Bisbee’s Buzz

The Electrical Contractor Magazine has an amazing track record of editorial excellence and powerful content. In addition to being the leading industry publication for the electrical sector, ECMAG is also the number one publication for the communications infrastructure (cabling and wireless) sector. This publication is part of an incredible internet configuration of websites that cover virtually every inch of our business world.

POWER – CONTROL – COMMUNICATIONS – SECURITY – LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS

www.ecmag.com  What does the www mean?

WWW = What’s New, What’s Now, What’s Next

2011 - When it comes to bringing the solutions and needs together, this outfit is on target. Check out their new MEDIA KIT and latest Market Research information.

http://www.ecmag.com/mediakit/

http://www.ecmag.com/research/

TIME WELL SPENT  “There is so much great information on their site. News you can use and solutions to pave the road into a brighter future.”

The NECA family of websites is filled with information for the Electrical, Lighting, and Communications Industry and a great deal more.

• NECAnet
• Electrical Contractor Magazine
• NECA-MEI
• NECA-NEIS
• ELECTRI International
• NECA Connection

There are many sources for the information that we gather each month. This publication has consistently demonstrated the highest level of quality content both in print and on the websites. We applaud the team at ECMAG that works so hard to filter through the tons of information in the marketplace in order to bring us the best of the best. It may not all appear in each issue but their game plan is set up for the flexibility to cover all the information we need to compete in the changing world of POWER – CONTROL – COMMUNICATIONS – SECURITY – LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS. Looking for ways to solve your problems or stimulate your business? www.ecmag.com

GOOD ADVICE: “Honk if you love Jesus.  Text while driving if you want to meet Him”

But that’s just my opinion,

Frank Bisbee - Editor
"HOTS - Heard On The Street" Monthly Column
www.wireville.com
4949 Sunbeam Rd, Suite 16
Jacksonville, FL 32257
(904) 645-9077 office
(904) 237-0365 cell
(904) 645-9058 fax

DON”T MISS NECA 2011 SHOW – San Diego - OCT. 22 – 25

Tel: 301-215-4506 | Fax: 301-215-4553 | Email: necashowinfo@necanet.org

Fiber Optic Connectors With HLC Technology Put You In the Winners Circle

Megladon's  HLC (Hardened Lens Contact) technology is what sets this products apart from others on the market today. Their patented technology produces the only durable, high performance patch cord in the industry. Today's high speed networks demand the highest quality connections to ensure reliable performance. Contamination, scratches, and poor geometry degrade network performance and cause failures during peak traffic. The industry needs a reference quality connection with durable mating surfaces to improve network performance and reduce system failures. Their customers demand it. Megladon's HLC SCRATCHGUARD Patch Cords prevent maintenance issues and traffic failures, improve customer satisfaction and reduce costs in several areas.

Features:

• Low Maintenance matings
•  Reference cable quality
•  Dust and scratch resistant
•  Extended lifespan
•  Withstands multiple matings
•  Minimal & Easy Cleaning
•  Compatible with all existing  connectors
•  Lowest signal loss in the marketplace
•  High quality components
• Repeatable network performance

Fiber optic cables can be easily damaged when they're misaligned while being inserted into test equipment or a hardware port. A side by side comparison of Megladon's HLC patch cords and a standard UPC cable. Each was given an identical amount of error when inserted into a port. The standard UPC cable showed significant scratching. The HLC cable is undamaged.

HLC SCRATCHGUARD Patch Cords Specifications

Don’t put your network or your job at risk. Get ScratchGuard®. www.megladonmfg.com

But that’s just my opinion,

Frank Bisbee - Editor

"HOTS - Heard On The Street" Monthly Column

www.wireville.com

Preparing for the Age of Exabytes by Scott Thompson, President Oberon, Inc.
November 16^th 2010

Early this year, Cisco Systems, Inc. released a forecast which should really catch the attention of any individual in the data communications industry. The forecast predicts that global mobile data traffic will more than double every year, from now until 2014, reaching a stunning 3.6 Exabytes (EB) of data per month. Even the name "Exabyte" sounds formidable, but what is it? An Exabyte is 10¹⁵ bytes of data, or a billion Megabytes. This prodigious number will have grown from a "miniscule" 0.09 EB of global mobile data in 2009.

What is driving this growth? According to the forecast, it is predominately mobile video data (66%), followed by Mobile web (17%), Mobile P2P (8%), mobile gaming (5%), and Mobile VoIP (4%). What will this content be delivered to? The forecast provides the chart below, wherein most of the mobile traffic will be delivered to laptops (70%), and much of the balance delivered to smart-phones (21%).

Of course, if you are in the Information Transportation Systems (ITS) industry, you are wondering how this remarkable growth will impact your business. The large share of data which will be consumed by laptops suggests great demand will be placed on the enterprise wireless local area network (Wireless LAN or Wi-Fi network), although laptops can be equipped with a cellular aircard, thereby placing some of this demand on the cellular network. Conversely, the data traffic consumed by smartphones suggests the demand will be placed on the cellular network, although virtually all smartphones are dual mode, meaning they can connect to the Internet both through the cellular network and through the wireless LAN.

In any case, the demands that will be placed on the mobile operators' cellular networks, the enterprise wireless LAN, and perhaps even your home network, are going to increase by a factor of about 40 in the next 4 to 5 years. Even now, a smartphone creates as much traffic as 10 basic feature phones on the cellular network, and iPhones, in particular, can generate as much traffic as 30 basic feature phones. Laptops routinely generate greater than 1,000 times the traffic of a basic feature phone. As more video content is generated over the next few years, these devices will demand significantly more bandwidth.

New cellular networks operating with 4G technology such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) will have dramatically increased capabilities over current cellular networks, but due to limited spectrum and the expense of infrastructure build-out, evidently more and more of the traffic will be off-loaded onto the prevailing wireless LAN (Wi-Fi Network). Off-loading is a term people in the industry will hear more of in the coming years. The mobile operators simply do not have enough spectrum and cellular base-stations to support these mobile applications which will, in most cases, be used indoors where a wireless LAN should exist anyway.

Further compounding this effect is the transition of more traffic from the fixed to the mobile network. Just as households have completely abandoned their wireline phone for the mobile phone, more users are abandoning their wired data connection for the mobile connection. New workers fully expect a mobile work environment with a mission capable wireless LAN.

If you are in the cabling business you already know that more Wi-Fi means more cabling to more access points. And better cellular performance will be achieved through the use of in-building Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and femtocells, which are cabled to the Internet.

It will be interesting to see in the next few years how industry responds to these demands. Bandwidth needs to be pushed closer to the user, yet the user does not want to be tethered. Creative solutions comprised of innovative cabled infrastructure and wireless design will be required.

The referenced article can be found here.

http://oberonwireless.com/blog2.php

What’s next? A Googolplex (the figure 1 followed by a googol of zeroes equal to 10googol) of Exabytes ???

CI&M article  “A long-term perspective on intelligent buildings”

Feb 1, 2011

Cabling-industry veteran interviews a noted author and speaker on building automation and intelligence.

BY FRANK BISBEE, COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING CORP.

I had the opportunity to interview James Carlini, president of Carlini and associates (www.carlinij.com), who has been involved in intelligent buildings since the inception of the term. He was one of the first authorities on the subject, recognized for his articles written in the mid-1980s for publications including Real Estate Review, Government Data Systems and Telecommunications Products and Technology.

He was chairman of the Definitions Committee of the Intelligent Buildings Institute in Washington, D.C. from 1986 to 1988, and pioneered the concept of measuring a building's IQ in 1985. He wrote about the building IQ concept in several published articles, as well as a chapter in Johnson Controls' Intelligent Buildings Sourcebook, published by Prentice-Hall in 1988.

Bisbee: How was the industry back in the 1980s and how did you get into it?

Carlini: At the time, the big buzzword was "shared tenant services" and there were companies pursuing real estate developers to add these new types of services to their buildings to attract tenants. I was a director of telecommunications and computer hardware consulting at Arthur Young at the time, and was asked to review whether or not clients like Santa Fe Southern Pacific Development Company were getting their money's worth from adding amenities like network services and phone services.

Bisbee: What was the first project you worked on?

Carlini: It was to review what technologies were being put into a six-building campus in Silicon Valley that Santa Fe Southern Pacific was building on some land they owned. We were asked to review the network infrastructure of the campus and determine if Santa Fe was putting in the right mix of what I called "intelligent amenities," and seeing if they were getting their money's worth.

Bisbee: How was Silicon Valley back then? I mean, that was before most of these tech companies were even born.

Carlini: It was interesting to go out to Silicon Valley, which at that time had a lot of vacant buildings around. It was easy for a startup company to outgrow their space and the owner would just drive around to find the next bigger building to move into. It was not a sophisticated approach, but it didn't have to be because of the very high vacancy rates at that time.

Bisbee: How did you get into the measuring of building IQs and comparing buildings?

Carlini: Another large real estate and property-management company at the time was doing a large, $20-million retrofit of a Class a building in Seattle. JMB Realty was a premier firm at the time, and the senior group vice president of property management wanted me to devise something that would tell them if they were getting their money's worth out of the project.

Bisbee: It seems like everyone back then worried about getting their money's worth.

Carlini: They did. and they still do. Property-management firms and owners are still concerned about getting their money's worth when they add on intelligent amenities.

Bisbee: So how did you look at the building in Seattle? What did you measure?

Carlini: There were many categories within the areas of information and communication technologies, as well as building automation, within the test I designed. The issue was to gather a list of all the services, traditional and intelligent amenities within each building, compare them, and analyze the competition in downtown Seattle to see how the retrofitted building measured up.

Bisbee: How did you get all the publicity on it?

Carlini: At first, the test was going to be an internal measure. When the results came out that their older building actually outscored the newer buildings because of all the technologies they added to it, they wanted to publicize that new type of measurement. Building IQ actually helped market the building. From that point on, traditional approaches to marketing a building became obsolete.

Bisbee: There seems to be a resurgence in the interest in rating buildings and figuring out a building's IQ. Where do you see intelligent buildings today?

Carlini: Today some have talked about measuring the "green" aspects of a building but there are more important things for the owner to focus on. The main issue is whether or not the building is profitable and whether or not adding these green technologies provides cost savings. The problem is that some of these cost-saving systems have too long a payback period and therefore, are not viable.

Bisbee: How long are you talking about to make it a viable option?

Carlini: If these green capabilities like dimming systems and energy-saving systems have a payback period of 20 to 30 years they are not going to be put into a building. The payback is way too long.

Bisbee: Are there systems like that out there today?

Carlini: Yes, and they are being hyped. But they will not survive under close scrutiny. Other systems are cost-effective and should be applied.

Bisbee: How has the industry evolved?

Carlini: If you look at what is happening globally, we are going from standalone intelligent buildings to intelligent business campuses (IBCs) where the whole campus provides intelligent amenities. What we are doing, in effect, is clustering these buildings and trying to get more economies out of the facilities by having them all together.

Bisbee: Didn't you write a white paper on this?

Carlini: Actually, I wrote several. One I wrote in 2008 was Intelligent Business Campuses: Future Keys to Economic Development. It discussed the movement into campuses or next-generation business parks and was based on planning work I had done for an 800-acre tech park. I also wrote one for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2010: Intelligent Infrastructure: Insuring Security for Regional Sustainability. and in 2009 I wrote Intelligent Infrastructure: Securing Regional Sustainability for George Mason University. The two more recent white papers focused more on infrastructure as a platform for commerce and its impact on regional economic development.

Bisbee: It sounds like you are an expert on this evolution.

Carlini: Like I used to tell students at Northwestern University, there are no experts in this business. The best you can be is a good student-always learning. You have to continually watch what is going on in this industry.

Bisbee: What's in your future?

Carlini: I am writing a book on this paradigm shift and calling it Location, Location, Connectivity because those are the three most important words in real estate today.

James Carlini recently addressed a crowd of approximately 3,000 on intelligent infrastructure and its impact on regional economic development at BICSI's Fall 2010 Conference. His presentation got positive feedback. I am sure his book will provide pragmatic perspective on intelligent buildings and their evolution to intelligent business campuses.

FRANK BISBEE is president of Communication Planning Corporation (www.communicationplanning.com). He also authors Heard on The Street, which can be seen at www.wireville.com. The subject of this interview, James Carlini, has more than 25 years' experience developing broad strategic insights into applying complex critical networks and information technologies to organizations. His consulting has focused on computer networks, security, e-commerce, intelligent buildings, marketing strategies, wireless technologies, measuring intelligent buildings, regulatory issues, international marketing, international services and Six Sigma. Carlini uses this experience to help user organizations as well as vendors get the most out of strategically applying communications-based information systems, products and services.

CABA examines intelligent buildings' future

The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA; www.CABA.org), through its Intelligent Integrated Building Council and new research program, recently announced it has completed its 2011 North American Intelligent Building Roadmap.

The research project was designed to outline long-term opportunities in the intelligent building industry. The roadmap provides an understanding of the collective influence of emerging trends within the intelligent building industry, such as energy efficiency, renewable technology, information technology convergence and the integration of buildings with the smart grid.

The roadmap project also investigated the current and future direction of the intelligent building market in North America and the opportunities it represents for participants within the value chain. It also sought to understand the influence of current and emerging intelligent building technology solutions, with an analysis that considers commercialization, market preferences and product acceptance.

"The underlying purpose of the roadmap project was to strengthen the existing industry knowledge base and perspectives on intelligent buildings," said Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA's president and chief executive officer. "This initiative consequently established a vision for the market today and its near-term evolution by providing a framework to support players in the intelligent building arena. It is our clear expectation that this roadmap will ultimately be used by CABA members to identify unique opportunities in the intelligent building marketplace."

The roadmap provides a snapshot of current market dynamics within the intelligent building industry in North America and outlines evolving trends as well as the long-term industry outlook. Business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan undertook the project. The research has been released to partners who funded the project, and CABA said after an embargo period it plans to make the research available for purchase to the rest of the industry.

The following organizations funded the research: Belimo air Controls, Consolidation Edison Company of New York, Distech Controls Inc., Echelon Corporation, Honeywell International, Ingersoll Rand/Trane/Schlage, Johnson Controls, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Natural Resources Canada, Ortronics/Watt Stopper/Legrand, Optimum Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory/U.S. Department of Energy, Philips Electronics, Schneider Electric, Siemens Industry Inc., Sloan Monitored Systems. -Ed.

