On February 26, 2020, top tier business executives, entrepreneurs, and government representatives from Israel and Germany will gather in Berlin to take part in WeTech Berlin 2020, an exclusive innovation conference. The conference will include a series of unique encounters and discussions on topics with a focus on innovation and tech, business ties with Israel, investment opportunities, and more. During the conference, professional speakers will examine the ways in which tech and innovation manifest in various fields, from cyber and property-tech, to finance and artificial intelligence.

PointGrab

Founded: 2008

Founders: Haim Perski, Saar Wilf

Investors: BB Investments, Signify (formerly Philips Lighting), EMV

Funding to date: $10 million

Syte

Founded: 2015

Founders: Ofer Fryman, Lihi Pinto Fryman, Idan Pinto, Helge Voss

Investors: Viola, Magma

Funding to date: $30 million

Syte-Visual Conception Ltd. offers shopping suggestions based on image recognition software. Users can upload an image of an outfit and the companys technology breaks it down to its components, suggesting similar items to those pictured from multiple retailers. Shoppers can also upload photos of their own clothes and receive various styling recommendations from Syte.

Flytrex

Founded: 2013

Founders: Yariv Bash, Amit Regev

Investors: BGV, Btov Partners, Joey Low, Daniel Aegerter, Daniel Gutenberg

Funding to date: $11 million

Drone delivery startup Flytrex Aviation Ltd. provides drone delivery services to various kinds of businesses. The companys device can be attached to the drone, allowing operators to remotely control it using a mobile app. The company's device enables fast deliveries to individuals and businesses and can access areas that are hard to reach by car.

Qsee

Founded: 2018

Founders: Rami Refaeli, Nadav Herz

Investors: Ham-Let Group

Anzu

Founded: 2017

Founders: Itamar Benedy, Ben Fenster, Michael Badichi

Investors: WPP, Axel Springer Digital Ventures, Bitkraft Esports Ventures

Funding to date: $8 million

Agrowing

Founded: 2014

Founders: Ira Dvir, Nitzan Rabinowitz

Investors: Agrichem Ltd.

Funding to date: undisclosed

GOARC

Founded: 2015

Founders: Dror Barak, Haim Srur, Chani Gur-Arie

Investors: undisclosed

Funding to date: $7 million

TriEye

Founded: 2017

Founders: Avi Bakal, Uriel Levy, Omer Kapach

Investors: Intel Capital, Porsche Ventures, Grove Ventures, Marius Nacht

Funding to date: $2 million

Sixdof Space

Founded: 2017

Founders: Mark Goldfarb, Daniel Greenspan, Klony Lieberman

Investors: Israel Innovation Authority

Funding to date: $3.2 million

PERCEPTO

Founded: 2014

Founders: Dor Abuahsira, Sagi Blonder, Raviv Raz, Ariel Avitan

Investors: USVP, NHN, Spider Capital, Emerge

Funding to date: $27.5 million

Continued here:
These Are the Startups Selected to Showcase Their Technology in Berlin (Part 1) - CTech

While it may not have the sheer amount of accessories available as its competitors, Apple's HomeKit smart home platform provides users with an unmatched mix of privacy and convenience. With a limited selection of accessories and manufacturers to choose from, CES is one of the few times a year where HomeKit fans get to join in on all of the smart home fun.

No accessory category sums up the lack of options in the world of HomeKit better than cameras. Whether it's traditional indoor/outdoor cameras or video doorbells, there are only a handful currently available. Thankfully, this looks like it could be changing soon as this year's CES seems to be all about connected HomeKit cameras. Here are all of the accessories that could become part of your scenes and automations before the year's end.

The Abode Smart Indoor/Outdoor Camera is a clever take on the traditional connected camera. This versatile accessory can protect your home while sitting on a shelf, mounted on a wall, or as a replacement for a doorbell. Abode's camera can see it all with its wide-angle lens, and it features IP65 weather resistance, making it a great option both indoors and out.

If you own one of the Abode's security alarm systems, the camera will slot right alongside your other accessories, ready to keep an eye on your home in-tandem with the various sensors that you may already have in your home. Don't worry if you don't have an Abode system already though, this camera can work completely on its own, allowing you to get a taste of the company's hardware without making a full-blown commitment to an alarm.

August is releasing a new version of its smart lock that retains its same iconic design, but shrinks things down by quite a bit. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is 45% smaller in total volume, and 20% slimmer, allowing it to be installed on doors with tight accents such as large windows with trim.

The latest smart lock also simplifies connectivity to all of the voice assistants, including HomeKit, by housing all of the necessary hardware inside of the lock, ditching the need for a separate hub. August hasn't provided exact pricing or shipping as of yet, other than it is coming at some point in 2020.

ADT's DIY smart home line Blue is launching a suite of security cameras that will support HomeKit after the initial launch. The company's Smart Doorbell includes all of the connected ringer essentials such as 2-way audio, weather resistance, motion zones, and notifications.

Even though it falls under the ADT umbrella, a subscription is not required for this hardwired doorbell. Of course, ADT does offer additional cloud storage if needed. The company also has a companion doorbell chime that works not only as a way to give you an audible clue that someone is at your door, but it also extends the doorbell's wireless range.

$199 at Blue

The Blue By ADT Outdoor Camera packs in the same weather resistance as the company's doorbell, but does so in a more conventional package. This camera looks just like any other, however, it is completely wireless, running on an internal rechargeable battery.

Video resolution is listed as 1080p HD, which should offer clear and crisp visuals from its 130-degree wide-angle lens. Just like with the Blue by ADT doorbell, cloud storage subscriptions are available, however, the company provides 24 hours of storage for free, and it can save videos locally onto an SD card.

$199 at Blue

Rounding out Blue by ADT's offering is an indoor camera that functions just like you would expect of an indoor camera, giving you eyes on your home from anywhere around the world. While it records video in 1080p and has 2-way audio, the real star of the show is the stuff that you can't see.

The Blue by ADT Indoor Camera can listen in for additional alarms in your home, sending you notifications if your smoke detector is activated. Even if the power goes out in your home, you can still be covered, as there is also a small back-up battery housed inside, keeping things running for a short time.

