CITY, Ind. (AP) - Got a quarter?

Check your pocket, wallet, coin purse or that jar by the door where you put your loose change.

If you have a state commemorative quarter marked with a "D," that coin passed through a furnace created in Cambridge City, the Palladium-Item reported (http://pinews.co/1sqme8W).

Rogers Engineering & Manufacturing at 112 S. Center St. builds industrial furnaces for basically any product that requires heating during the manufacturing process - from glassware to auto radiators to garden tools.

And coins.

Coins need to be annealed - heated and cooled to prevent brittleness.

Rogers' furnaces are annealing coins at the U.S. Mint in Denver, where the quarters are made, and also at the San Francisco mint, which produces clad and silver proof coin sets.

The U.S. Mint just awarded Rogers a contract to design, manufacture and install a second annealing furnace at its San Francisco facility.

"To get this thing designed and built, it takes about 30 weeks," said Bill Rogers, company founder and president.

The rest is here:
Eastern Indiana company provides US Mint furnace

Old town hall improvements By LORI WINCE Saturday October 25, 2014 8:01 PM

Pataskala City Council members disagree on what to do with a $200,000 grant from a recent state capital bill that could be used to install public restrooms and an elevator in the old town hall building at 430 S. Main St.

The Pataskala Division of Police is based on the first floor and basement and the Sterling Theater is on the second floor of the 97-year-old building, which is owned by the city.

City Council learned Oct. 20 the grant requires the city to match 50 cents for every dollar of the grant, or $100,000.

City Administrator Benjamin King said construction costs are estimated at $250,000, which doesn't include design and bidding for the project.

He said the city could use the value of the building, $100,000, as part of the match but that would not be enough to cover the project cost.

King said the state would accept the value of the building as the match if the city showed the valuation from the Licking County Auditor's Office.

However, he said, the match could not be used to pay bills to contractors. The city would need enough money from the grant to pay those bills and even more if the estimate exceeded the match.

City Councilman Bryan Lenzo said Pataskala already has paid to install a new roof on the building, secure the foundation, repair windows and improve the heating-and-cooling system.

Lenzo said at some point City Council needs to re-evaluate the use of the building because it might not be cost effective to keep the police department there.

Follow this link:
City Council weighs cost of using grant money

Houses made in a factory are a cheap and energy-efficient way for poorer Americans to become homeownersplus, these days, the mass-produced units can be pretty spiffy.

La Citta Vita/Flickr

Youve seen it before: a house, on a truck, on a highway, slowing down traffic with its yellow OVERSIZED LOAD sign, its tan vinyl siding nearly screaming Trailer Park!

The snobs among us may judge these pre-fab homes as shoddily built, cheap eyesores in a country thats increasingly eschewing the suburbs for walkable urban areas.

But pre-fabricated homes just might be part of the solution to America's affordable housing crisis.

Home prices are continuing to rise, even as incomes on the lower-end of the scale remain flat, putting home ownership out of reach for many Americans. In some cities, thats led to renters flooding the markets, which in turns drives rental prices up. Homeownership in the U.S. was 65 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, down from 69 percent in 2005, according to the Census Bureau (PDF).

Families who can't afford homes often find that the apartments available to them are tiny, expensive, and old. Manufactured homes, affordable-housing advocates say, are spacious in comparison.

The manufactured home is probably the most cost-effective way to provide quality affordable housing, said Donna M. Blaze, the CEO of the Affordable Housing Alliance, which helped provide manufactured homes for Sandy refugees. Most of our new units are light years ahead of the apartments for rent in todays market.

The average sales price for a manufactured home in 2013 was $64,000, according to the Census Bureau, while the average sales price for a single-family home was $324,000. The single-family site-built home includes the land, though, while owners of manufactured homes often have to still grapple with landlords and leasing issues. But the structure itself is nevertheless significantly cheaper: New manufactured homes cost around $43 per square foot; site-built homes cost $93 per square foot.

"In many areas, working class families are priced out of the market to buy homes," said said Stacey Epperson, the president and CEO of NextStep, which connects the manufactured home industry with affordable housing groups. "But for us, homeownership is still part of the American dream."

Continue reading here:
The Case for Trailer Parks

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -

Appalachian Power is proposing ways for its Virginia customers to reduce energy usage and demand.

The utility on Friday filed a request with the State Corporation Commission seeking approval for four residential programs and two for commercial and industrial customers.

Customers could see a one-half of a percent increase on their bills.

Appalachian Power expects the programs to save the equivalent of the total annual average usage of 3,000 homes.

The residential programs would provide home assessments and incentives for long-term energy reduction; provide free pickup and cash incentives for removing second refrigerators or freezers from the power grid; give incentives if new manufactured housing is built to efficiency standards; and offer retail rebates and markdowns for high-efficiency lighting and appliances.

A financial incentive for commercial and industrial users would tie to specific results from installing high-efficiency lighting and heating and cooling equipment. Another would provide rebates for certain larger energy conservation projects.

Appalachian Power has about 500,000 Virginia customers.

Here is the news release from Appalachian Power:

Appalachian Power has proposed six new programs that will help its Virginia customers reduce energy usage and demand. The company today filed a request with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) seeking approval for the portfolio of programs that will benefit residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) customers.

Read more from the original source:
Appalachian Power proposes efficiency programs, possible bill increase