Reprinted with permission from Cabling Installation & Maintenance Magazine ( A PennWell Publication) February 2011 issue  www.cablinginstall.com

http://www.cablinginstall.com/index/display/article-display/9700250772/articles/cabling-installation-maintenance/volume-19/issue-2/features/a-long-term-perspective-on-intelligent-buildings.html

BICSI Recognizes Industry Leaders During Annual Awards Banquet

Orlando, Fla., January 21, 2011—BICSI, the association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge assessment, is pleased to announce BICSI award winners for 2010 recognized during the annual BICSI Awards Banquet on Wednesday, January 19^th. The  conference was terrific. Great value in all areas.

Another slate of winners. Awarded by the University of South Florida, College of Engineering, the Harry J. Pfister Award for Excellence in the Telecommunications Industry recognizes the lifetime achievement or major accomplishment of an individual in the telecommunications industry.

The Harry J. Pfister Award for Excellence in the Telecommunications Industry was awarded to two individuals Herb Congdon ll, PE, and Julie Roy, RCDD, ESS, NTS.  Congdon has made great contributions to the ITS world, having worked in the optical fiber cable and components industry since 1992. As a gifted presenter and industry speaker, Congdon presents at many BICSI conferences—sometimes more than once per conference. Congdon earned an electrical engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, served as a commissioned officer in the US Nuclear Navy Submarine program and is a licensed Professional Engineer with two patents.  

Since January 2008, Roy has been involved with BICSI as an active member of many committees and spearheaded the development of telecommunications cabling standards for commercial and residential installations in Canada.  She was the first female in Canada to earn the RCDD credential. She also holds the NTS credential and was among the first group of individuals to receive the ESS designation. Additionally, Roy owns her own company, called C Squared Consulting. 

The David K. Blythe/University of Kentucky Award for Outstanding Member of the Year recognizes the volunteer spirit of BICSI members, and spotlights one individual as the BICSI member of the year for outstanding efforts in promoting BICSI’s educational programs and commitment to professional development within the industry.

The 2010 Outstanding Member of the Year is Carol Everett Oliver, RCDD, ESS. Oliver became a BICSI member in 2003. As a frequent speaker and contributor to BICSI events, Oliver has written technical and case study articles, enticing the audience to want more. Oliver’s volunteer efforts with BICSI have spanned many years—years in which she has owned a business and has worked in integral marketing positions.

BICSI developed the Larry G. Romig Committee Member of the Year award in recognition of the volunteer work performed by its members and to honor one individual for exemplary efforts and dedication within a BICSI committee. It is named in honor of BICSI’s first Executive Director, Larry Romig.

This year’s Committee Member of the Year award is Igor G. Smirnov, RCDD.  Smirnov has been a BICSI member since 1998 and an RCDD since 1999, volunteering countless hours as a Subject Matter Expert and as a contributor to numerous BICSI publications, including the Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual, the Information Transport Systems Installation Methods Manual, and many others.  Smirov is an accomplished industry professional with a Master’s Degree in Materials for Electronics.

The Presidential Eagle Award, selected by BICSI’s President, is presented to individuals who have exhibited leadership, faith, and dedication to BICSI over a period of time.  This year, Kazuo Kato, Manager for BICSI Japan, was recognized for his volunteer hours and commitment to BICSI.  He started working for BICSI when this District was established in 2001 and has dedicated his life to his work and to BICSI.

The Ray Gendron/BICSI Cares Scholarship offers funds to BICSI members or their immediate families for ITS education. This year BICSI is proud to award scholarships to three very deserving students: Thomas Tang, Mohamed Luqman Suhaib and Thomas Elliot.

Thomas Tang is an Electrical Engineering major at the University of British Columbia. His father is BICSI member Tony Tang, RCDD.  Mohamed is the son of BICSI member Yehiya Suhaib, RCDD and is majoring in Electronics with a focus in Telecommunications at Multimedia University in Malaysia. Thomas Elliot is the son of BICSI member Maureen Elliot, RCDD.  He attends the University of Arizona and will be seeking a Business degree.

BICSI is a professional association supporting the information transport systems (ITS) industry. ITS covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety & security, and audio & video technologies. It encompasses the design, integration and installation of pathways, spaces, fiber- and copper-based distribution systems, wireless-based systems and infrastructure that supports the transportation of information and associated signaling between and among communications and information gathering devices. KUDOS to the BICSI staff and volunteers for putting together a great conference.

BICSI provides information, education and knowledge assessment for individuals and companies in the ITS industry. We serve more than 23,000 ITS professionals, including designers, installers and technicians. These individuals provide the fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety and automation systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professional registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals in delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for continual improvement and enhanced professional stature. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, USA, BICSI membership spans nearly 90 countries. www.bicsi.org.

Do You Wish To Add New Business? TRAINING.

Here is an opportunity to learn all about getting into retail communications systems, better known as Point of Sales (POS).  There could be as many as nine separate systems in a large retail store that need to be integrated into one working solution.  Each system will be discussed for cabling, hardware location and physical installation procedures. 

Where is the work? POS systems are located in Supermarkets, Hardware Stores, Pharmacy Chains, Superstore/Warehouse Clubs, Clothing/Apparel Marts, Discount Centers, Restaurant/Bars, Fast Food Chains, Convenience Stores, Hotels, Airports, Stadiums, Casinos just to name a few. 

Whether you are an individual who wants to learn this work or a contractor looking for a new business, this is a one of a kind of course.

We have scheduled this program in April 2011 and the price if only $295.00. This price will include a training manual and a certificate of attendance.

To find out more about this, you have one of many methods to reach us:

See our website: www.CSTInstitute

Email: Steve@CSTInstitute.com  Phone: (214) 319-6632

General Cable's 4Q profit quadruples

Business Courier

Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 9:35am EST

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Rising costs cut General Cable 3Q profit

General Cable Corp.’s net income quadrupled in the fourth quarter as volume increased 13 percent compared to the same period in 2009.

Excluding unusual items in both periods, adjusted earnings per share rose 44 percent to 75 cents, compared to 52 cents in the year-ago quarter. That easily exceeded Wall Street analysts’ average prediction of 47 cents.

Greg Kenny, president and CEO, said strong demand for power transmission cables in the United States and Brazil helped to offset normal seasonal declines in other areas. In Europe, the Highland Heights-based cable and wire manufacturer saw better-than-expected demand across most businesses and achieved significant milestones in its submarine energy cable business, he said.

“Our end markets and overall demand have only started to improve in many locations. As a result, we continue to believe that capacity utilization rates and value-added pricing, while improving, have a long way to go,” Kenny said. “In addition, volatile metal pricing has made demand forecasting extremely complex.”

The outlook for the first quarter is for adjusted earnings per share of between 45 and 55 cents, which is consistent with analysts’ current projections. Revenue is projected to be between $1.40 billion and $1.45 billion, higher than expectations.

General Cable Corp. (NYSE: BGC)

Fourth-quarter results

Net sales: $1.36 billion, +20%

Operating income: $63 million, +12%

Net earnings: $35 million, +412%

Earnings per share: 66 cents, +413%

Full-year 2010 results

Net sales: $4.86 billion, +11%

Operating income: $222 million, +24%

Net earnings: $69 million, +23%

Earnings per share: $1.31, +22%

Click here for the full company report.

Read more: General Cable's 4Q profit quadruples | Business Courier

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2011/02/09/general-cables-4q-profit-quadruples.html

ShoreTel and Polycom Expand Technology Partnership to Deliver Integrated Business Communications Systems

Standards-based Solutions Integrate Voice, Video and Unified Communications, Offering Customers Choice, Flexibility and Investment Protection

 Enterprise Connect – ShoreTel® (NASDAQ:SHOR - News), the leading provider of brilliantly simple IP phone systems with fully integrated unified communications (UC), and Polycom, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLCM - News), a global leader in unified communications, today announced an expansion of their technology partnership to further their shared mission of delivering advanced business communications systems based on open standards. By leveraging common distribution capabilities, ShoreTel and Polycom help enable UC Everywhere and empower businesses to protect their existing investments in standards-based technologies as well as choose best-of-breed enterprise solutions that are a better alternative to vendor lock-in and proprietary technologies. www.shoretel.com

Meeting the Needs of Business of Any Size

Both ShoreTel and Polycom have UC offerings that are affordable and scalable for businesses of any size. From enterprise customers to small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), the Polycom and ShoreTel solutions are flexible and cost-effective. Analyst firm Gartner rated ShoreTel “Strong Positive,” the highest possible rating in its “MarketScope for Unified Communications for the SMB Market, North America.”¹

Enhancing ShoreTel and Polycom UC Offerings

This offering will provide customers the flexibility of an open and interoperable ShoreTel and Polycom solution that unifies and simplifies communication across voice and video and telepresence solutions including the Polycom UC Intelligent Core, as well as messaging applications. ShoreTel’s IP telephony and UC solutions will combine with Polycom’s telepresence systems to deliver customers a seamlessly integrated system with proven reliability and quality, simplicity and lower total cost of ownership, by using technologies like H.264 High Profile, which reduces bandwidth requirements for high definition video by up to 50 percent.

“ShoreTel’s long-standing commitment to standards-based technologies and open-architected systems gives our customers maximum flexibility to deploy custom solutions that suit their specific business needs,” said Mark Arman, vice president of business development at ShoreTel. “We are pleased to partner with Polycom and ensure our customers achieve truly interoperable, scalable and brilliantly simple visual communication solutions.”

The expanded relationship is part of the ShoreTel Technology Partner Program (TPP), which provides market leaders the opportunity to increase their reach by connecting directly with ShoreTel’s growing community of channel reseller partners. ShoreTel is also a Polycom ARENA partner.

Benefits of Best-of-Breed UC

The ability for businesses to communicate in the most effective and efficient manner despite the infrastructure in place is a significant business advantage that helps customers maximize the investment in their communication systems. Polycom and ShoreTel are committed to a standards-based, open architecture that liberates organizations from managing complex legacy and proprietary systems that cost millions of dollars to maintain.

“ShoreTel is an important long-term partner to Polycom, and this strategic offering is a natural evolution of our successful partnership – one that reflects the evolving and dynamic UC market,” said Ron Myers, senior vice president of Global Channels. “Both companies have a commitment to offering best-in-class, standards-based communications, allowing our customers to choose the best UC solutions to meet their needs. By extending support of Polycom telepresence and Polycom UC Intelligent Core offerings to the ShoreTel platform, ShoreTel is helping Polycom to deliver on our UC Everywhere vision.”

“At ScanSource Communications, we are committed to delivering UC and telephony solutions that will help our reseller partners grow their business and remain ahead of the competition - and as a strategic partner to both Polycom and ShoreTel, we are thrilled about this combined solution,” said Buck Baker, president, ScanSource Communications. Not only does it enable resellers to deliver industry-leading solutions to their end-user customers, but it also affords them the opportunity to source their products from one location and wrap them with the value-added services our customers have come to expect.”

Availability

The ShoreTel and Polycom solutions will be distributed through joint value-added distributors, ScanSource and Westcon. Partners and resellers will be able to offer a broad range of UC and video solutions combining the ShoreTel and Polycom products that best fit their customers’ business needs.

About the MarketScope

The MarketScope is copyrighted 2010 by Gartner, Inc. and is reused with permission. The MarketScope is an evaluation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the MarketScope, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest rating. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Polycom

Polycom, Inc. is a global leader in unified communications solutions with industry-leading telepresence, video, voice and infrastructure solutions built on open standards. Polycom powers smarter conversations, transforming lives and businesses worldwide. Please visit www.polycom.com for more information or connect with Polycom on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About ShoreTel

ShoreTel, Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOR - News) is the provider of brilliantly simple Unified Communication (UC) solutions based on its award-winning IP business phone system. We offer organizations of all sizes integrated, voice, video, data, and mobile communications on an open, distributed IP architecture that helps significantly reduce the complexity and costs typically associated with other solutions. The feature-rich ShoreTel UC system offers the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) and the highest customer satisfaction in the industry, in part because it is easy to deploy, manage, scale and use. Increasingly, companies around the world are finding a competitive edge by replacing business-as-usual with new thinking, and choosing ShoreTel to handle their integrated business communication. ShoreTel is based in Sunnyvale, California, and has regional offices in Austin, Texas, United Kingdom, Sydney, Australia and Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.shoretel.com.

¹Gartner, Inc., “MarketScope for Unified Communications for the SMB, North America,” April 9, 2010, ID Number G00174964

© 2011 Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved. POLYCOM®, the Polycom “Triangles” logo and the names and marks associated with Polycom’s products are trademarks and/or service marks of Polycom, Inc. and are registered and/or common law marks in the United States and various other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

BICSI TRAINING

Important Educational Opportunities
Learn the skill set you need to advance yourself and your career. Attend one or more of the BICSI training courses and exams listed below. Click on the links below for details and to register.

Courses and Exam in Atlanta, Georgia
PM125: Telecommunications Project Management Program March 14-18
This intensive 5-day course covers the entire cycle of a project, from bid to completion. The class will provide you with a basic understanding of project management concepts and tools and will focus on construction projects as they relate to ITS design and installation projects.

DD200: Telecommunications Distribution Design Review March 14-17
Are you preparing for the RCDD exam? DD200 features a fast-paced review of the BICSI TDMM, 12th edition, highlighting the critical areas you should know for the exam. Practice tests and general test-taking tips and strategies are included.

RCDD, RITP, ESS, NTS, OSP and WD examinations will be held on March 19.

FO110: Fiber Optic Network Design May 2-5
In this 4-day course, you will gain a focused understanding of the optical fiber network design process with knowledge of four key aspects: the components of a fiber network, the design process, the cost process and the design package.

IN250: BICSI ITS Installer 2, Optical Fiber Training May 2-6
IN250 is a 5-day course setting the groundwork for optical fiber-based structured cabling system installation. ITS Installer 2, Optical Fiber examinations will be held on May 6-7.

Save Now!
Register for three or more courses at the same time and save 10 percent! Offer also valid if three or more students from the same company preregister for the same class at the same time.

Don't forget! Preregister for a course at least 45 days in advance and save five percent. (BICSI CONNECT courses and training provided by companies outside of BICSI are not eligible for this discount.)

Register today! For more information or to reserve your seat, follow the above links, or contact BICSI toll-free at 800.242.7405.

Optical Transport Market Exceeded $12 Billion in 2010

DWDM Equipment Revenues Grew 15 Percent

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – February 22, 2011 – According to a newly published report by Dell’Oro Group, the trusted source for market information about the networking and telecommunications industries, worldwide optical market revenues grew to over $12 billion in 2010, due to a robust market demand for DWDM systems in both metro and core applications.