$199 at Blue

Bosch has been one of HomeKit's biggest holdouts since the introduction of the smart home platform, but things will be changing this year. The global appliance giant announced at CES that it is opening up its Bosch Smart Home System to support select partners, including HomeKit.

Specific accessories for HomeKit have not yet been announced, but we suspect that we will see cameras, thermostats, and lighting hit our homes first. It remains to be seen whether or not the company's range of appliances such as ovens will be brought over, but HomeKit does not currently support these types of categories so it may be a while before that happens.

Eve has been one of Apple's oldest HomeKit partners, with the company's original Eve Energy smart plug being one of the first such device for the platform. While the original Eve Energy can still perform all of the same functions as newer smart plugs, the company's first entry was rather bulky, preventing it from being used in scenarios with another device plugged into the same outlet.

Eve is correcting this design flaw with its newest Eve Energy smart plug. The new compact Eve Energy still sports the classic all-white plastic design and uses a local Bluetooth only connection to your HomeKit hub. The updated model also includes energy monitoring within the Eve for HomeKit app.

$40 at Amazon

As it's name implies, the Eve Water Guard monitors any area that you place it in for potential leaks. The Water Guard works using a 6 and a half foot wire sensor cable that is placed on the surface around potential hot spots such as water heater. This allows the actual brains of the unit to sit far away from liquid, and is plugged into a standard electrical outlet.

If water is detected by the cable, a notification will be sent from either the Eve for HomeKit app, or the Home app installed on your phone. If that wasn't enough, the Water Guard also includes a powerful 100 decibel siren and indicator light to ensure that you are always aware even without your phone.

$80 at Eve

Seeing that Eve is one of the most recognizable HomeKit accessory manufacturers, it was only a matter of time until they jumped into the world of security cameras. The Eve Cam, coming this April, continues the company's focus on providing privacy-centric connected accessories.

The Eve Cam is the first HomeKit camera built explicitly for Apple's HomeKit Secure Video feature in mind. This allows the camera to work without any cloud servers being involved, as video comes in locally through your HomeKit hub. Eve also touts that the camera does not require any kind of account or registration at all, and your video never touches the cloud in any way.

Legrand is bringing HomeKit to your home's electrical panel with the introduction of the Drivia system in partnership with Netatmo. Yep, you read that right, this HomeKit accessory installs directly into your circuit breaker box, which almost definitely requires a call to an electrician.

The Drivia system is comprised of 6 units, including a contactor, relay, gateway and more. Being installed directly at your home's panel allows it to monitor energy consumption for everything that is plugged in around the house. The Drivia also enables owners to toggle power to a complete leg of electrical power to your home, which could be useful if you forgot to turn something off, but don't have it on a smart plug.

Not to be outdone by Sony, LG has also announced its new lineup of 8K capable televisions. LG's offerings include OLED panels that go all the way up to a massive 88 inches wide, and of course support HomeKit, allowing them to work within your scenes and automations.

Along with HomeKit controls, these TV's support AirPlay 2, enabling them to work in tandem with other speakers in your home. This makes creating a surround sound setup as easy as a few taps in Control Center, putting every one of your AirPlay 2 speakers in sync.

LIFX's recently released color candelabra style bulb was their first bulb in the smaller form factor that is usually found in ceiling fans and chandeliers. However, even though it was its first candelabra size bulb, it featured a unique candlelight effect through its "Polychrome technology".

Polychrome technology splits the LEDs inside of the bulb into separate zones, offering a way to display multiple colors at a time. With its newly unveiled white version of the bulb, the company is using the same tech although this time it will glow between different shades of white.

LIFX has jumped on the filament style light bulb craze with its latest white light bulb. The faux filament bulb is completely dimmable, but only provides one color temperature which is a warm white at 2700K.

While LIFX has only shown off one particular style of filament bulb, they do say that other shapes are in the works. The filament bulb will retail for $30 when they hit stores in the spring.

Along with filament style LED bulbs, bias lighting seems to have hit the mainstream market, so naturally, LIFX wants to provide their take on the category. LIFX has introduced two light strip kits, both of which are designed to attach directly to the back of your screens.

The LIFX Z-TV 360 and Z-Gamer Light Strips look like your typical strip light, but these have a clever touch that should make them much simpler to install. Instead of fumbling with cutting strips down to length and purchasing third party connectors that may or may not work, LIFX's strips are pre-cut to TV sizes and come with neat corner pieces that make 90 degree angles much cleaner.

Everyone that has followed LIFX has pretty much known that the company would eventually make its way into the connected light switch market at some point. So it is of no surprise that the LIFX Switch was announced as coming soon at CES this year.

Instead of replacing a single switch like most options on the market, the company's first offering is designed to replace the larger 4-gang switch boxes in your wall. Since it is replacing 4 switches, the price is a little steep, coming in at $120 later this year.

The Caseta Wireless line from Lutron is one of our favorite lighting accessories thanks to its rock-solid reliability and lighting quick response times. We love the system so much, that we wished that the company branched out to other product categories, which just so happens to be what Lutron announced at this year's CES.

As its name suggests, Lutron's Caseta Wireless Smart Motion Sensor acts as a hands-free way to toggle on and off our lights based on activity within a room. Lutron states that their sensor is up to 3 times faster than competing sensors, and can pick up motion up to 60 feet away. The best part though? this motion sensor also works with the company's HomeKit enabled Serena window shades.

Announced at CES a year ago, Nanoleaf's Unified Hexagon light panels are finally set for release in the spring of 2020. The 6 sided hexagon design provides more opportunities for panel placement than its predecessors, allowing them to function as both a piece of art, and just as neat decorative lighting.

As with Nanoleaf's Canvas line of light panels, each Unified Hexagon tile reacts completely to touch. And while not specifically mentioned, this could mean that each tile could act as a HomeKit button either at launch or down the road, giving owners a crazy amount of options when picking up a set.

Nanoleaf's Smart Learning Series is a suite of accessories that the company claims reacts to each other using various sensors and algorithms to learn from your preferences and needs. While specifics are scarce at the moment, potential accessories in the line include a smart light switch, light bulbs, buttons, and what looks to be a motion sensor.

All of these accessories seem to be standards within the smart home world, but Nanoleaf is positioning its latest technology as being the "anti-smart bulb" as they feel that current methods are not truly smart.

Netatmo's Smart Door Lock is a sleek lock that not only looks good, but it also houses some serious smarts. This door lock uses Bluetooth and NFC for a strictly local connection that doesn't connect to the cloud, but with the power of HomeKit, you can still access it remotely if needed.

Included with the lock are "smart keys" which look somewhat like a traditional barrel type key, however, they are not "keyed" for a specific lock and all have the same design. The magic behind this is built-in NFC, which allows the keys to activate any door lock that it is assigned to. This means you can keep the same key and use it for all of the locks that you may have around the house.

OneLife has introduced an air purifier that according to the company "removes more harmful substances including the smallest PM 1.0 particles than any other air purifier". The purifier has a clean modern design to go along with the ability to work with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.

Features include a sleep mode for quiet operation at night, as well as an automatic mode that ramps up or down according to the amount of particulates in the air. The included filter can be rinsed out when needed, and even can survive trips through a dishwasher for easy cleaning. Like most CES announcements, pricing and availability have not yet been disclosed.

Even though the Resonate light come in a rectangular form factor, these outdoor lights actually create triangles of light. What's more is that the light from them comes out both the top and bottom creating a distinct look.

The Hue Resonate will be available in both a black and stainless steel finish when released later this month. The only downside? They will only be available in European markets.

Just like the Resonate, the Hue Appear projects beams of triangular light from both sides of the outdoor fixture. The Appear however takes on a skinnier cylindrical frame and will only be available in black.

The Appear will be available starting in late January in Europe with a suggested retail price of 139. This light will also make its way to North America starting in mid-March.

Another Europe exclusive is the Hue Attract which features a classic downlight design. This outdoor light has an open glass shade which provides an "arc of light" against the wall that it is mounted to.

The attract will be available at the end of the month, and will have a retail price of 149.

An updated version of the popular outdoor spot light, the Lily XL has also been announced. This larger version include a more powerful spotlight, creating a dramatic effect wherever it is aimed at.

The Lily XL will be available in Europe first, launching in late January, and a North American release will follow in mid-March.

Coming at the end of January, the Hue Daylo is a circular outdoor fixture that comes in both black and stainless steel options. These lights mount directly to a wall which gives it a truly unique look.

Another European exclusive, these lights will start at 114 and 119 depending on the finish.

The newest Philips Hue Impress model features the same design as before, however, this time it comes in a low-voltage option.

Going the low-voltage route allows the Impress to be installed simply by plugging it in, forgoing wiring or a call to an electrician. Look for these in European markets starting later this month.

The Hue Nyro outdoor light comes in both wall mounted and pedestal options, each sharing an all-black angular downlight design.

Both Nyro variants will be available at the end of April, but again, is only being marketed within Europe at this time. Pricing starts at 119 for the wall light, and 149 for the pedestal.

A North America exclusive path light, dubbed the Hue Econic Pedestal, brings the smarts to one of the outdoor staples. These low voltage lights are smaller than the original but still retain the lantern like design.

Available starting in mid-March, the Econic Pedestal will come in a base kit for $149, and an extension kit for $129, but the company did not actually specify the exact number of lights are included in each.

While HomeKit already has quite the line up of lighting products available, the addition of Sengled to the mix adds in quality accessories that are affordably priced. Sengled's smart LED lighting has been around for a while now, and a new HomeKit enabled hub can bring them all into the Home app.

The Sengled 3rd generation hub utilizes ZigBee for fast, reliable connections to light bulbs, light strips, and plugs without bogging down your Wi-Fi network. Although specifics regarding its release date were not announced, the latest update to the company's smart home app details how to set everything up with HomeKit, suggesting it may come sooner rather than later.

Sony's latest high-end OLED televisions crank things up to the glory that is known as 8K. Even more impressive though, is that Sony is making OLED available in a smaller size, all the way down to 48 inches, which for some reason seems to be one of the hardest things to do for TV manufacturers.

As good as the visuals can be on these sets, the star of the show for us is HomeKit and AirPlay 2 support. This enables possibilities such as telling Siri to turn up the volume or to change the channel with just a shout to a HomePod or an iOS device.

TandemLED CES debut came with several lighting products that play well with HomeKit through a connection to a Philips Hue hub. The company's tape light comes in the longest size that we have seen for the category, 16.4 feet.

The adjustable part of the light strip refers to its white color temperature which ranges from 2700K to 500K. This light strip also features an IP65 water resistant coating, as well as customizable sizing with sections that can be cut every inch.

$134 at TandemLED

TandemLED's Lux Puck Lights are a compact option for shelves and under-cabinet installations which come in both white and silver finishes. Like TandemLED's light strip, these lights have adjustable white color temperatures, and can provide up to 300 lumens of brightness.

The Lux Puck Lights will be offered in jut one size, 2.57 inches, and will be available starting on January 15th for around $40 each.

$40 at TandemLED

The AC Smart Receiver from TandemLED can give your existing lighting a smart assistant upgrade. This tiny receiver installed behind your wall outlets, giving them the smarts without a bulky plug hanging from it.

This design also allows the receiver to work in outdoor settings, powering devices up to 100 watts. Look for this clever solution starting in mid-January.

$119 at TandemLED

The Votion Smart Outlet, offers convenient control over any device that is plugged into it. The plug utilizes Wi-Fi for a direct connection to your home network, enabling it to work with HomeKit scenes and automations.

The plug also features energy monitoring capabilities as well as a status indicator ring and manual toggle button on the front of the unit.

These switches cover both 1 and 2-way installations, but dimming may not be along for the ride. Like the company's smart outlet, they connect to all of the voice assistants, including HomeKit, using Wi-Fi without a hub.

Both light switches can also utilize NFC, which is built-in, allowing users to pair them with a simple tap of their phone. Pricing and availability has not yet been announced.

Details surrounding Votion's LED Light Strip Controller are scarce, but it looks to be more of a traditional light strip and not a box that you connect to an existing device.

The company mentions colorful scenes and automations but important specs such as brightness and potential weather resistance are not available.

Votion's Door and Window sensor is a standard 2 piece contact sensor that attaches directly to a door or window. The sensor uses magnets to determine whether or not things are open or closed and will notify users if an event occurs.

The sensor runs on 2 AA batteries and uses Bluetooth 5 to connect to HomeKit for a secure local connection.