“Demand for DWDM systems exceeded our expectations for the year,” said Jimmy Yu, Sr. Director of Optical Transport research at Dell’Oro Group.  “In particular, the growth of 40 and 100 Gbps DWDM wavelength or line card shipments was far greater than what we expected.  In 2010, 40/100 Gbps wavelength shipments grew more than 160 percent. By the fourth quarter, these high speed wavelengths contributed over 25 percent of total DWDM market revenues, and over 40 percent of long haul market revenues.  We forecast this trend to continue in 2011,” added Mr. Yu.

The report shows that the market leaders in DWDM and 40/100 Gbps wavelengths during 2010 and the fourth quarter were Alcatel-Lucent, Ciena, and Huawei.  The majority of 40 Gbps wavelengths shipped in 2010 were DQPSK line cards, followed by DPSK, and then coherent DP-QPSK. www.delloro.com

NEW : Accessories for Times-Protect Smart-Panel™ from Times Microwave Systems

Times Microwave Systems has introduced several accessories to complement its new

Times-Protect Smart-Panel™, the most revolutionary concept in shelter and base station entrance panels to ever come along. Intelligently designed to eliminate traditional entrance panel shortcomings and vastly improve the protection of expensive base station equipment, the Smart-Panel™ is truly a product for 21st century needs.

The new Smart-Panel™ accessories include port plugs in type N and 716 DIN configurations for unused panel ports that do not have feeder cable connections and feed through fittings also in type N and 716 DIN for applications where lightning protection devices are not used.  Both the port plugs and feed through fittings are bolted from the inside of the shelter so they are theft-proof and are also fitted with water-tight sealing gaskets.

Times-Protect Smart-Panel™ Entrance Panel Accessories:

Item                Configuration                                               List Price

LP-NP                        Type N plug                                        $7.50

LP-DP                        Type 716 DIN plug                             $9.00
LP-FT-NFNF Type N female feed through                      $18.00

LP-FT-DFDF Type 716 DIN female feed through          $25.00

The Smart-Panel™ entrance panel provides for highly desirable single point grounding while eliminating the expense and potential incorrect installation of external grounding kits. The Smart-Panel™ design provides for bulkhead mounting of the surge protectors directly on the panel for superior surge performance.  Also eliminated is the traditional internal lightning protector “trapeze” as well as the external copper master ground bar so there’s nothing to steal outside the shelter!

The Smart-Panel™ is completely weatherized, accommodates any shelter wall thickness and is supplied with all the necessary installation hardware including an inside copper master ground bar and low inductance ground plate.

Constructed of powder-coated heavy duty aluminum, the Smart-Panel™ is available in the following configurations:

Times-Protect Smart-Panel™ Series:

Item                Configuration                                   List Price

LP-SP-12N    12 port N hole                                   $1,490.00
LP-SP-12D    12 port 716 DIN hole                       $1,490.00
LP-SP-24N    24 port N hole                                   S1,980.00
LP-SP-24D    24 port 716 DIN hole                       $1,980.00

Custom designs are also available and all designs can also accommodate EWG, Cat 5 data, DC or Fiber entry ports.

About Times Microwave Systems

Times Microwave Systems has over 60 years experience in designing innovative, high-reliability, coaxial cables and assemblies for demanding interconnection problems. An engineering oriented organization, the company specializes in the design and manufacture of high performance flexible and semi-rigid coaxial cable, connectors, and cable assemblies for RF transmission from HF through microwave frequencies as well as surge arrestors for the protection of RF equipment.

For further information contact:

Carolyn Turner: Marketing Coordinator, Times Microwave Systems

Tel.: +1 203 949 8429, Email: carolyn.turner@timesmicro.com

Bogdan Klobassa: Director-Protection Technologies, Times Microwave Systems

Tel.: +1 775 772 4667, Email: bogdan.klobassa@timesmicro.com

BICSI INDIA AREA ACHIEVES DISTRICT STATUS

Tampa, Fla., February 8, 2011— BICSI, the association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge assessment, is pleased to announce that the BICSI India area has recently achieved District status.

BICSI Districts are formed when more than 100 members are active within a designated area. BICSI began activities in India in 2003 and formed a 10 member steering committee, made up of consultants and employees of manufacturing and system integration companies. Since BICSI India’s inception, the membership has steadily increased, and now there are members all over India. Of noteworthy mention, the District has seen an increase of those in the area holding the Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD^®) credential, from two in 2008 to eleven today.

For the past seven years, the India District has held annual conferences in locations such as Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi. The next BICSI India conference will be held August 25-26 in Bangalore. BICSI training and examinations are also being held in the District.

The India District was the third area to receive BICSI District status in 2010. The title was also given to the Caribbean and Andean areas earlier in the year. The Caribbean District is made up of 26 different countries and islands, including Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Andean District is composed of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guyana, Peru and Venezuela.

The India, Caribbean and Andean Districts join the ranks of other BICSI Districts, including Middle East/Africa, South Pacific and Japan. Other international areas working toward district status include Central America, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Cono Sur, Brazil and Mexico. BICSI Regions, which are comprised of more than 500 members, include Europe, Canada, U.S. North-Central, U.S. Northeast, U.S. South-Central, U.S. Southeast and U.S. Western.

###

BICSI is a professional association supporting the information transport systems (ITS) industry. ITS covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety & security, and audio & video technologies. It encompasses the design, integration and installation of pathways, spaces, fiber- and copper-based distribution systems, wireless-based systems and infrastructure that supports the transportation of information and associated signaling between and among communications and information gathering devices.

BICSI provides information, education and knowledge assessment for individuals and companies in the ITS industry. We serve more than 23,000 ITS professionals, including designers, installers and technicians. These individuals provide the fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety and automation systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professional registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals in delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for continual improvement and enhanced professional stature.

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, USA, BICSI membership spans nearly 90 countries. For more information, visit www.bicsi.org.

BICSI—Melanie Hughes Younger is now director of conferences & events for BICSI.

BICSI—Melanie Hughes Younger is now director of conferences & events for BICSI. She’s worked in the association conference/event management field for 20 years, including time at the International Reading Association. www.bicsi.org

We wish her much success. Wireville.com

IDEAL Industries Assigned Patent

Feb. 18 -- IDEAL Industries Inc., Sycamore, Ill., has been assigned a patent (7,887,353) developed by Gary Bethurum, Murrieta, Calif., Benjamin Swedberg, Sycamore, Ill., and Robert Sutter, DeKalb, Ill., for an "electrical disconnect with push-in connectors."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office states: "An electrical disconnect has first and second female contacts mounted in a power connector housing and first and second male contacts in a load connector housing. The male contacts each have a male blade contact finger. The female contacts each have a socket for removably receiving a male blade contact finger. At the rear ends of both the male and female contacts there are integrally formed push-in connector elements for receiving a conductor or wire. The disconnect is particularly suited for use in connecting power wires to a load device in a circuit, such as a fluorescent light ballast." www.idealindustries.com

The patent application was filed on March 26, 2009 (12/411,920). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.htm&r=72&f=G&l=50&d=PTXT&s1=20110215.PD.&s2=%28IL.ASST.%29&co1=AND&p=2&OS=ISD/02/15/2011+AND+AS/IL&RS=ISD/02/15/2011+AND+AS/IL.

TIA, Georgia Institute of Technology Sign MOU to Develop Standardization Collaboration

Arlington, Va. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation (GTARC) announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore collaborative standards development opportunities of mutual interest involving research, testing, and outreach in the area of global information and communications infrastructure. This collaboration will take place through the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), a department of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). A pivotal dimension of the MOU is the intent to define an industry-supported center at Georgia Tech focused on the science, engineering and testing necessary to advance telecommunications standards.

"This MOU marks an important step for TIA as the scope of our standardization activities is expanding and the related demand for standards is rapidly increasing. The collaboration with Georgia Tech will give TIA access to state-of-the-art research capabilities on top of the strong and broad experience already offered by the TIA members. Combining leading hands-on industry expertise with support from a premier institution of higher learning and research will strengthen TIA's voluntary standards process throughout our engineering committees," commented Grant Seiffert, President of TIA.

TIA committees produce voluntary industry standards (TIA Standards and TIA Interim Standards) and American National Standards (TIA American National Standards) and TIA Telecommunications Systems Bulletins (TSB), and other documents in the fields of Communications Products (Wireless, M-2-M, Satellite and User Premises), Distribution Systems, and Fiber Optics. It is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and recognized by the International Telecommunication Union under ITU-T Recommendations A.5 and A.6. Recently, TIA has responded to the changing telecommunications environment with the creation of new standards committees, such as those on Smart Device Communications and Smart Utility Networks.

"Georgia Tech's involvement will be critical in the machine-to-machine (M2M) communications area. In particular, it will contribute to efficiently address pressing concerns in smart device standardization such as security. Led by GTRI's Information and Communications Lab (ICL), GTRI will bring unique resources in this regard, including those of GTRI's newly-created Cyber Technology and Information Security Laboratory (CTISL) and the world-renowned Georgia Tech Information Security Center (GTISC)," said Dr. Jeffrey O. Smith, Chair of the TIA TR-50 Engineering Committee on Smart Device Communications and Chief Technology Officer of Numerex (Nasdaq: NMRX).

The MOU aims at establishing mutually acceptable cooperative programmatic arrangements that will facilitate the achievement of both organizations' strategic goals.

"The cooperation with TIA will bridge our research competence with industry experience. We are looking forward to collaborating with a preeminent standards development organization that can provide advice and guidance as we advance Georgia Tech's research mission in global communications and information technologies," stated Dr. Robert T. McGrath, director of GTRI and Georgia Tech vice president.

Georgia Tech and the TR-50 Engineering Committee on Smart Device Communications are planning a number of educational, business and networking activities at TIA 2011: Inside the Network, TIA's annual industry event being held in Dallas, Texas May 17-20, 2011.

About Georgia Tech and GTRI
The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is one of the world's premier research universities. Ranked seventh among U.S. News & World Report's top public universities and the eighth best engineering and information technology university in the world by Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Academic Ranking of World Universities, Georgia Tech's more than 20,000 students are enrolled in its Colleges of Architecture, Computing, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Management and Sciences.

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is Georgia Tech's nonprofit applied research arm. It employs around 1,500 people, and is involved in approximately $200 million in research annually for more than 200 clients in industry and government. GTRI has been a trusted government and industry partner since 1934. Each day, GTRI's science and engineering expertise is used to solve some of the toughest problems facing government and industry across the nation and around the globe. GTRI conducts its research programs through eight technically-focused laboratories that span the breadth of information, communications, sensors, security, and related technologies. For more information on GTRI please visit www.gtri.gatech.edu.

About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. Since 1924, TIA has been enhancing the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment and entertainment.

Join TIA at its new annual industry event - TIA 2011: Inside the Network - at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas, May 17-20, 2011. Registration is now open.

View video news programming on TIA Now at http://www.tianow.org.

TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.

TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, AttivaCorp, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Inc., GENBAND, Inc., Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, Intersect, Inc., LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, OneChip Photonics, Openwave, Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Powerwave Technologies, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., Walker and Associates and WirefreeCom, Inc. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates and Telcordia Technologies.

BOMA 2011 International Conference and “The Every Building” Show - June 26-28 Wash DC

Conference Connect
Set Your Course for the Future

BOMA 2011 features over 40 education sessions focused on helping you to tackle today's challenges and identify marketplace opportunities to help you excel in the future. The sessions are organized in five education tracks and led by sought-after industry practitioners and subject-matter experts who will share best practices and solutions to help you achieve operational excellence, retain tenants and hone your leadership skills.

Earn Education Credits
All programs qualify for RPA, FMA, SMA, SMT, CPM, ARM and SIOR renewal and CPD credits. Some programs qualify for continuing education credits required by many U.S. states and Canada for the renewal of real estate licenses. Here are the BOMA 2011 education tracks:

BOMA International, 1101 15th St. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 408-2662

www.boma.org

ANIXTER - Dennis Letham, CFO and executive vice president, will retire at the end of June

ANIXTER: DOSCH IN FOR LETHAM—Dennis Letham, CFO and executive vice president, will retire at the end of June; Theodore “Ted” Dosch becomes CFO and executive vice president on July 1. Letham spent 18 years in the CFO spot. Dosch joined Anixter in January 2009 as senior vice president for global finance; he had been with Whirlpool for a number of years, most recently as CFO.

            Additionally, Dosch is a member of the board of directors and vice chair of the board at Habitat for Humanity International. www.anixter.com

FACTOID: Family business is a more important part of our economy than most people realize.

Some stats from Businessweek that you might find interesting.  
Family owned businesses are central to the U.S. economy. Family owned businesses contribute 64% of the U.S. GDP (that’s $5.9 trillion), employ 62% of the workforce, and are responsible for 78% of all new job creation. (Astrachan & Shanker, 2003) 35% of Fortune 500 companies are family-controlled. (Businessweek.com, 2006)

Customs and Border Protection’s IPR Enforcement Priority

By Darlene Bremer

To fight the flow of counterfeit and pirated goods and protect the country’s innovation economy, the competitiveness of U.S. businesses and the livelihoods of U.S. workers, and the health and safety of consumers, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has designated intellectual property rights (IPR) as a Priority Trade Issue (PTI). “CBP identifies PTIs through a strategic, layered risk management approach based on the potential impact of noncompliance with our trade laws,” said Therese Randazzo, director, IPR policy and programs division.

CBP’s enforcement is accomplished through the cooperative efforts of its trained officers and other government agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Departments of Justice and Commerce, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and with members of the trade community, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) and the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC), and individual companies. CBP also conducts industry outreach by partnering with rights owners and industry organizations to collaborate in IPR education and to share information on trends.

“The effects of counterfeiting and piracy on consumers, industry, and the economy may include lost sales, lost brand value, and reduced incentives to innovate,” Randazzo said.

Distributors and contractors can provide CBP with the names and addresses of resellers, intermediaries, transporters, importers, or foreign sellers of suspected counterfeit products, as well as information about the means and routes of transport and the characteristics of suspect products. Samples are also welcome and help CBP trace back the supply chain. “To keep fakes out of the supply chain distributors and contractors should buy from authorized dealers, manufacturers, and reputable sources. Know the chain and beware great deals,” Randazzo said.

To report suspected imports of counterfeit products to CBP, go through the eAllegations page at apps.cbp.gov/eallegations.

http://www.counterfeitscankill.com/news/?fa=show&id=4670&cms=1

ALSO SEE www.naed.org  and  www.necanet.org

Reprinted with permission from TED magazine www.tedmag.com

NECA NEWS

The NECA family of websites are filled with information for the Electrical, Lighting, and Communications Industry.