This motion sensor from Votion is a surface mountable compact unit that keeps an eye on its surroundings. If motion occurs, it can put automations into place that can light up the area, or send a notification.

Votion's sensor also includes an onboard LED light which sounds like a handy way to add some path lighting around the home. The sensor is completely wireless running on just 3 AAA batteries.

Another one of Votion's accessories include a water leak sensor that works just like it sounds. Simply place this compact little accessory near a potential hot spot and you will get notified if water touches it.

This tiny sensor talks to HomeKit over Bluetooth 5, and since it is powered by batteries, you can toss it just about anywhere to get a little extra peace of mind.

Not much is known about this sensor, other than it attaches directly to glass doors to keep them safe and secure. If it somehow is able to work its magic on sliding doors, then it could potentially solve one of the bigger problems for the smart home.

We will definitely be keeping our eyes on this one for any other details that come our way.

As its name implies, the Votion Smart Breaker Switch installs directly into your electrical or "breaker" panel. Once installed, the switch gives you the power to turn off parts of your home remotely, and not just one specific plug.

The Smart Breaker Switch could also help with energy savings, helping to isolate parts of the home to track down a large consumer.

Votion's Smart Water Valve attaches directly to a standard hose or spigot to give you control over your watering needs.

Since it uses a pretty universal hose connector, you can attach sprinklers and irrigation lines that can work with any automations or scenes that you build with HomeKit.

This smart sensor installs directly into any spot in your lawn or garden to give you a better idea of when to water. We are not quite sure how HomeKit handles this type of sensor so it will be interesting to see when it is released.

Let's just hope that it can somehow work with the company's water valve though. Having your water needs taken care of completely autonomouosly would just be all sorts of cool.

The Waciao Smart Gateway is the brains that connects some of the company's low powered accessories to HomeKit. The gateway utilizes ZigBee wireless connectivity which is known for providing fast response times and high levels of reliability.

The gateway has an operating distance of around 400 feet and plugs either directly into a home router, or via Wi-Fi.

Waciao's Smart Air Quality Monitor works in combination with the company's gateway to report on the air within the home. The front of the monitor has a small display, providing glanceable information.

Although exact measurement capabilities have not yet been announced, we expect to see the ability to ask Siri for a generalized reading of the situation, which should reply with terms such as "fair" or "unhealthy".

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Every new HomeKit-supported device announced at CES 2020 - iMore

A smattering of power outages happened at the start of a winter storm that Consumers Power officials predicted could be "devastating." As of 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, nearly 750 Byron Township customers were without power, an outage near Spring Lake Township had been repaired, and nearly 1,000 customers living in Muskegon's Lakeside area, south of Muskegon Lake, were in the dark. In all, Consumers' crews were dealing with 44 outages affecting just over 2,500 customers.

Saturday, January 11, 2020 4:19 a.m. EST by Peg McNichol

Editor's note: This story will be updated as the storm progresses. For area cancellations -- and a few beyond this area -- visit whtc.com/cancellations.

HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) -- A smattering of power outages happened at the start of a winter storm that Consumers Power officials predicted could be "devastating." As of 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, nearly 750 Byron Township customers were without power, an outage near Spring Lake Township had been repaired, and nearly 1,000 customers living in Muskegon's Lakeside area, south of Muskegon Lake, were in the dark. In all, Consumers' crews were dealing with 44 outages affecting just over 2,500 customers.

Police and emergency managers, and Homeland Security officials across the state were on alert, too, ready for the affects of rain, ice, snow, travel issues, and power outages. Michigan State Police emailed a statement to media, quoting Gov. Getchen Whitmer, who said keeping Michiganders safe during severe weather is one of her top priorities.

"My office, along with state departments, will be closely monitoring weather conditions as they develop and proactively coordinating with emergency managers to support local response efforts as appropriate," she said. "We are also encouraging Michiganders to be safe and take precautions during these extreme weather conditions that are being predicted this weekend.

The National Weather Service meteorologists out of Grand Rapids predicted 2 to 4 inches of rain, with a transtion to freezing rain and sleet, and snow by late Saturday afternoon.

That makes flooding in low-lying areas likely, continued erosion along the Lakeshore, with the ice creating dangerous travel conditions and power outages.

Tips from the MSP statement include:

During a power outage

To stay safe during a winter storm

Safe winter driving tips

Preparing for a flood

Driving in a flood

Michigan weather is unpredictable any time of year, but especially during the winter months. If you are stranded in a winter storm, do not leave your vehicle. Stay with the vehicle and wait for help.

Motorists are encouraged to check travel conditions and weather reports before driving at http://www.michigan.gov/roadconditions. Major road closures can be found at http://www.michigan.gov/drive. The MSP/EMHSD asks that you tune into local news and/or view these websites rather than calling your local MSP post or 911 for travel conditions.

For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit http://www.michigan.gov/miready or follow MSP/EMHSD on Twitter at @MichEMHS.

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Greater Holland Area Power Outages, Cancellations | News | 1450 99.7 WHTC - WHTC News

We have not started a new decade. I repeat, we have not started a new decade.

This truth will not affect lazy sports talk show or entertainment show hosts so obsessed with Best of the Decade programs. Seeing the number 20 in the year just drives people bonkers. I can only hope my industry editorial colleagues show some restraint. Nevertheless, we are still in the decade of the 2010s. Do the math, and youll see.

So until this 10th year reaches its completion at midnight, December 31, 2020, you have another year to put a ribbon on this decade of the 10s.

Start by attending the 2020 AHR Expo, Feb. 3-5 in Orlando. Always a great event with which to begin the HVACR industrys new year, this show brings the entire industry together for three days of product news, educational sessions, networking and for this year, you will enjoy the beautiful weather of sunny Florida.

Positive Outlook, Challenges NotedThe International Exposition Company and the AHR Expo management team has again released an industry outlook in advance of the show. And again we see you picked a great industry of which to be a part.

This Annual Economic Outlook Survey of HVACR manufacturers and attendees provides a snapshot actually, it's more like an expansive pan shot of their opinions of the HVACR industry's business opportunities and hurdles to clear as the new year begins.

We all know the economy has been strong, and that's reflected here. Seventy-five percent of the 1,418 total respondents said they expect business to increase; 25% said they expect business to increase by more than 10 percent. Seventy-nine percent said 2020 prospects for business are expected to be good or excellent.