WWW = What’s New, What’s Now, What’s Next

• NECAnet
• Electrical Contractor Magazine
• NECA-MEI
• NECA-NEIS
• ELECTRI International
• NECA Connection

DON”T MISS NECA 2011 SHOW – San Diego - OCT. 22 – 25

Tel: 301-215-4506 | Fax: 301-215-4553 | Email: necashowinfo@necanet.org

NECA-MEI Announces 2010 Chapter Awards

02/26/2011

NECA's Management Education Institute Chapter Awards recognize those chapters that present the most MEI seminars in their region during a calendar year. This article lists the winners based on 2010 results.

more

Quad Cities Chapter, NECA Introduces EV Infrastructure to Community

02/23/2011

The Quad Cities Chapter, NECA, got great reviews for their recent electric vehicle infrastructure information session

more

House Fails to Suspend Federal Prevailing-Wage Law through Budget Bill

02/20/2011

A proposal to suspend the Davis-Bacon Act for the rest of fiscal year 2011 was defeated by a vote of 233-to-189 in the U.S. House of Representative as lawmakers considered a massive budget reconciliation bill. So, the federal prevailing-wage law is safe for now ... but this is no time for complacency as further talks on budget cuts are looming in both the House and Senate.

more

FREE Webcast, February 28: Significant Code Changes Online Course

02/20/2011

A webcast on the NJATC's 2011 Significant Code Change online course will be presented Monday February 28, 2011. It's FREE! But registration is required.

more

NECA Opposes Repealing Davis-Bacon, Anti-PLA Amendments on Federal Budget

02/18/2011

NECA quickly responds to amendments weakening Davis-Bacon and opposing project labor agreements that were added to the continuing resolution necessary to fund the federal government. Read the full text of NECA's letter to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

more

NECA Speaks Out on Electric Vehicle Opportunities

02/16/2011

NECA calls for the creation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure nationwide.

more

NECA CEO John Grau Elected to Small Business Legislative Council Board of Directors

02/14/2011

NECA CEO John M. Grau has joined the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC) Board of Directors.

more

Keeping the Lights on at Fargo Theater

02/14/2011

The Dakotas Chapter, NECA, and IBEW Local 1426 joined forces to the Fargo Theater's beautiful outdoor marquee from going dark.

more

Costa Rica Post-Tour Extends Cross Border Adventure

02/12/2011

Immediately following ELECTRI International’s 2011 Cross Border Meeting in Costa Rica, a post-tour (March 29-April 2) will enable participants to see more of the country in style. Registrations must reach the ATA office by February 28.

more

Brief Survey On Electrical Equipment With Sharp Edges

02/11/2011

Your response to a very short survey will help a task force of contractors, workers, manufacturers, testing labs and others determine how to address the issue of metal electrical products with sharp issues that can cut installers.

more

February 27 Deadline to Register for 2011 Cross Border Meeting

02/08/2011

From the Welcome Reception on March 26 to the closing dinner on March 28, the focus of ELECTRI International's Cross Border Meeting in Costa Rica is on networking and learning. Registration must be completed online no later than February 27, and participants must make reservations directly with the Paradisus Playa Conchal.

more

NECA Members Urged to Participate in Prefabrication & Modularization Survey

02/05/2011

more

White House Announces Better Buildings Initiative to Rebuild America

02/04/2011

more

Small Business Administration Launches Contracting Program for Women-Owned Small Businesses

02/04/2011

The SBA’s new Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program will provide greater access to federal contracting opportunities for WOSBs. Get on NECA's list of WOSBs today!

more

NFPA and Ford collaborate to provide Electric Vehicle Safety Training

March 1, 2011 — The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced it is working with Ford Motor Company to provide electric vehicle safety training to first responders. The announcement comes as Ford prepares to launch the 2012 Focus Electric—its new all-electric vehicle—in 19 markets at the end of this year. Ford joins Chevrolet and Nissan in working with NFPA as part of its Electric Vehicle Safety Training program for first responders.

NFPA’s training program, which was announced last year as part of a $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, will provide firefighters and first responders with information about how to safely handle emergency situations involving new technologies found in electric vehicles. The collaboration with Ford and other manufacturers is part of NFPA’s program.

“We welcome this opportunity to further expand our electric vehicle safety training by working with the Ford Motor Company,” said Andrew Klock, NFPA’s senior project manager for the program. “Their knowledge and expertise regarding the Focus Electric’s engineering and our history as a leader in fire safety will complement each other as we develop the safety training curriculum to educate and prepare first responders.”

By working with NFPA, first responders will have access to safety specifications of the Focus Electric. NFPA and Ford are also working together to create an instructional video that will be used during the trainings.

Ford has been working with first responders for decades to provide them with opportunities to train on modern vehicles, materials and technologies, including providing fire departments with over 2,000 training vehicles since 1990. Following the introduction of their first hybrid model, the 2006 Escape Hybrid SUV, Ford began publishing emergency responder hybrid vehicle guides with instructions on how to quickly and safely disable the vehicle's electrical and battery systems before attempting to rescue occupants. Their partnership with the NFPA is another important step in reaching out to firefighters and first responders with information about the Ford Focus Electric. First responders will have practical experience with the vehicle and multimedia materials during NFPA’s training program.

NFPA will continue to work with other auto manufacturers in an effort to include vehicle-specific information as more electric vehicles enter the marketplace.

NFPA is currently finalizing the training materials and course curriculum for the full safety training program. Trainings will become available in April 2011.

For more information and resources about NFPA’s Electric Vehicle Safety Training, visit www.evsafetytraining.org.

About Ford
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

About NFPA’s Electric Vehicle Safety Training Project
NFPA’s Electric Vehicle Safety Training project is a nationwide program to help firefighters and other first responders prepare for the growing number of electric vehicles on the road in the United States. The NFPA project, funded by a $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, provides first responders with information they need to most effectively deal with potential emergency situations involving electric vehicles.

NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training and education. www.nfpa.org

NFPA CONFERENJCE & EXPO in BOSTON June 12-15, 2011

The Premier Event in Fire and Life Safety Comes Back to Boston in June at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center

NFPA Conference & Expo – June 12-15, 2011

Mark your calendar to attend the year’s largest and most important event for the fire protection, life safety, and electrical industries. Join NFPA experts and industry professionals as we gather on June 12–15 for the 2011 NFPA Conference & Expo, widely regarded as the most comprehensive event in the industry. Convening at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, the event combines an unrivaled educational conference with an expo of more than 300 solution providers. There is no better opportunity to speak with experts, evaluate products, find solutions to your technical challenges and stay current with technological advances in your field. 

www.nfpa.org

REXEL Holdings USA renamed from International Electric Supply

REXEL USA—the company on Feb. 22 created a new name for itself: Rexel Holdings USA (replacing the holding company named International Electrical Supply). Rexel’s U.S. operations, Gexpro, Gexpro Services, Capital Light & Supply (of CT), and Parts Super Center will all be included in RHC.

www.rexel-usa.com

Scientists develop new kind of optical fiber

A team of scientists led by John Badding, a professor of chemistry at Penn State Univ., has developed the very first optical fiber made with a core of zinc selenide—a light-yellow compound that can be used as a semiconductor. The new class of optical fiber, which allows for a more effective and liberal manipulation of light, promises to open the door to more versatile laser-radar technology. Such technology could be applied to the development of improved surgical and medical lasers, better countermeasure lasers used by the military, and superior environment-sensing lasers such as those used to measure pollutants and to detect the dissemination of bioterrorist chemical agents. The team's research will be published in Advanced Materials.

"It has become almost a cliché to say that optical fibers are the cornerstone of the modern information age," said Badding. "These long, thin fibers, which are three times as thick as a human hair, can transmit over a terabyte—the equivalent of 250 DVDs—of information per second. Still, there always are ways to improve on existing technology." Badding explained that optical-fiber technology always has been limited by the use of a glass core. "Glass has a haphazard arrangement of atoms," Badding said. "In contrast, a crystalline substance like zinc selenide is highly ordered. That order allows light to be transported over longer wavelengths, specifically those in the mid-infrared."

Unlike silica glass, which traditionally is used in optical fibers, zinc selenide is a compound semiconductor. "We've known for a long time that zinc selenide is a useful compound, capable of manipulating light in ways that silica can't," Badding said. "The trick was to get this compound into a fiber structure, something that had never been done before." Using an innovative high-pressure chemical-deposition technique developed by Justin Sparks, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry, Badding and his team deposited zinc selenide waveguiding cores inside of silica glass capillaries to form the new class of optical fibers. "The high-pressure deposition is unique in allowing formation of such long, thin, zinc selenide fiber cores in a very confined space," Badding said.

The scientists found that the optical fibers made of zinc selenide could be useful in two ways. First, they observed that the new fibers were more efficient at converting light from one color to another. "When traditional optical fibers are used for signs, displays, and art, it's not always possible to get the colors you want," Badding explained. "Zinc selenide, using a process called nonlinear frequency conversion, is more capable of changing colors."

Second, as Badding and his team expected, they found that the new class of fiber provided more versatility not just in the visible spectrum, but also in the infrared—electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. Existing optical-fiber technology is inefficient at transmitting infrared light. However, the zinc selenide optical fibers that Badding's team developed are able to transmit the longer wavelengths of infrared light. "Exploiting these wavelengths is exciting because it represents a step toward making fibers that can serve as infrared lasers," Badding explained. "For example, the military currently uses laser-radar technology that can handle the near-infrared, or 2 to 2.5-micron range. A device capable of handling the mid-infrared, or over 5-micron range would be more accurate. The fibers we created can transmit wavelengths of up to 15 microns."

Badding also explained that the detection of pollutants and environmental toxins could be yet another application of better laser-radar technology capable of interacting with light of longer wavelengths. "Different molecules absorb light of different wavelengths; for example, water absorbs, or stops, light at the wavelengths of 2.6 microns," Badding said. "But the molecules of certain pollutants or other toxic substances may absorb light of much longer wavelengths. If we can transport light over longer wavelengths through the atmosphere, we can see what substances are out there much more clearly." In addition, Badding mentioned that zinc selenide optical fibers also may open new avenues of research that could improve laser-assisted surgical techniques, such as corrective eye surgery.

The NEXT NECA Convention & Show – BE THERE

CONTRACTORS CONNECTING THE WORLD WITH POWER + LIGHTING + INTEGRATED SYSTEMS

October 22-25, 2011

San Diego Convention Center

National Electrical Contractors Association

NECA 2010 Boston Hits a Home Run!

60+% of the Boston NECA Exhibitors have already renewed their commitment to our industry by signing up for NECA 2011 San Diego.

Why? Here are just a few on the NECA 2010 Boston On-site Survey Results:
-99% of Attendees were either “Very Satisfied” or “Satisfied” with NECA 2010 Boston

-69% of Attendees either “Make the Final Purchasing Decision” or are “Part of the Purchasing Decision” for their firm

-53% of Attendees are planning the purchase of new equipment or services (as seen on the show floor) within the next 12 months

-another 26% of Attendees are unsure, but could possibly purchase new equipment or services (as seen on the show floor) within the next 12 months

-69% of Exhibitors ranked their experience at NECA 2010 Boston as either “Very Satisfied” or “Satisfied”

The thousands of Electrical Contractors who came to Boston were very pleased with the entire event. Here are just a few of their comments:

“As you know, I have been going to NECA National Conventions for a few decades and I want you to understand that this was the best so far.” 
Don Campbell, NorCal NECA

"The Trade Show was amazing!  I always heard the NECA Trade Show was great, but this was unbelievable."

Steve Willinghurst, JATC Training Director

“That opening reception was the best I've ever been to and a great start to the Convention.  Being a huge Beatles fan I was in heaven at the closing reception and couldn't help but dance the entire evening.   You and your staff did a great job.  My members that attended enjoyed everything about the Convention and will be talking it up, which will hopefully encourage those that did not attend to consider San Diego next year.”

Steven B. Chesley, Executive Manager, Quad Cities Chapter, NECA

“All I can say is CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!  Once again my members and I had such a great time at Convention - and you and your staff are truly remarkable.  From the hotels, to the shuttle service, to the courses and the trade show- this Convention will go down in the record books for being one of my favorites.” 

Brian Sullivan, Executive Director of the Nebraska Chapter of NECA

Sign up today for NECA 2011 San Diego while prime locations are still available. Full details are available on our website

Download the 2011 Exhibitor Prospectus

View the 2011 Floor Plan

Download the 2011 Space Contract

Don't Miss Out!

Benefit by participating in the electrical construction industry’s largest event. Feel free to contact me with any questions at 770-632-0044 or julduda@necanet.org

THE SHOW FOR THOSE WHO POWER THE WORLD!

NECA 2011 San Diego
October 22-25, 2011

San Diego Convention Center

National Electrical Contractors Association

NECA is the voice of the $130 billion electrical construction industry that brings power, light, and communication technology to buildings and communities across the U.S. NECA’s national office and 119 local chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research and standards development. For more information, visit www.necanet.org.

ACUTA’s Annual Conference Addresses Challenges of Providing Technologies on Today’s Campuses

LEXINGTON, Kentucky, February 23, 2011 – As state as well as private colleges and universities struggle to meet budgets, higher education is experiencing a funding crisis that affects every aspect of campus life. New technologies can provide efficiencies, but purchasing and implementing them is often not an option. Individuals responsible for voice, data and video services on campus are challenged as never before.

This year’s Annual Conference of ACUTA, the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education, will provide an opportunity for these individuals to learn from their peers as well as industry professionals as they search for realistic solutions to very difficult questions.

The 2011 conference, April 3-6 in Orlando, Florida, is the 40th for ACUTA, the only international association dedicated to serving the needs of higher education information communications technology professionals. To address the needs of nearly 2,000 individuals at some 700 institutions, ACUTA’s theme for this year’s conference is “Succeeding in the New Reality.” Session topics range from emergency preparedness to unified communications to information communications technology infrastructure and IT financial management.

In addition, author and speaker Simon T. Bailey will deliver a message intended to inspire the audience to take charge of change and transform their lives from the inside out as they become the “Chief Breakthrough Officer” on their campus.

“Conference sessions will focus directly on the needs of our members in addressing the emerging technologies on campus and the effects these technologies have on students, faculty, and the administration,” said Jeri Semer, executive director of ACUTA. “But beyond the sessions, our members value highly the opportunity to network with their peers. By sharing the best strategies and techniques, they benefit themselves and their schools.”

ACUTA’s Annual Conference is in conjunction with its 15th annual Forum for Strategic Leadership in Information Communications Technology, a two-day assembly of senior administrators, with intensive sessions taught by higher education leaders and expert consultants. The Forum’s focus this year is “Rebalancing IT for the Future.”

The Annual Conference will also feature an exhibit hall with companies showcasing the latest technology products and services. During the event at the beautiful Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando, winners of leadership and institutional excellence awards will be announced. More information about the Annual Conference and the Strategic Leadership Forum can be found at www.acuta.org.

About ACUTA
ACUTA, the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education, is an international non-profit educational association serving colleges and universities. Its core purpose is to support higher education information communications technology professionals in contributing to the achievement of the strategic mission of their institutions. ACUTA represents nearly 2,000 individuals at some 700 institutions of higher education, with members ranging from small schools and community colleges to the very largest U.S. institutions. ACUTA’s corporate affiliate members represent all categories of communications technology vendors serving the college/university market. For more information, visit www.acuta.org or call 859-278-3338.

Thoughts on Promotional Products after attending the BICSI conference

Why not consider using Promotional Products to get recognized

In this tough economy, what's the best thing you can do to get the message out to people that you are still ready to make your products available? Well, there is plenty of merchandise and printed products available that will get your company recognized that don't cost a lot of money.

In the morning, what better thing than to have a cup of coffee, get ready for work with your mouse and pad, write up a business proposal with a shiny pen, figure out your budget on a nice jeweled calculator or think about your real "business interests" on the back nine with those nifty golf tees? Well, there are a hundred possible ways to remind those important customers of yours that you are the right choice for that big contract or that merger because you were thoughtful enough to give out those promotional items, corporate gifts or business promotional merchandise.

You could spend millions on marketing slogans that could be hit or miss, but why when for less than $20 per item, you can give out meaningful promotional products and personalized items that show everyone that you're thinking ahead? Notebooks that people use to write messages can be a great way to remind the sales people of who was thinking about them. Miniature clocks that tell the temperature, time and date can easily remind your customers that you are the best thing to happen to them, and how sharp will it look when you can hand them a new calendar and your customers will be thinking of how much you stood out -- those other guys just came in suits and ties and shook hands, but you -- you thought ahead! Keychain flashlights will stand out because you never know when that person you're trying to impress had to work past sundown and was trying to get his key in right to go home. Won't that be convenient?

All of these promotional products, trade show giveaways and items can be written off as marketing expenses and make great gifts for any business environment, whether it be formal, informal -- whether your clients are down the street, across the country or even around the world, everyone loves to get free gifts and as long as business is being conducted, there will always be a need for items like coffee mugs, promotional pens and pencils. If you want to beat a bad economy, what better way than to let your clients and customers know they come first with the right promotional merchandise?

Dan Hagaman, RCDD – changing lanes

Dan Hagaman came to Florida in 1977 a product of a Midwestern upbringing which

took him to live in five cities before the age of 16. He believes that this helped him develop his gift for gab and his joke telling ability. He worked for more than 3 years in the Mental Health profession both in Illinois and in Florida before making the change to the electrical industry in 1979. “The work in these institutions prepared me for the electrical world” Dan often jokes.

He started at Graybar Electric as a material handler. While his electrical career

took off he continued his education at the University of South Florida at night and weekends pursuing a degree in marketing. In the next 31 years Dan worked for  Anixter, Consolidated Datacom, Anicom, Magnum Cable, Siemens Building Technologies, Rexel, and Knight Enterprises as an inside and outside salesman, branch manager, and RVP...

In these positions he developed a knack for outside sales giving promo items away with just about every visit. “Dan, Dan the giveaway man” they called him. He got involved with the marketing aspect of developing products with matching advertising co-op funds from electrical manufacturers some twenty five years ago. It was then that he first had the idea for his new company:

Hagaman Promotions and Awards

Dan started this business May of 2010 and has already made an impression on manufacturers, distributors, reps, contractors and many other business types with his unique products that fit the industry. He asserts that promotional products have the least cost per impression of any form of advertising (with the exception of internet marketing).

He believes that building a strong brand requires keeping your name in front of your prospects and clients. “In the sales process the telephone, internet marketing, and direct mail is used to make an impression. With promotional products you add face to face sales. They act as a catalyst for you to ID your best prospects and customers and to go see them to distribute these items.

When you are competing for someone's business you need to replace their current vendor. That process involves getting the prospect to start thinking about you more than their current supplier. Keeping your logo or name in front of your clientele builds “mind share” and that's what you need in order to get the business.

In this most competitive business climate you need an edge, a way to out-innovate the other guy. Hagaman contends all you need is to work hard selling in the conventional ways previously mentioned and add specialty advertising items that sell for you when you're not there. “When you purchase promotional items it means you are signing up for more interactions with your most important targets.”

Dan will help you develop inexpensive and effective products to help you with your sales process, to get you on your feet and out the door to go see some of the most important people in your future.

Hagaman Promotions and Awards

30700 US Hwy 19 N #115

Palm Harbor, FL 34684

Tel. 727.785.9424

 dhagaman@knology.net

www.HagamanPromotions.com

 …More Thoughts on Promotional Items. It really works!

For Effective Promotions: Know Your Audience!
To send the most powerful message with your promotional giveaways, be sure to tailor your gift to your target audience. Giving pencils to people who use pens is pointless...and pointless pencils don't write! Knowing your audience is the single most crucial element in all business communications. And when you're giving away promotional items, communicating with your target audience can be fun and rewarding.

Gearing Up Your Computer with Lots of Goodies

I never imagined that I’d ever spend so many hours per day on a computer, let alone even own one. During my college years, only the rich kids had their own computers – and my father, but he was a corporate executive. Most of my term papers were typed on a friend’s word processor or at the university computer lab, after I waited in line to get an available terminal. Now, my life is more technical and four laptops are part of our home life. And it’s not just the computers themselves. There are all sorts of devices that go with them: a Blu-Screen Clean computer brush, USB 2.0 flash drives, wireless mice, wireless Internet detector, and rubber backed mouse pads.

I never thought that I’d have so many uses for a computer nor did I think that my desk would be cluttered with all of the things that I need to be technologically advanced. Fortunately, I can shop without ever leaving my house and find information without ever stepping foot into a library. And I can work while I’m in my pajamas parked on my couch. Ah, computers. What would I do without my trusty laptop?

Think Ahead for More Business in the New Year

With all the talk of turkey and stuffing this week, it’s hard to wrap your brain around or even pause to think about the fact that the old year is coming to a close and 2011 will be starting up in just a matter of six weeks. The craziness of the holiday season ensures that the new year sneaks up on us and before we can even top that slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream, it seems that the decorations are down and January has returned. Don’t let this happen to your business! Make the effort now so that you are promoting yourself for all of 2011. You give a gift that is practical, usable, and cost-effective – the calendar – coupled with a simple marketing tool – your business card – that gets you noticed throughout the new year. Spend a little cash to make a whole lot of new business. It’s a win-win situation for both you and the recipient. A little planning on your part right now will make all the difference come June or July, and for that, you’ll be thankful.    www.HagamanPromotions.com

DO IT NOW!

Frank Bisbee - Editor

"HOTS - Heard On The Street" Monthly Column

www.wireville.com

An Industry Undergoing Transformation - Global Lighting Industry Moving from Iconic Edison Incandescent Bulb to Energy-Efficient Light Sources

Michael B. Petras Jr., President and CEO, GE Lighting

On December 31, 1879, Thomas A. Edison flipped a switch and gave the public a glimpse of the world’s first practical incandescent light bulb. It marked the first commercially viable light bulb that would ultimately replace gaslight systems. The age of practical electric lighting had begun.

December 31, 2011—exactly 132 years later—will mark another dramatic turning point in the history of lighting. That will be the last day manufacturers can legally make a 100-watt incandescent bulb for sale in the U.S. The long reign of the incandescent bulb will begin to end on January 1, 2012 (one year earlier in California), as federal regulations take effect.

Although 100-watt incandescent light bulbs—among the most commonly used household bulbs, with more than 200 million sold annually in the U.S. alone—can no longer be manufactured for sale in the U.S., retailers and manufactures may sell them until exhausting their inventory.

Other wattages will follow. By January 1, 2013, 75-watt bulbs will no longer be manufactured for sale in the U.S., followed by the end of 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent bulbs on January 1, 2014. This trend has already started in other countries, with similar legislation being implemented around the globe. Australia and the European Union began the conversion in 2009. Argentina and the Philippines started in 2010. The 100-watt timeline in British Columbia, Canada, was January 1, 2011, while the rest of the country will implement legislation January 1, 2012.

In addition to changes in the consumer market related to household bulbs, the Department of Energy (DOE) will implement new efficiency standards for halogen PAR lamps (spotlights/floodlights) in the summer of 2012 that will eliminate nearly all standard halogen PAR38, PAR30, and PAR20 lamps from the market.

Consumers who want to continue to use halogen technology have great energy-saving options, such as the HIR™ Plus Halogen lamps, which are among the industry's most efficient lamps in PAR38s and PAR30 long necks. These halogen lighting products are up to 54 percent more efficient than standard PAR38s and up to 41 percent more efficient than standard PAR30 long necks—great for retail, property management, household applications, and anywhere PAR lamps are used today.

The Goal: Dramatic Energy Savings

The global lighting industry is undergoing a profound transformation as global demand declines for the household incandescent bulb and as new efficiency standards and technology advancements take hold. Customers want more efficient bulbs that save energy and money, while governments are requiring higher efficiency products for lighting, which consumes approximately 22 percent of all electricity in the U.S.

With an estimated 4 billion Edison screw-base light sockets in American homes, the savings related to this transition will be huge. For example, after the 100-watt incandescent lamp is gone, consumers will be able to achieve approximately the same light output by using a halogen bulb of about 72 watts or a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) of about 25 watts.

If half of the 200 million 100-watt incandescent bulbs sold annually in the U.S. were converted to halogen bulbs and the other half to CFLs, the savings would be even greater—elimination of 7.8 million tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the removal of nearly 1.4 million cars from the roads. This is just the impact of 100-watt light bulbs removed from service.

Consumer education, options critical

Education is key. Consumer research by GE Lighting found that three out of four U.S. adults are not yet aware of the new lighting efficiency regulations. When told of the change, focus-group studies revealed that consumers are understandably anxious. Consumers worry about the higher costs of the alternative light bulbs and that these more expensive bulbs won’t perform as advertised.

While these may be legitimate concerns, retailers offer many options to consumers for reliable, affordable energy-efficient lighting that meet consumers’ diverse lighting needs and preferences while conserving energy.

LED lighting

Growing in popularity is solid state lighting (SSL), commonly called LED lighting. Instead of materials that turn "incandescent" when heated, solid state products rely on "electroluminescence" from light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. When electricity is applied to an LED, light is emitted from the interface between two different semiconducting materials. The LED is typically put into an epoxy package that can be easily connected to an electrical circuit.

LED products already on the market use one-quarter of the wattage of a comparable incandescent bulb and last 25 times longer.

From emerging technology to widespread adoption

For most consumers, the solid stage age will not come overnight. While the benefits are a very persuasive draw for consumers, the initial out-of-pocket cost for household LED lighting products will be significantly higher than traditional light bulbs.

As with any new technology, the first generations of high-quality LED light bulbs comparable to traditional incandescents are expected to cost between $40 and $50 a bulb, which will be too expensive for the vast majority of households. Broader adoption is anticipated in the commercial or professional markets, where more value is placed on maintenance and energy savings.

Commercial users are already being won over. In 2007, industry sales of LEDs for general lighting purposes amounted to just $340 million, according to market research firm Strategies Unlimited. By 2014, that is projected to be $7.3 billion, representing a compounded average annual growth rate of 44 percent.

While initial LED lighting products will be more expensive, they will last longer and save energy—the bulb more than pays for itself over 22 years of energy savings. As technology improves and costs come down, demand for LED lighting will grow.

By 2030, DOE estimates SSL could save approximately 190 terawatt-hours of electricity per year, resulting in $15 billion in savings per year at today's prices. That roughly equals the annual output of 24 large power plants (1000 MW), or enough electricity to light 95 million homes.

Between now and 2030, DOE estimates the nation would reduce consumption by 1,488 terawatt-hours, representing a savings of $120 billion in today’s prices. At the same time, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 246 million metric tons of carbon, assuming the same mix of power generation as today.

Buyer beware: Is it too good to be true?

As is the case with many emerging technologies, manufacturers around the world are trying to gain a portion of the LED market segment by releasing a spate of lighting products to the public—perhaps even without appropriate testing. Most LED products carry claims of lasting 25,000 to 50,000 hours and emitting as much light as incandescent bulbs.

A stroll through the exhibition hall at the LightFair International trade show in 2010 revealed booth after booth of obscure manufacturers displaying LED light bulbs claiming to burn as brightly as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. There is reason to be skeptical and cautious.

Independent laboratory tests under the DOE Commercially Available LED Product Evaluation and Reporting program, better known as CALiPER, has revealed a large percentage of LED lighting products on the market fall short of manufacturers’ claims. New standards for screw-in LED bulbs carrying the ENERGY STAR^® label administered by the Environmental Protection Agency went into effect on August 31, 2010. But many products have not yet gone through the rigorous, independent testing required to earn the ENERGY STAR label.

The government has demonstrated that it will take action to protect consumers, but consumers should also do their part by buying responsibly from reputable companies that stand behind their products, not only on the day of purchase but throughout the product’s lifespan.

Buying from a reputable company is important, because given the long life of these new products, consumers not only need to be concerned with how brightly a bulb burns now, but also how brightly it will burn five, ten, or even fifteen years from now.

The transition of the global lighting industry means big changes. This revolution is fraught with technological, management, and marketing challenges as well as boundless opportunities.

Michael B. Petras also serves as treasurer on the NEMA Board of Governors.

www.nema.org

REPRINTED with permission from the ElectroIndustry Magazine. February 2011 issue (page 14) An Industry Undergoing Transformation by Michael Petras, Pres. GE Lighting

SECURITY - THIRTEEN THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator. 
 
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier. 
 
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have. 
 
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.. 
 
5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway. 
 
6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy. 
 
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom - and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too. 
 
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door - understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather. 
 
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.) 
 
10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet. 
 
11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms. 
 
12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me. 
 
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it athttp://www.faketv.com/) 
 
8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU: 
 
1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook. 
 
2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors. 
 
3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again... If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature. 
 
4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it? 
 
5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets. 
 
6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address. 
 
7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation. 
 
8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in. 
 
Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runshttp://www.crimedoctor.com/and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job 
 
WASP SPRAY 
 
A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead. 
 
The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection... Thought this was interesting and might be of use. 
 
FROM ANOTHER SOURCE 
 
On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self-defense experts have a tip that could save your life. 
 
Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School. For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed. 
 
Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them." 
 
Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades. It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray. 
 