Segment-wise, light commercial, hospital and residential market segment respondents have a "good" or "excellent" outlook, 72%, 67% and 64% respectively. Respondents said the best prospects for 2020 growth are in maintenance/replacement (72%); retrofit/renovation (67%); and new construction (64%).

Opportunities/Issues/Concerns

When asked to list areas of most concern and greatest perceived opportunities, responses were right in line with what we've heard over the past year or two:

Tariffs

Energy efficiency & DOE regulations

Low GWP refrigerants and R22 phase out

Growth of data centers

Regulatory compliance and new standards

Lack of skilled workforce and opportunities to grow the trades

Automation and self- diagnostic controls

Energy considerations

Modularization

Deregulation and implications to competition

Growth of big box retailers

Global market

Short-term implications of a trade war

Consolidation of manufacturers

SEER regulations

IoT, IIoT and system protocols

Digitalization

Outcome of the 2020 Election and resulting economy

Indoor Air Quality and consumer considerations

New Technologies VRF, mini-splits, geothermal, tankless, VRV, green initiatives, etc.

New Product ConsiderationsAmong both show attendees and exhibitors surveyed, both groups named RELIABILITY as the most important consideration when choosing a product, followed by:

For Attendees First Costs Comfort Energy Efficiency Maintenance Indoor Air Quality Sustainability

For ExhibitorsEnergy EfficiencyIndoor Air QualityFirst CostsMaintenanceComfortSustainability

FIND THE ENTIRE SURVEY ON THE AHR SHOW NEWSROOM.

THIS YEAR'S pre-show survey included for the first time commentary from some industry endorsing organizations. Among their detailed comments:

ASHRAE: "Human wellness within the built environment is an area of significant opportunity. ASHRAE's leadership role will expand in IEQ to support the growing interest in wellness and operational success in buildings by incorporatingobjectives into ASHRAE technical activities and working with other organizations to link the built environment to operational excellence." Darryl Boyce, President, ASHRAE

AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute: "Our industry continues its steady commitment to increased energy efficiency, environmental performance, convenience and comfort for its products, equipment, and customers." "One of the biggest opportunities is the industry industry coming together to lobby for and get legislation passed that would establish a national phase down schedule for HFCs. This could provide some certainty for manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and others with respect to when equipment using alternative refrigerants will need to be available." Steve Yurek, AHRI President & CEOBACnet:"There is a growing understanding in the industry that the Internet of Things is driving a host of technologies that can improve building controls but the business models and products in consumer IoT do not meet commercial building owner needs.This has led to a broad consensus on the need for a focus on commercial building IoT (BloT) to leverage technologies like cloud analytics and big data without compromising the requirements of building owners." Andy McMillan, BACnet President

CABA (Continental Automated Buildings Association): "The market has seen some cost incentives for the adoption of intelligent buildings technologies in HVACR and this is an encouraging development. Cost incentives recognize that more intelligent and responsive systems are better equipped to support peak demand reduction programs and energy savings during high consumption periods for heating and cooling. For example, advanced occupancy and lighting sensors that work with lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Ron Zimmer, CABA President & CEO

HVI (Home Ventilating Institute: "There are more code-driven initiatives being operationalized as we complete 2019 and move into 2020. California's Title 24 is prompting questions on how to adequately meet the code. California's energy code is designed to reduce wasteful and unnecessary energy consumption in newly constructed and existing buildings." "New codes being adopted are causing confusion for the designers and installers of HVAC equipment. Education is going to be paramount as manufacturers market their products in different regions of the country." Jacki Donner, HVI Executive Director & CEO

HI (Hydraulic Institute): "With lighting incentives fading out in 2020, building and system owners will find new pump related incentive programs that many utilities are now launching to meet their energy efficiency goals." "2020 will bring an important new regulation requiring energy efficient pumps. In January 2020, approximately 25 percent of clean water pumps between 2-200 hp will no longer be on the market." Michael Michaud, HI Executive Director

NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association: "NADCA is in the final stages of the first round of an Energy Study. Led by Dan Stradford, NADCA Vice President, in partnership with Dr. Mark Hernandez of the University of Colorado at Boulder, this study was formulated to determine if any statistically significant changes in energy usage was associated with systematic HVAC duct and and heat-transfer equipment cleaning. The executive summary of this study is in review, and will be released in early Spring." Jodi Araujo, NADCA Chief Staff Executive

SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association):"Our members are interested in seeing virtual design advances along with new construction concepts and applications. They are eager to see what tools and applications make significant improvements in fabrication and installation processes." Thomas Soles, SMACNA Executive Director, Market Sectors

WHVACR (Women in HVACR): "The possibility of Uberization in HVAC,like Yellow Taxi is a potential wake up call for thousands of HVAC companies nationwide. Today, its more important than ever to continue to build strong and loyal relationships with your customer base. We can tie more loyalty between customers and service providers to maintain a relationship even if big box stores start providing home services like Uber." Danielle Putnam, President, WHVACRSo, is the HVACR industry alive with change, innovation and challenging issues? Yes.

Will you attend the 2020 AHR Expo in Orlando, Florida? Only you can answer that.

Continued here:
10 ways to work on your business in 2020 - Contracting Business

Ring is slowly expanding to Philips Hues territory by releasing its first traditional connected light bulb that works both indoor and outdoor. The Amazon-owned company is also revamping outdoor lights with new models that have a solar panel so you dont have to recharge the battery.

While Ring is mostly known for its security cameras, the company has been building a portfolio of devices to make your home smarter or at least more automated.

This year, Rings new products focus heavily on lighting products. The company is already selling connected path lights, step lights, spotlights and floodlights to illuminate your garden like its daytime.

But many of those devices are receiving an upgrade today. The Solar Floodlight, Solar Steplight and Solar Pathlight are solar variants of the existing devices. Instead of having to recharge batteries, they all feature a tiny solar panel on top so you dont have to babysit their batteries. You also can pair them with motion sensors.

The big new addition is a standard A19 smart light bulb, as well as a PAR38 smart light bulb. You can use those light bulbs outside, but they could work particularly well indoor, as well. You can group them, control them with Alexa, remotely turn them on and off and adjust the brightness.

All the new lights will be available on April 1. Ring isnt talking about prices just yet.