"That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out." 
 
Maybe even save a life. 
 
Put your car keys beside your bed at night 
 
Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr's office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night. 
 
If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime. 
 
P.S. I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem. 
 
COMMON SENSE is GOOD.

Thanks to Ralph Jensen, Editor of Security ProductsOnLine magazine.

The Law of Supply and Demand - Copper

The other day I overheard a contractor filling up his truck at the gas station.  The clerk inquired if he was going to fill up the tank and the contractor replied, "Nope, I've only got a hundred bucks on me."  Gas prices soared so quickly that many contractors ended up paying the extra cost to do jobs out of their own pockets.  There are many other shocking examples of unexpected cost increases spiraling upward after the job has been negotiated and the deal signed.  The price of COPPER is going up.

There are many pitfalls for contractors.  They need to practice self-defense.  Unexpected costs can sneak up and wipe out the profit from a project.  Some of the surprises cannot be prevented, but most of the nasty developments can be avoided.  Planning is crucial.  The agreement for a project should be well defined, with clauses to address unforeseen and unexpected expenses.

The Drivers on the Climbing Copper Prices

In 2011, market demand for copper is still rising strongly on the back of phenomenal growth in China, India and other emerging market economies.  In China the growth has been a staggering 15% per year.  Stockpiles of copper have been in sharp decline the last few years.  It is this scarcity that has driven prices higher while commodities traders out-bid each other as they scramble for available supplies and hedge on futures.  Supply has fallen behind the growth of demand and prices can move in only one direction when this happens.

Economics is based upon the law of supply and demand (a.k.a. the study of the allocation of scarce resources).  According to a study from geologists at Yale University, new discoveries of copper have raised global reserves by just 0.63% per year since 1925 but usage (final demand) has risen at 3.3% per year.  No changes in this disparity are expected in the next few years.

Most copper ore is mined or extracted as copper sulfides from large open pit mines in copper porphyry deposits that contain 0.4% to 1.0% copper.  Over 40% of the world’s copper supply comes from North and South America; 31% from Asia, and 21% from Europe.  Chile is the world’s largest supplier of copper (it provided 35% of the total with Indonesia and the USA each contributing 8%).

Copper prices are at an all-time high.  This base metal is experiencing a world-wide and unprecedented growth in demand that is driving the prices ever higher.  The supply volume (mining and recycling) is stable at this time.  With the long-term forecasts of increasing demand (particularly in China), we may see copper-based wire and cable products increasing in price over at least the next five years.

Copper Uses Growing Rapidly

Nearly 50% of the demand for copper comes from the construction industry and 17% from the electrical sector.  Copper is also used extensively in heavy and light engineering and in transport industries.  From copper wire and communication cabling to copper plumbing; from the use of copper in integrated circuits to its value as a corrosive resistant material in shipbuilding and as a component of coins and cutlery, copper has a huge array of possible industrial uses.

An excellent example of the growing demand for copper comes from the automobile industry.  The average new car contains 60.72 lbs of copper.  Hybrid cars (which incorporate electric motors in conjunction with combustion engines) could lead to further rises in copper demand by this segment.   A typical electric hybrid car might use around 2 times the current usage of copper in extra cabling and windings for electric motors.  The improved technology of batteries and the soaring cost of gasoline have combined to give totally electric vehicles huge momentum in the marketplace.  The numerous growing demands for copper have grown much faster than the supply.

The low flexibility of prices (based on demand) for copper usually stems from a lack of close substitutes in the market.  For some products and processes, aluminum or plastic may act as a substitute to copper, but there are costs and delays involved in switching between materials.

The flexibility in the supply of copper is low.  Supply is usually unresponsive to price movements in the short term because of the high fixed costs of developing new extraction processes and plants which typically involve lengthy lead-times.  Due to that pressure, investors seem resistant to investing in new copper mining facilities at this time.  If existing copper mining businesses are working close to their current capacity, then a rise in world demand will simply lead to a reduction in available stocks.  Current copper supply and demand issues may not bring the market back into equilibrium for many years.  These price predictions do not even take into account the volatile effect of speculative buying.

CHANGES

The demand for copper will continue to remain strong provided that the global industrial sectors continue to expand production. But if prices remain high then we can expect to see some shifts occurring.

For a start, copper can be recycled although the costs of doing so are often high. Recycling of wire and cable adds to the supply and is a major source of revenue for the astute contractor. However, the resultant byproducts of the recycling process include the release of toxic gasses in atmospheric emissions from the recycling plants and waste products (including heavy metals and other hazardous substances) dumped into rivers or ground water supplies.    Most copper recycling materials, like wire and cable,  are associated with plastics (like jacketing and insulation materials – many containing HAZMAT)  Regardless, the price theory would predict an increase in demand for scrapped copper and perhaps a substitution moving away from copper towards aluminum. And in the interim, high prices and emerging new technologies may cause an even bigger shift in demand away from copper based products

VDV – Voice Data Video Market

In the growing Information Technology market currently dominated by the copper cabling industry, the take off in wireless technology and fiber optics will also have an impact. The need for speed in transmission properties has placed a much higher demand for fiber optic cabling to replace copper communications cable. The cost comparisons are showing the two design choices are close to price parity, however the fiber optic technology offers a significantly greater barrier to obsolescence. Recent interviews with various major U.S. cabling manufacturers and distributors (i.e. CSC, Accu-Tech, and Graybar) confirmed cabling costs have risen in the last few months because of increased copper and plastics (FEP) costs. The argument in favor of investing in fiber optic cabling is compelling.

PRODUCTION

Higher prices may be the trigger to an expansion of copper ore production as supply responds to the incentives of increased potential revenues and profits.  In recent years, copper mining production has fallen short of expectations.  The rule remains: if the price stays high enough suppliers will eventually respond and expand to the demand…. Or purchasers will find other products and solutions.  Many experts feel that this is not a temporary condition.

SUMMARY

Competition demands that Contractors must insure the prices in their bids reflect the CURRENT COSTS of the products from distribution. Increasingly, we are hearing leading distributors warning the market about price increases that are coming because of soaring raw material costs. The copper and petro-chemical materials have had three sets of price increases in the last three months, and there seems to be more coming down the road. Currently, copper and FEP (Teflon) cable costs are soaring. Under the current conditions, the supplier or distributor should provide a written statement accompanying their bid to the contractor that will state that the price is good until a specified date. The contractor may also build an escalation clause into their bids. Bids should have some protection against the cost increases

But that’s just my opinion,

Frank Bisbee

Commentary by Frank Bisbee, editor of the “Heard On The Street” monthly column and e-zine. www.wireville.com 

Reprinted from web exclusive articles from The Electrical Contractor Magazine www.ecmag.com

Electrify – Illuminate – Communicate

The NEW Electrical Contractor is called upon to do it all.

The Rewiring of America is the newest challenge to face the Electrical Contractor (EC). Over the past decade new developments on the technological scene have made “rewiring” an imperative for power, lighting, and communications.

Power

The cost of energy has reached levels never anticipated, and something must be done to monitor, manage, and maximize “power.”  The smart management of energy consumption is one of the fastest growth areas of the electrical industry. Many electrical contractors have added energy management services to their offerings. The payback on these applications is much higher than any other area of customer services. More data is emerging every year to confirm the findings that automated building systems can substantially reduce the cost of “power.” The pages of Electrical Contractor Magazine are filled with examples of the smart building applications and how they are bringing the EC and the customer closer together. Expanding energy services is an important growth area for the EC.

Lighting

The rules for lighting are changing rapidly as the more efficient lighting systems are understood.  Older technologies, like the incandescent bulbs, are getting the heave-ho in favor of the less-costly and more environmentally-friendly LED (Light Emitting Diode). Once again the EC is in the forefront of the changes in the new rules for lighting the workplace and homes across the nation. The EC has become the heir to the opportunity of updating the way we illuminate our world.

Communications

During the past twenty five years, the world has been overwhelmed by the complete revolution of being able to communicate with every corner of the world. The internet has made the flow of information absolutely mandatory in virtually every business and social area of our lives. The demand for speed and the volume of transmitted data has made most of the installed cabling systems obsolete overnight. No sooner had the world been wired for high speed data, when we discovered that the primary media (copper UTP) was challenged to keep up with the growing demand for more speed and a greater volume of information (data). Basically, copper cabling is limited by the rule of “the faster you transmit – the shorter distance it can go.”

Fiber Optical cabling is the best barrier to obsolescence. The FO cables are capable of reaching from the backbone to the work zone and beyond (FTTD) efficiently and with more bandwidth available. We envision that virtually all communications cabling will require upgrades within the next 15 years. In the USA alone, this means almost 40 - 50 million miles of cabling will need to be installed or replaced. Once again the EC is the best choice for this challenge. The competitive edge offered by communications to the world of commerce makes addressing this “rewiring” mandatory.

SMART BUILDINGS

Low voltage cabling (copper or fiber optic) is the nerve system for your operations. The EC can bring these technologies together in converged systems (HCVA, Lighting, Security, Life Safety, Telecommunications, etc.) to automate operations and your building. Continental Automated Buildings Association’s President, Ron Zimmer said  “CABA has many studies confirm that the cost savings, particularly in electricity, can be significant.” www.caba.org

Electrical Contractors Increase Work in the Low Voltage Market Sector
The results of the 2010 Electrical Contractor Magazine Reader Profile Study show that electrical contractor’s work in the low voltage market has increased since the 2008 survey results. www.ecmag.com

▪ 66% of electrical contractors did work in Communications/Systems Connectivity, almost 6 in 10 worked in CII Automation & Controls in 2009.

▪ Significantly more electrical contractors in 2010 said that their firm was actively involved in the Design or Specification of Data Centers and/or the Installation of Data Centers than in 2008.

*WORK PERFORMED IN 2009 (BY # OF EMPLOYEES WITHIN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR FIRMS

THE ECONOMY

While many experts debate over the economy and the recession, it is clear that our world has changed drastically over the past few years and it may be years before a complete recovery will occur. We have analyzed marketplace and found the strongest sectors are the GEMs (Government –Education – Medical). These sectors have projected growth of 5%-15% over the next two years. The EC is ideally positioned to provide the POWER – LIGHTING – COMMUNICATIONS infrastructure to meet these needs.

In the recent State of The Union speech by President Obama, he directed our focus to some very important facts and issues. His remarks included, “Our world has changed.  And for many, the change has been painful.  I’ve seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories, and the vacant storefronts on once busy Main Streets. I’ve heard it in the frustrations of Americans who’ve seen their paychecks dwindle or their jobs disappear -– proud men and women who feel like the rules have been changed in the middle of the game.

The rules have changed.  In a single generation, revolutions in technology have transformed the way we live, work and do business.  Steel mills that once needed 1,000 workers can now do the same work with 100.  Today, just about any company can set up shop, hire workers, and sell their products wherever there’s an Internet connection.”

The competition for work is intense.  But this shouldn’t discourage us.  It should challenge us. Remember -– for all the hits we’ve taken these last few years, for all the naysayers predicting our decline, America still has the largest, most prosperous economy in the world.  No workers are more productive than Americans.  No country has more successful companies, or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs.  We’re the home to the world’s best colleges and universities, where more students come to study than any place on Earth.

The future is ours to win.  But to get there, we can’t just stand still.  As Robert Kennedy told us, “The future is not a gift.  It is an achievement.”  Sustaining the American Dream has never been about standing pat.  It has required each generation to sacrifice, and struggle, and meet the demands of a new age.

Today, we know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries. America needs to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.  In order to succeed, we have to make America the best place on Earth to do business. The Electrical Contractor has evolved to become one of the most powerful resources in our country because the EC is leading the way into a brighter day. Some experts say that the EC will play a pivotal role in how we handle challenges Economically, Environmentally, and Competitively in the global arena.

The most recent opportunity to challenge the EC is building the infrastructure to handle the needs of electrically powered autos. With more research and incentives, Americans can break their dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.  In setting America’s new goal:  by 2035, eighty percent of America’s electricity will come from clean energy sources.  Some groups want wind and solar.  Others want nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas.  To meet this goal, America will need them all. Electrical Contractors will play a major role in the training and implementation of the infrastructure of electric vehicles’ energy supply system.

Winning the future is rebuilding and rewiring America.  To attract new businesses to the USA, we need the most efficient power system and the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods, and information -- from high-speed rail to high-speed Internet. 

Within the next five years, It will be possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans.  The EC is an important player in connecting America to the digital age.  It’s about rural communities in America where farmers and small business owners will be able to sell their products worldwide.  It’s about firefighters who can download the design of burning buildings onto handheld devices; students who can take classes with digital textbooks; or patients who can have face-to-face video chats with their doctors.

The electrical contractor certainly has a bright future as the USA and the world addresses the needs of power, lighting, and communications for the future. All these investments -- innovation, education, and infrastructure -- will make America a better place to do business and create jobs. 

Please send us your ideas, comments to improve our column and get the word out. Your input is important.

Commentary by Frank Bisbee, editor of the “Heard On The Street” monthly column and e-zine. www.wireville.com 

Reprinted from web exclusive articles from The Electrical Contractor Magazine www.ecmag.com

Accu-Tech’s LEED Seminar Series is a nationwide tour

Accu-Tech’s LEED Seminar Series is a nationwide tour designed to bring new opportunities to our customers and business partners. These seminars focus on key aspects of our industry-- LEED, Data Centers, and In-Building Wireless.

We would like to invite industry professionals which hold various credentials such as the RCDD, LEED AP, LEED Green Associate, FMA, SMA, RPA, P.E. and AIA designations as well as any others that would find value in these topics. 
Continuing Education Credits

In addition to the unique educational opportunity the seminar provides, the course is also worth (4) Continuing Education Credits for a number of professional industry designations including the LEED AP, LEED Green Associate, BICSI RCDD, FMA, SMA and RPA.

Distributed Antenna System (DAS) course worth 3 BICSI CEC's.

As 11/4/2010, Accu-Tech was approved by the American Institute of Architects as an AIA CES Provider. Each one hour segment of this seminar will receive (1) SD (Sustainable Design) Learning Unit towards the AIA professional designation.

The seminar leader will be Mike Long, LEED Green Associate (Accu-Tech LEED Program Manager), who coordinates the LEED Seminar Series for Accu-Tech.

Brian P. Brown
Lead Web Developer & Internet Marketing
Cell: 678-997-9768 | Office: 770-663-2387

Anixter launches new assurance program at recent AFCOM Data Center World conference

ANIXTER—“Anixter ipAssured” is the name of a new infrastructure assurance program for data centers launched at the AFCOM Data Center World conference, which was held recently in Las Vegas.