Ring is also launching a new device called the Ring Access Controller Pro it is available today for $300. It works with electronically controlled gates so you can open and close gates directly from the Ring app. This way, you can put a Ring doorbell in front of your gate, pushing your visitors further away from your front door

Ring says it could be particularly convenient for Amazon deliveries, as the Ring Access Controller Pro works with Key by Amazon, the feature that lets you authorize home access to delivery persons.

And then theres the elephant in the room security and privacy. As Motherboard reported, Ring isnt doing enough when it comes to securing access to user accounts two-factor authentication isnt mandatory for instance. And yet, you dont want a random person to connect to a live video feed of your living room or worse, your bedroom.

Ring is going to add a new section in its mobile app called Control Center. Users will be able to see and manage mobile, desktop and tablet devices that have recently accessed your account. For instance, youll be able to disconnect devices from your account.

The new menu will also show you third-party services that can access your Ring account, pretty much like third-party apps on Facebook or Twitter.

Finally, local police can request videos in some areas using the Neighbors app. That feature has attracted a ton of controversy. Users will be able to opt out of video requests from local police its a baby step, but maybe its time to rethink the feature altogether.

Those new features feel a bit rushed, as they arent available just yet. Ring says that the update should roll out later this month.

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Ring revamps lighting lineup with solar panels and indoor lightbulb - TechCrunch

Decorating your house with lights on new year or new year's eve has always been a fun thing to do. Yes, it can be a DIY project or you can always order your favourite on any store. Surely, when it comes to decorating your house on this new year, options rain on your mind. Being creative is an absolute fun and in this article we are sure to share that fun with you. Yes, we have tried to find the best lighting ideas for you to decorate your house on this beautiful new year.

First of all, wishing you a heartfelt happy and prosperous new year and your loved once from our team, and yes, it's time to go bright with new lighting ideas.

Let's dig.

When you are looking for creative lighting ideas for this new year, you can always start with the Christmas tree which is still there in your room or in your home garden. I bet, almost all people feel a bit bone idle to relocate the already decorated Christmas tree. Dont feel that its going to be a lot of work for relocating the Christmas tree. Rather, you can start your new year lighting ideas with that. Now, there are many ways to decorate a standard height Christmas tree. You can go with the white or warm white flameless LED candle lights or light strings, multi ceramic c-bulb light sets, remote-controlled LED colored light sets or the all-time favorite - mini multi-colored LED light chains.

The choice is always yours, and it will be an added advantage to start with the Christmas tree as the Christmas,and New Year's Eve are the closest happening festivals in a year.

Do you know how vintage looks like? Its always Chandeliers. Whether its a DIY project or an ordered one, Chandeliers have been the backbone of the indoor lighting for a long time, especially for rooftop and staircase decoration.

Now, coming to the rooftop lighting ideas with chandeliers, there are some basic lighting styles and lighting items that you can start with like glass bulbs, flowerpots and others. If flowerpots are your liking then you can always go with the good old verner panton flowerpot lights. This particular lighting arrangement falls within the 'transitional chandelier' style which is a great mixture of the old roots and the 'futuristic new' approach of lightning. They are sure to deliver a chandelier-ish lighting looks.

Further, you can go for the candle chandeliers or an antler chandeliers according to the time of your interior decoration. Whether it's your ballroom or your dining hall, chandeliers are that x-factor in your decorative workarounds which makes your house a 'happening thing' within your neighborhood.

Fairy lights are tiny but bright lights that are arranged on a thin copper line. Yes. They are beautiful enough to add a layer of magic or illusion to anything that we want to decorate with lights. It may be your beautiful wall, your yearbook photos, glass mirror, tree brunches or anything you can think of.

As interior designers say, fairly lights are the best to add to your DIY decoration approaches. Fairly lights can be added to any indoor and outdoor decoration. So, if we start with the indoor decoration for your New Year's Eve party, there are plenty of options like you can decorate the entire inside of your bedroom or drawing-room walls with fairy lights. Further, you can make a wall accent, candle holder accent or you can string your favourite pictures of this year on a wall using fairy light strings. Even, you can prepare a DIY chandelier with this. So, the possibilities are countless and that's the magical factor of it.

Mock bonfire is one of the wildest and coolest ideas when it comes to new year lighting. You can always mock a bonfire with the lighting effects. You will be needing the same things here except making a fire. Simply, fish out your fire basket and collect some big chunks of wood. Set the pieces of wood inside the basket as you would in a real bonfire. Now, dress the whole thing with fairy lights or similar lighting arrangements. And, you are done. The glow of the lights is surely to offer the same excitement and visual warmth to you and your friends and it will be nature friendly too. So, is there any smarter way to have fun? Admittedly, there isn't any.

Ok. It's not like the Bible of new lighting ideas, but these ideas are sure fire up the joy and excitement within you and your friends. Personally, fairy lights are the best on this list as you can enlighten anything that you want with this particular lighting arrangement. Further, you can go with the DIY chandelier project too to add the necessary gorgeousness to your decoration.

Listen to your heart and paint it with the lighting colours that you like, and it's time to get hungry and thirsty. Cheers.

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5 best lighting ideas for this new year | Sponsored - State-Journal.com

Hinkley, a leading designer and distributor of decorative lighting and ceiling fans, will debut its new ceiling fan collection, over 200 new lighting designs and striking new merchandising displays at Lightovation, Jan.8-12.

The unveiling of Hinkley ceiling fans follows the companys acquisition of Regency Ceiling Fans in February 2019. Creating a more comprehensive and cohesive Hinkley experience for its customers and consumers, Hinkley has expanded its indoor and outdoor product offering to include over 375 brand new fans and accessories, including light kits, controls and installation accessories.

We are excited to launch the 2020 Hinkley ceiling fan line with extremely appealing features and benefits. A wide variety of on-trend ceiling fan and blade finishes provides a ceiling fan option for all applications, said John Moody, Director of Fan Product. Upgraded LED, motor and control technology, including a WiFi / smart home option for each and every Hinkley fan model, will ensure that Hinkley is providing ceiling fan solutions for everyone.

In addition to the launch, Hinkley will reveal its newest lighting designs, which includes more than 200 new products and line additions for interior, bath and outdoor lighting.

We pride ourselves on conscious design and are always looking to the natural environment for creative inspiration, said Lauren Lovett, Product Director. Our new collection of botanical-inspired products incorporates this biophilic design aesthetic in classic Hinkley style. Several standout designs include:

Showstopping product merchandising, window displays and curated vignettes reflect Hinkleys commitment to creating a fashion-forward, upscale environment to highlight its new designs and reflect the power of visual merchandising for brick and mortars.

As we enter into a new decade, Hinkley is devoted to remaining at the forefront of trends and design. One prime example of this commitment is our Dallas showroom, said Quinn Sack, Visual Merchandising Manager. For January 2020, were not only excited about our new product release, but also about the big changes weve made to our space. The main highlight will be our ceiling fan collection, but weve also revamped our casual meeting areas, added a feature wall for our hospitality-focused Galerie Collection, and reimagined the Lisa McDennon Collection vignette.

The company has brought back its popular Hinkley Rocks party to kick off 2020 with sips, snacks and spins on the dance floor from the IDT Band. The bash, for its customers and reps, will be held on Thursday, Jan.9 from 6-10 p.m. in the Hinkley showroom 3210.

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Hinkley Debuts Fan Category, New Lighting Designs and Updated Showroom at Lightovation 2020 - Furniture Lighting & Decor

SOMERSET Growing marijuana, an energy-intensive activity, is not easy to take off the grid. Yet that is what Solar Therapeutics is planning to do.

This month the marijuana cultivation and retail company will turn on its microgrid, essentially giving Solar Therapeutics its own power plant, which will generate all the energy required to power its 42,000-square-foot marijuana grow facility. Part of the companys core mission is to grow marijuana in the most energy-efficient way possible.

CEO Edward Dow said he is not aware of any other licensed commercial marijuana company that generates all its own power.

Dow, a former engineer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, said he thinks the time is right, given growing concerns about environmental sustainability and limiting carbon dioxide emissions. The model also makes financial sense, he said, since higher up-front costs will be recouped through lower energy bills.

Building sustainably makes sense not just for optics, but as an investment, Dow said.

Massachusetts legalized marijuana at the same time the state is working toward reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. Marijuana cultivation is generally energy-intensive, since growing indoors requires a lot of light, which generates heat, and temperature and humidity must be strictly controlled to avoid mold.

The state Cannabis Control Commission has established some of the countrys strictest regulations to encourage energy efficiency by growers. As a result, companies are experimenting with everything from LED lighting to systems that recapture and reuse water.

Because climate change is so pressing an issue, I think as other states look to legalize cannabis for medical or adult use purposes and look at indoor cultivation as a way to cultivate, they are going to have to look at what the impacts will be, said Cannabis Control Commissioner Kay Doyle, who has led the commissions energy policy efforts.

Doyle said the commission has worked with the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to create requirements for energy efficiency that also give businesses some flexibility in how to comply.

Part of the microgrid at Solar Therapeutics. The company is generating its own power through a natural gas cogeneration facility. (Courtesy Solar Therapeutics)

In 2018, Massachusetts became the first state to set a specific standard for lighting, requiring large cultivators not to exceed 36 watts per square foot and small growers not to exceed 50 watts. Illinois has since imposed a similar standard.

Jonathan Napoli, founder of marijuana consulting business CannAssist and of a hydroponic garden store, said a typical grower would use 50 or 60 watts per square foot. It really makes us grow in an energy-efficient manner in Massachusetts, he said.

In 2019, the state began letting growers meet that requirement by picking from a list of qualified products, rated by the Design Lights Consortium. It also let growers bypass the requirement if they generate at least 80% of their energy from a renewable source, like solar or wind.

Beginning this year, on a time frame that is still being worked out, growers will have to submit energy efficiency plans and data reports regarding their energy usage as part of the application and renewal processes. Some medical marijuana facilities that were operating before the guidelines were written will have extra time to comply.

According to a draft of energy and environmental guidance being considered by the Cannabis Control Commission, growers must identify energy use reduction opportunities; consider opportunities for renewable energy generation; develop strategies to reduce electricity demand; and take advantage of energy efficiency programs. This could include things like using energy-efficient lights or heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, or building solar panels or wind turbines.

Doyle said commissioners, in reviewing energy plans, will be looking at lighting and HVAC systems, since those consume the most energy, as well as broader environmental issues like water usage and plans for recycling packaging. The commission is publishing specific guidance for businesses.

We really want to make sure that the businesses have all the information they can to comply in a way that makes sense for them and for the commonwealth as a whole so we can meet our Global Warming Solutions Act goals, Doyle said, referring to the law that requires the state to reduce its carbon emissions.

Solar Therapeutics is unique in the scale of what it is building. It has its own natural gas cogeneration facility, which uses natural gas to make energy, then uses the waste heat that is produced to heat the building. A free cooling system uses cold air from the atmosphere to cool the building.

The company has approximately 70,000 square feet of solar panels on its roof and four acres of solar panels behind the building. Battery storage helps ensure the system remains stable.

Lighting is produced using energy-efficient LEDs. Of 10,000 gallons of water used to water the plants each day, a piping system recaptures and reuses at least 9,000 gallons.

Dow said Solar Therapeutics will be able to more than halve its energy use compared to a typical grow facility of that size, and will cut its monthly electricity costs in half. Solar Therapeutics will be able to generate over 5.5 megawatts of power through its microgrid or enough to power 5,500 houses.

Another company billing itself as environmentally sustainable is Ecofarm in Leicester, which is building a 100,000-square-foot facility, with 55,000 square feet of cultivation space. Ecofarm plans to generate over half its electrical demand through solar arrays and a combined heat and power system, and use other technology like LED lighting and efficient HVAC systems.

Napoli said he urges his clients to consider LEDs, which are more expensive up front but more energy-efficient in the long term. He also recommends systems that can recapture wastewater. After marijuana plants are watered, they transpire water, and growers must pull that humidity out of the air. There are systems that can recapture that water, filter it and use it to water the plants again.

There are efficient chillers and boilers that can be used, Napoli said, and technologies that capture excess heat from flowering rooms and use it to heat and cool the building. Companies can use solar panels or contract with outside solar farms for energy.