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Whether you're recruiting security professionals or looking for a new security position, start your search on the Security Products website, the security site visited by thousands* in the industry each week. Job seekers in these categories and more scan our site daily searching for careers in:

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Aquantia, Cisco, Intel and Siemon Team Up to Discuss 10GBASE-T Adoption in the Data Center

Industry Experts Discuss 10GBASE-T Advancements to Reduce Energy Consumption in Data Centers

February 16, 2011, WATERTOWN, CT – At a recent Emerging Technology Forum in Portland, OR, experts from leading network infrastructure companies Aquantia, Cisco, Intel and Siemon addressed key advances and considerations in the trend towards increasing market adoption of 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) technologies in the data center.   Topics covered at this event were key 10GBASE-T market drivers and projections, the evolution of server connectivity, decreasing power needs and cabling design options with 10GBASE-T, and others. This event offered actionable advice for networking professionals on critical 10GbE decision points across the data center infrastructure. An online video of this expert panel discussion is available at www.siemon.com/expertpanel.

Panel contributors included Dave Chalupsky, Intel Network Architect, Carl Hansen, Senior Product Manager with Intel’s Data Center Standards group, Carrie Higbie, Siemon’s Global Director of Data Center Solutions & Services, Sudeep Goswami, Product Line Manager of Cisco’s Server Access and Virtualization Business Unit and group chair for the Ethernet Alliance 10GBASE-T committee and Sean Lundy, Director of Technical Marketing at Aquantia.

Among the event highlights were Aquantia’s Sean Lundy and Intel’s Carl Hansen and Dave Chalupsky providing insight on how chip innovations from their respective companies were expected to significantly drive down 10GBASE-T power requirements for more energy-efficient 10GbE networks.  According to Lundy, “The current 40nm generation can already achieve power of a couple of Watts for connectivity within the rack in data centers and will trend to 1 Watt or less with Energy Efficient Ethernet and migration to finer geometries. We have now achieved a power, area, density envelope that has enabled dual-port LAN on Motherboard (LOM). Between LOM and 48-port high density switching, in 2011, we will see the beginning of the hockey stick growth curve for 10GBASE-T”.

Regarding widespread commercial availability of 10GBASE-T equipment, Cisco’s Sudeep Goswami stated that Cisco is serious about 10GBASE-T and projected that the company’s flagship Nexus product family would join its Catalyst line in supporting 10GBASE-T in 2011.

According to Siemon’s Carrie Higbie, category 6A and higher connectivity is being planned in new data centers, “85% of the new data center designs I see are cabling for 10GBASE-T.”  Higbie also noted a continuing upswing in the global use of shielded cabling for 10GBASE-T, including the traditional UTP dominant markets such as the US.

Siemon has been marketing and selling 10GBASE-T ready cabling since 2004 and now that 10GBASE-T equipment and power consumption is becoming more economical, the time has come for customers to take full advantage of their category 6A and higher cabling investment.

For more information and insight from the Aquantia, Cisco, Intel and Siemon expert panel, please view the event video at siemon.com/expertpanel.

Follow Siemon on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/siemoncabling/

Join Siemon on Facebook: http://www.siemon.com/go/facebook

###

About Siemon

Established in 1903, Siemon is an industry leader specializing in the manufacture and innovation of high quality, high-performance network cabling solutions. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, with global offices, manufacturing and service partners throughout the world, Siemon offers the most comprehensive suite of copper (unshielded and shielded twisted-pair) category 5e, category 6 (Class E), category 6A (Class E_A) and category 7/7_A (Class F/F_A), and multimode and singlemode optical fiber cabling systems available. With over 400 patents specific to structured cabling, from patch cords to patch panels, Siemon Labs invests heavily in R&D and development of industry standards, underlining the company's long-term commitment to its customers and the industry. www.siemon.com

The Three Rs of Intelligent Infrastructure

Sunday, 20 February 2011  at  08:35, By James Carlini

Redundancy, Reliability, and Resiliency are the three Rs of basic design concepts for intelligent infrastructure needed to provide a solid platform for mission critical applications and real-time communications-based information technology applications.

In commercial real estate, any owner or managing firm of an intelligent business campus (IBC) or intelligent industrial park (IIP) wanting to attract and maintain new corporate tenants has to be focused on following these basic concepts for building next-generation business parks. Intelligent amenities of redundant power from separate power grids and reliable access to multiple network carriers for broadband connectivity are capabilities that more and more are looking for.

These are two key infrastructure factors today in developing high-tech real estate that can support mission critical data centers as well as today’s complex corporate tenant needs which include cloud computing.

Today, intelligent amenities need to be addressed upfront in the Master Planning of a business campus prior to prospective tenant inquiries. In the past, they were left to be determined after the tenant had moved in. Now, if they are not present upfront, a prospective tenant’s site selection and evaluation team will keep looking to the next region for potential sites.

Many commercial properties are land-locked when it comes to having any network carrier available with high-speed connectivity that can provide multiple gigabit services. Having one network carrier available or one source of power is not enough, especially when you are looking to maintain mission critical applications that require high reliability and survivability.

Most industrial parks and business campuses do not offer the same level of capabilities which are needed to compete in today’s and tomorrow’s global economy. The differentiation of amenities is what will determine new values for properties as well as how fast properties will sell or lease up.

New approaches needed for master planning

Changing the approach used for Master Planning for commercial and industrial campuses should be accomplished by those who are involved in the planning and design facets of commercial real estate. They need to understand the new requirements from the tenants’ perspective.

For instance, the reliability of one network carrier is not enough. Having a second carrier with second diversified route is a solid amenity to have and to market. The same goes for redundant power supplies. Those properties that can offer better amenities will attract better tenants.

Having these capabilities upfront embedded in the initial infrastructure will attract a higher caliber of tenant who is looking for sophisticated amenities to support their business that is competing in a global economy.

CARLINI-ISM : You must build upon a solid foundation both in design as well as final implementation. Reciting buzzwords is not enough. People must get a sense of forward progress and removal of dated concepts.

Mr. Carlini will be the featured Keynote Speaker at the upcoming annual LECET (Laborers Employers Cooperation & Education Trust) conference in Chicago, IL on May 4, 2011.  The topic will be Intelligent Infrastructure: Securing Regional Sustainability.

Does YOUR organization need a keynote speaker for an upcoming conference? 

Tel. 773-370-1888   …Copyright 2011 - James Carlini

From business column in Dubai: http://english.alrroya.com/content/three-rs-intelligent-infrastructure

BICSI Listens and Improves. Letter from the President

At BICSI, we take the time to listen to our members in order to improve our products and services provided to you. I would like to take this opportunity to discuss some changes we are making to the ITS Fundamentals program to help our prospective Registered Communication Distribution Designers® (RCDDs) and Registered Information Technology Professionals™ (RITPs) in their process of attaining BICSI’s most prestigious credentials.

Beginning April 1, the ITS Fundamentals examination will no longer be a prerequisite for the RCDD and RITP exams. Because these designations require five years of industry experience, we have eliminated this requirement and the Fundamentals principles will be integrated into the RCDD and RITP exams. Prior to April 1, the program will still be a requirement to all individuals looking to take the RCDD or RITP exam.

Though the ITS Fundamentals program is no longer required, BICSI encourages individuals to use it as a starting point to study for any BICSI design designation. The ITS Fundamentals exam will remain a prerequisite to attain all other BICSI design credentials.

As a global association, one of our major goals is to make our products and services competitively priced for our members and the marketplace, so we have lowered the price of the ITS Fundamentals program. We place great emphasis on making sure that our members’ needs are met and exceeded, so please feel free to contact us directly with any questions you have regarding the new ITS Fundamentals program guidelines. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to BICSI.

Sincerely,

Brian Hansen, RCDD, NTS, CSI
BICSI President www.bicsi.org

CABA NewsBrief

§                     Global Cache and Touch IR+ sign partnership
Global Caché, a leading independent manufacturer of IP and WiFi connectivity products for the control and automation market, and Touch IR+, makers of software applications that turn an iPad/iPhone/iPod into a universal remote control, announced they have signed a strategic alliance agreement. The partnership provides a platform for the two companies to co-market and ensures seamless product compatibility. HomeToys.com (2/22)

§                     Global smart homes market worth $13.4 billion by 2014
The global smart homes market is estimated to be $13.4 billion by 2014, growing at a CAGR of 16.5% from 2009 to 2014, driven by the increasing ageing population worldwide. The markets for smart home products and services are expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.3% and 17% respectively. Rise in the ageing population is the major driving force for the growth of the market. Government initiatives and rising smart home adoption rates due to increasing personal income in Asia are also boosting the market. Market Publishers (2/23)

§                     Samsung devices to get live streaming via upcoming TV models
Future owners of Samsung's recently announced Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Samsung Galaxy S II will be able to stream content via the company's upcoming Smart TV models. Apparently, the mobile devices -- as well as other compatible gadgets -- will be able to wirelessly connect with the TVs' second tuner, turning them into satellite sets. Pocket-Lint.com (2/21)

§                     Handset makers are ready to complete data transfer standard
Major mobile phone makers this week are expected to put the wraps on the Long-Term Evolution Advanced standard, a technology that will support data transfer speeds of up to 1 Gbps. The 3GPP group will meet in Taiwan, where it likely will finalize the LTE-Advanced standard. Network World/IDG News Service (2/21)

§                     Microsoft to release tool kit for Kinect developers
Microsoft says it will make available a tool kit that will enable developers to create software that uses the company's Kinect motion-controlled gaming peripheral. According to a Microsoft statement, the kit will make it easier "for academic research and enthusiast communities to create even richer experiences using Kinect technology." The Wall Street Journal/Digits blog (2/21)

§                     Reports: Apple is developing a connection with Intel
Apple, according to published reports, may soon be using a super-speedy Intel connection for computer peripherals. The connector is called Light Peak, and it's believed that the system will be able to replace all other cables running to a computer and carry data as fast as 10 Gbps in both directions simultaneously. Network World (2/21)

§                     Energy costs could raise tech prices, hamper development
The rising price of oil -- which is nearing $100 a barrel -- could force manufacturers of technology products to reduce spending on research and development, which in turn could create a bottleneck in the evolutionary path of the IT industry, economists warn. Transportation accounts for about one-fifth of all costs to manufacturers in Asia, and petrochemicals are a vital component in consumer-electronics products. "There is already some moderation kicking in. With the oil prices up, we could see more moderation. It really depends on how long it drags on," analyst Joanna Tan said. CIO.com/IDG News Service (2/22)

§                     Trade group predicts 15 billion mobile devices by 2020
By 2020, the world will have about 15 billion devices with mobile capabilities, according to GSMA, a trade group for the mobile industry. Ton Brand, the group's senior project director, said the bulk of the upcoming innovation will come along four tracks: consumer electronics and products and services for the health care, automotive and smart-grid industries. The Wall Street Journal (2/21)

§                     More merchants test in-store iPads to boost sales
A growing number of retailers are using iPads and tablets to encourage gadget-savvy shoppers to spend more time in their stores, using the devices as everything from mobile catalogs that give shoppers choices beyond what's in stock to portable cash registers that speed payment and keep more staffers on the sales floor. "Everybody has something in development," said Ken Nisch, chairman of retail design firm JGA. "This is not going to be a novelty. It's going to be a sea change in how retailers transact and interact with customers." Chicago Tribune (2/20)

§                     What is needed to push Internet TV forward?
Internet TV is picking up steam, but it could still be years before it truly takes off, according to a research paper from Turner Investments. It's unclear what that means for content providers, the researchers say, but it's clear that infrastructure improvements will be needed to cope with the surging demand for streamed media. "Content may be king, but routers, switches and networking chipsets are the crown jewels of the new kingdom," writes Steve Smith. MediaPost Communications/VidBlog (2/17)

§                     CEA's Shapiro says innovation will fuel U.S. renaissance
CEA top executive Gary Shapiro has released a book titled "The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream." In it, Shapiro contends that innovation will enable the U.S. to re-establish itself as an economic powerhouse on the world stage and describes the attribute as "the fortunate result of our nation's rich and unique stew of individual liberty, constitutional democracy, limited government, free enterprise, social mobility, ethnic diversity, immigrant assimilation, intellectual freedom, property rights and the rule of law." The Wall Street Journal (2/17)

§                     Opinion: Dual-projector 3-D solutions have shortcomings
CE installers who attempt to use two projectors to generate 3-D images may face problems, including those related to technical issues and higher costs, according to this report authored by George Walter, vice president of home cinema at Digital Projection, which manufactures single-projector 3-D solutions. CEPro.com (2/15)

§                     Cogeco offers DOCSIS 3.0 service in Quebec
Cogeco Cable is now offering its DOCSIS 3.0-based Ultimate 30 and Ultimate 50 data tiers in Shawinigan, Quebec. Cogeco, which recently launched the tiers , said the new offerings were the fastest download speeds in the area. CEDMagazine.com (2/16)

§                     Renesas' SoC achieves DivX certification
Digital video codec firm DivX has recognized Renesas Mobile Corp.'s SH-Mobile MT1 as the first DivX Plus HD-certified mobile system-on-chip. According to this report, Renesas' SoC will enable consumers to directly transfer content from DivX-certified devices to their smartphones and laptops. Gizmodo Australia (2/16)

§                     iPad propels Apple to first place in mobile-computer sector
Apple sold 7.3 million iPads from October through December, accounting for 17.2% of all mobile computers sold worldwide, which pushed the company into the lead position in the sector ahead of Hewlett-Packard and Acer, according to DisplaySearch. National Public Radio/The Associated Press (2/16)

§                     Crestron shows off two new keypads for Prodigy control systems
Crestron just announced the P-CBDEX and the P-KPLEX, two new wireless keypads that connect directly to the Prodigy home control system. That means there is absolutely no need for any type of gateway. That’s because all Prodigy control systems, such as the new PMC3 and PMC3-XP, feature a built-in wireless gateway. No separate network is needed, making for a cleaner, easier installation process. Electronic House (2/16)

§                     Homes waiting to get smart
As systems integrator Michael Staindl of Melbourne's Smart Systems maintains, home automation has "been a long time coming, and it's still arriving". Staindl, principal of a company that has been consulting on home automation systems for 15 years, admits Australian homes are lagging way behind the level of embedded technology we take for granted in cars. The Australian (2/19)

§                     Home energy upgrades could get huge boost from new New York state program
Starting this year, New York state has made it easier for homeowners to have a more comfortable, energy-efficient house through a new program called Green Jobs/Green NY. It provides free home-performance energy audits through approved contractors, a value of around $400, and up to $13,000 in low-interest loans (3.49 percent) to finance improvements. Ithaca Journal (2/22)