A growing room at Solar Therapeutics. (Courtesy Solar Therapeutics)

Sam Milton, an energy and cannabis consultant who recently moved from Massachusetts to Maine, said Massachusetts regulators have tried hard to reduce energy consumption by the cannabis industry. Its a fairly new industry, an energy-intensive industry where the rules werent even written. They saw it as an opportunity to make their mark and improve the industry, he said.

At the same time, Milton said, The market wasnt quite ready for where the state wanted cultivators to go, and some cultivators have struggled to determine how to comply with the rules.

Milton said he urges clients to take a holistic perspective on how their facilities work, from the building envelope to lighting to technologies like combined heat and power.

Liquid chillers at Solar Therapeutics, which use air from the atmosphere to cool the facility. (Shira Schoenberg / The Republican)

Massachusetts strict rules have also attracted the attention of eco-friendly businesses from out of state looking to get a foothold here.

The Colorado-based Sana Packaging, which uses hemp and reclaimed ocean plastic, has several Massachusetts customers, even though its packaging is more expensive than typical plastic containers.

Knowing that packaging in this industry is going to continue to play a large impact in the environment ... why not use the opportunity now to integrate the cost of sustainability into the cost of doing businesses right from the get-go and know you can create a business model that will not be as damaging to the environment? said CEO Ron Basak-Smith.

Quentin Veit, technical director of the Colorado-based EasyRoots, which makes HVAC systems for indoor grow facilities, said the companys focus is on energy efficiency, with different systems available for hot and cold climates. It uses things like utility rebates and tax incentives to reduce startup costs.

In a cold climate like Massachusetts, Veit said, a system can take the heat generated from lighting during indoor cultivation and use it to heat offices or retail space.

Veit said he started his company after seeing the enormous demand on the electric grid when Colorado legalized marijuana cultivation. Given Colorados experience, he said, Massachusetts regulators were wise to write regulations to limit power consumption.

Thats one they probably got right, especially considering Massachusetts has a lot of older electric infrastructure in power generation and distribution, Veit said.

See more here:
Growing off the grid: Marijuana businesses like Solar Therapeutics find ways to be eco-friendly - MassLive.com

Latest Study on Industrial Growth of indoor LED lighting 2026 By-Data Bridge Market Research

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Indoor LED Lighting Market Trends and Forecast to 2026 Analysis By Product Type, Technology, Application, End User - Instanews247

ANN ARBOR, MI If Allen and Irving Pond could see what has become of their beloved Michigan Union 100 years after its completion, Susan Pile believes they would beam with pride.

The designers of student unions at UM, Michigan State, Kansas and Purdue, as well as several other buildings at UM, the brothers connection to the university is deeply embedded in Ann Arbor lore. They provided the land for the Union from the site of their boyhood home, and Irving Pond scored the first touchdown in Michigan football history in 1879.

This is one of the oldest college unions in the country, at your alma mater, where your boyhood home sat, said Pile, director of the Michigan Union. You can imagine what (the Pond brothers) invested in this project is so symbolic and of course the Union has now become the campus gem that it is, I think because they invested so much of themselves into this project.

When the Michigan Union reopens to the public Jan. 13 after a 20-month, $85.2 million renovation, it will include a number of historic features and a floor plan that were preserved and uncovered in the spirit of the original blueprints of the brothers, who both studied architecture at UM.

The influence of the brothers Arts and Crafts-style of architecture is still apparent throughout the newly remodeled Union, both through the uncovering and reuse of its historic and original materials.

Nicole Hester/Mlive.com

Tables for student study space inside the Michigan Union are made of wood from the building's original bowling alley.

Light fixtures, doors and windows from the original design were reused in the renovation, while original slate and terrazzo floors and limestone doorways brought back to light after being covered up for decades. Even the wood from the Unions old bowling alley lanes have been re-purposed as tables in student study spaces.

The original 1919 floor plan was used to expand and improve gathering spaces on the first floor. Beyond the design influence of Pond and Pond, Pile said reconfiguring the layout can help the Michigan Union fulfill its original purpose of bringing students together.

Youve got office space situated in a much more efficient layout, so that more square footage could be returned to students and campus community usage through much more social, open gathering kind of spaces and new meeting rooms, Pile said.

Other aspects of the renovation drew inspiration from Pond and Ponds original design, including the Unions new focal point the first-floor indoor courtyard.

Nicole Hester/Mlive.com

Arches in the newly-constructed indoor courtyard of the Michigan Union were inspired by designs from the building's original architects, Allen and Irving Pond.

Previously an outdoor courtyard space that didnt attract many students during the fall and winter, the courtyard features a floor with 38,000 pieces of end grain.

Curved arches were created to align with the buildings historical design while supporting a glass roof that brings in natural light, Pile said.

The design was intended to recreate the open-air terrace space of the former courtyard in an indoor setting, Pile said, with the railing overlooking the courtyard an exact replica of the original included in the buildings blueprints.

This was a way for us to really capture space that would be meaningful to the building and would add this sense of vibrancy and connection and create a really nice connection between the first and second levels of the building, Pile said.

Other spaces on the buildings first floor have returned to their original intent, Pile said.

Nicole Hester/Mlive.com

A new portico and indoor ramp have been added to the Michigan Union's north entrance as part of the building's $85.2 million renovation.

The buildings north entrance, which was constructed as part of an addition in the 1950s, has been renovated to appear more welcoming, with a portico and enclosed ramp allowing more natural light into the building in a design that borrowed from Pond and Ponds architecture.

"It actually feels like youre coming into the Michigan Union in a way that you just never felt before, Pile said.

Perhaps the most visible historic elements of the renovation the buildings 540 original windows - have been completely restored. UM worked with Colon, Michigan-based Full Spectrum Stained Glass to restore the century-old windows, while new storm windows were installed by Michigan-based Peterson Glass Co. to help the buildings energy efficiency.

Aluminum-framed Thermolite windows are expected to improve energy efficiency, provide noise reduction and add a security barrier.

Its a good story that weve been able to balance the historic, beautiful nature of these windows, which are so symbolic to this building and have really advanced the energy efficiency at the same time, Pile said.

A look inside the newly-renovated Michigan Union

A historic look at the Michigan Union before it reopens Jan. 13

Taco Bell added to list of vendors for renovated Michigan Union

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Renovation uncovers original features of Michigan Union - MLive.com