§                     Are zero carbon homes a lot of hot air?
CNN spoke to green house-builders and environmentalists to answer some burning questions about zero carbon homes in the UK, including: Why do we need zero carbon homes? What exactly does zero carbon mean? And how does the UK's target compare with others worldwide? CNN International (2/13)

§                     South Korean broadband plan boasts tenfold increase in access speeds
The government of South Korea is moving forward with a plan to realize full broadband penetration in the country, offering every home in the nation access to the Internet at speeds of 1 gigabit per second by the end of 2012. A pilot project is providing the target speeds to 5,000 South Korean homes at a cost to the user of less than $27 a month. The New York Times (2/21)

§                     Improve your home's efficiency with technology
More and more, home buyers are looking for ways to incorporate home technologies that increase the long-term value of their house but also provide convenience, safety and comfort. These days, energy management tops the list of desired features in new homes, according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). In the home technology features category, the No. 1 choice among respondents was energy management at 61 percent, up from 45 percent in 2004. Also ranked highly in this category were multi-zone heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), lighting controls and home theaters. Sioux City Journal (2/23)

§                     Video: Gorilla-glass maker dreams of a day made of glass
Corning Inc. maker of the Gorilla Glass, which is found on the screens of a number of popular smart phones and tablets, has released an interesting promo video laying out its vision for the future of displays. The five minute clip, titled “A day made of glass” shows a wide range of applications in which it envisages video displays being adopted in the future. From fridge doors to shop windows it illustrates interactive displays based on its speciality glass technologies. InAVate (2/21)

§                     IEEE publishes final 1901TM Broadband over Power Line standard
IEEE recently announced that the final IEEE 1901TM Broadband over Power Line (BPL) standard was finalized in December 2010 and is now published. Sponsored by the IEEE Communications Society, this globally recognized BPL standard is designed for use in a wide range of applications including smart energy, transportation and Local Area Networks (LANs) in both the home and the enterprise. Hiddenwires (2/18)

§                     Best Buy app lets shoppers compare rivals' prices
Best Buy has released a comparison shopping app on the iPhone and Android platforms that allows customers to research products by photographing them. According to IQ Engines, which developed the image-recognition technology, the Best Buy App lets consumers compare product features as well as prices against other brands and stores. TWICE (2/16)

§                     Survey: U.S. broadband speeds increased in 2010
Providers of broadband service have remained ahead of the curve in terms of meeting consumer demand for download speeds, according to a report from the In-Stat research firm, which says most people are satisfied with their speeds. In-Stat says speeds improved an average of 34% last year, with the average-per-customer increasing from 7.12 megabits per second in 2009 to 9.54 Mbps in 2010. TMCNet.com (2/17)

§                     Study: TV sales hit 77.6 million worldwide in fourth quarter
Fueled by strong growth in North America, global TV sales during the fourth quarter of last year rose 15%, to 77.6 million units, according to DisplaySearch. The research company went on to say that LCD screens accounted for nearly 82% of all TVs sold during the period and that Samsung was the top-selling brand, with a little more than a 21% share of revenues. Digital Home Canada (2/22)

§                     Mystery grows over Apple's iPad 2 release date
New published reports contradict earlier accounts that predicted Apple would delay the introduction of its new iPad until June. Apple has scheduled an event for March 2, but the company has not confirmed what it will be introducing. Reuters (2/22)

§                     Verizon sets $600 price for Xoom debut
Verizon Wireless will begin selling Motorola's Android-powered Xoom tablet on Thursday -- the first equipped with the version known as Honeycomb -- with prices starting at $600 under a two-year contract and $800 without a commitment, Verizon said. The carrier will charge $20 a month for 1 gigabyte of data for wireless 3G service. Computerworld (2/22)

§                     Cell phones influence brain activity, study shows
A study from the National Institutes of Health shows that the low levels of radiation produced by cell phones cause users' brain activity to speed up. The researchers urged caution but added that they are unsure whether cell phones pose overall health risks. NYTimes.com/Well blog (2/22)

§                     Netflix signs a deal to stream select CBS shows
Netflix has signed a two-year deal with CBS allowing it to stream some of the network's older and recently canceled television shows, including "Medium" and the original version of "Hawaii Five-0." The companies are negotiating a second agreement that would allow Netflix, which already airs back episodes of current ABC, NBC and Fox shows, to stream shows from CBS' current lineup. MediaPost Communications/Media Daily News (2/22)

§                     Researchers report low-voltage breakthrough in data storage
Researchers from University of Massachusetts Amherst and Texas A&M University have succeeded in writing information to flash memory under low-voltage conditions, paving the way for a new generation of low-power gadgets that can store data. They presented the paper Feb. 16 at the USENIX File and Storage Technologies Conference in San Jose, Calif. eWeek (2/17)

§                     How to recycle old home theater electronics
If your old audio video electronics are still in good working condition, why not consider setting them up as your secondary home theater system? You can move your old equipment to another room in the house; such as the guest room or the home office. Without any extra cost, you can add some fun into some rooms in your home. Manila Bulletin (2/14)

§                     EnOcean Alliance members present new solutions at this year's CeBIT
At CeBIT 2011, three members of the EnOcean Alliance will present smart solutions for energy-efficient buildings enabled by EnOcean's energy harvesting technology. A focus will be integration of the energy-autonomous wireless solutions in smart homes over TCP/IP, using an internet connection for cost-effective networking. openPR (2/21)

§                     Amazon takes on Netflix with the launch of its own video streaming
Amazon.com has begun promoting its video-streaming service on its website. The Netflix competitor offers 5,000 films and TV programs for the cost of a $79 annual subscription to its Amazon Prime shipping service. In comparison, Netflix subscribers can access more than 20,000 -- mostly older -- movies and TV shows online. The Hollywood Reporter (2/22)

§                     Video: CABA Digital Home Forum
CABA's Digital Home Forum, held in February 2011 and hosted by 3M, brought together leading companies dealing with integration of consumer electronics and other cutting-edge technology throughout the home. CABA YouTube Channel (2/22)

Click here for CABA's Industry Events Update

§                     A long-term perspective on intelligent buildings
Cabling-industry veteran Frank Bisbee interviews James Carlini, President of Carlini and Associates, a noted author and speaker on building automation and intelligence. Cabling Installation & Maintenance (2/1)

§                     Integrators must embrace building information modeling
Commercial integrators appear to be gaining steam when it comes to their interest in and understanding of Building Information Modeling (BIM), a collaborative virtual design process that brings all parties together from the beginning of a project with the goal of making it come together more smoothly and generate more profit for everyone involved. Commercial Integrator (2/22)

§                     LEED certification is costly for green buildings in Minnesota
Some cities in Minnesota incorporate sustainable design in municipal buildings but don't get LEED certification because the application costs $50,000 to $80,000. Leased buildings that need to attract tenants benefit from LEED certification, but not public facilities, said Dave Wisnewski, division manager for design and construction in Hennepin County, Minn. Star Tribune (2/21)

§                     Modeling software directs buildings toward energy efficiency
Modeling and benchmarking software that assess a building's energy consumption can help owners and contractors plan energy upgrades, writes Lauren McFeeley. The Performance System Development's TREAT can help calculate the energy improvements needed for residential buildings using utility bills and gauging the behavior of occupants. Benchmarking tools help determine green retrofits for commercial buildings. GreenBuildingPro.com (2/21)

§                     Computer security: Role-based control may have saved billions
What NIST-led innovation is estimated to have saved U.S. industry $6.1 billion over the past 20 years? Well, probably several, but, perhaps surprisingly, a new economics study points to the development of "role-based access control," a computer-security technology fostered and championed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the 1990s. Science Daily (2/17)

§                     'Reskinning' gives world's old urban buildings energy saving facelifts
The term "reskinning" may sound like a word straight out of a science fiction novel, but in actuality, it means retrofitting the exteriors of aging buildings with energy saving facelifts, and the practice is taking off—especially in Canada and Europe. SolveClimate News (2/16)

§                     Architects aim to define "green building"
Architects recently met to discuss green building at the Intelligent Infrastructure conference in New York. The upshot seemed to be that energy efficiency is not enough to make a building green. One also must consider engineering, water, human and green infrastructure, as the conference's chairman, Llewelyn Davies Yeang, explained. SmartPlanet (2/17)

§                     Where "green" and "smart" buildings converge
Delivering smarter buildings depends on how engaged the tenants, developers and contractors are -- they can either be the weakest link or the greatest opportunity, say the attendees of the State of Green Business Forum in Washington, D.C. More training in facilities management also is needed to help keep smart buildings green because their automation is becoming more complex, writes Rob Watson, executive editor of GreenerBuildings.com and the chairman, CEO and chief scientist of the EcoTech International Group. GreenBiz.com (2/17)

§                     Ericsson, Polycom partner on a telepresence solution
Ericsson is teaming up with Polycom to help telecoms market telepresence technologies to the consumer and business markets. Under the plan, Polycom's telepresence solution will be integrated with Ericsson's network, which the companies said is based on an open IMS framework. iTWire (2/16)

§                     EPRI study examines radio-frequency smart meter safety
Radio-frequency (RF) exposure levels from one type of smart meter, even at close range, fall substantially below the protective limits set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the general public, according to a new report from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The report presents findings that serve as a valuable first step in characterizing RF exposures associated with smart meter technology. ElectricEnergyOnline.com (2/22)

§                     LG 'Multi V' HVAC systems to be installed at the Arab Islamic Bank
Multi V Systems, the latest commercial air conditioning innovation from LG Electronics, is to be installed at the Arab Islamic Bank in Irbid, according to an agreement recently signed by Shami & Hyari Engineering & Contracting Co., the complex construction company, and Al-Asalah Electromechanics Co, LG commercial air conditioning agent in Jordan. AME Info (2/10)

§                     Maximizing energy savings through building occupant engagement
In the world of commercial building energy efficiency, there are two general categories of energy efficiency measures used to reduce energy and operating costs of buildings. The first involves upgrades or substitutions of equipment (lighting, HVAC systems, etc). The second involves operational changes such as modifying HVAC set points, or checking scheduling and economizer cycles. The first category is retrofits, and the second category is low- or no-cost operational improvements; both are in the purview of the facility manager. A third category is emerging, however, which is often overlooked and which does not revolve around the facility manager: behavior change on the part of building occupants. Green Building Pro (2/17)

§                     ADT to assist in securing passengers safety at Dublin Airport Terminal 2
ADT, Europe's leading provider of electronic fire and security solutions, announces that SITA, a premier provider of global information and telecommunications solutions to the air transport industries, chose it to deliver a fully-integrated security and access control solution within Dublin Airport's new Terminal 2. SourceSecurity.com (2/16)

§                     In pilots, AT&T expands access to health care data
AT&T on Tuesday disclosed new features -- along with a pair of pilot programs -- for its cloud-based Healthcare Community Online suite that provide medical facilities and health care systems with confidential access to patients' records. One of the pilots is a test with St. Joseph Health System using Cisco Systems' telepresence equipment, which will link doctors to patients in remote areas. ConnectedPlanetOnline.com (2/22)

§                     Vidyo offers cloud-based videoconferencing system
Vidyo has introduced an Internet-based videoconferencing architecture that can scale to tens of thousands of users on a variety of mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops. The company unveiled Tuesday the Cloud Edition of its VidyoConference architecture, making it possible to network as many VidyoRouters as are needed to meet user demand. The VidyoRouter is software that can run on any commodity hardware, such as an Intel-based, x86 server. InformationWeek (2/22)

§                     Siemens adds BACnet Web-based remote features to automation systems
Siemens Industry, Inc. enhanced its line of Apogee and Talon Building Automation Systems to include BACnet web-based remote system monitoring, commanding, alarm management, scheduling and trending functions. The new BACnet enhancements also improve operator efficiency and convenience with browser-based internet system access and control functionality, according to Siemens. Consulting-Specifying Engineer (2/22)

§                     Dashboard for buildings
Jim Sinopoli, PE, RCDD, LEED AP, provides some tips and guidelines on creating dashboards for facility and energy management covering what information is needed, how that information should be presented to a user, and a couple of industry examples. CABA iHomes & Buildings magazine (2/24)

§                     Video: Belimo @ AHR Expo 2011
Belimo America is a world leader in the design and manufacture of damper actuators and control valves used in commercial HVAC systems. Known for its direct-coupled actuator and innovations in pressure independent control valve technology, Belimo has solutions to maintain an efficient building environment. CABA YouTube Channel (2/3)

§                     Schneider Electric Expands Forta Globe Valve Actuator Family to Include the New Spring Return M900
Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, today announced the addition of the M900 series of electro-mechanical spring return actuators to its well-known family of FORTA two and three way globe valve actuators. The FORTA series, a powerful solution set designed to reduce operating costs while minimizing installation and maintenance, provides HVAC professionals, contractors, architects and systems engineers around the world with a fast, highly accurate method of control for heating and cooling applications. The addition of the M900 series, designed specifically for hot water, chilled water, and steam valve applications, complements the FORTA portfolio.

§                     Other Items

Schneider Electric Unveils Enhancements to Popular VB-7000 Bronze Globe Valve Portfolio
MatrikonOPC unveils Wonderware ArchestrA Universal Building Automation Server
Honeywell Introduces New JADE Economizer
New Offerings Create Largest, Most Diverse LFI Conference in History
CNL partners with MatrikonOPC for secure OPC connectivity solutions
LFI 2011 OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SHOWCASE, LAUNCHES BUILDING INTEGRATION PAVILION FOR EAST COAST SHOW
EMerge Alliance Introduces First Registered Products for DC Power Distribution
EMerge Alliance advances DC power distribution platform to focus on energy efficient data centers
InduSoft partners with MatrikonOPC for OPC connectivity
Cortexa Releases New In-wall iPad Dock


CABA members can post their media releases by logging into the CABA Web site.

§                     Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy
McKinsey & Company has analyzed why the potential of $130-billion annual savings from energy efficiency is not exploited. They estimate that 23% in energy expenditures can be saved by 2020. The barriers to reaping these savings are lack of information and education, incentives and financing, codes and standards, and third-party involvement. A strategy is presented that includes recognizing energy efficiency as an important resource, developing national and regional programs, finding sources of funds, aligning suppliers, users, and governments, and fostering innovation. Read the full report as published in CABA's Research Library. Paid CABA membership provides you access to the full CABA Member Research Library.

§                     Webinar: The economics of the cloud
Dr. Timothy Chou, author of 'Cloud: Seven Clear Business Models', will review the economics of cloud and how your large or midsized business can best realize its promise of better matching capacity to demand and costs to revenue during a webinar hosted by Bell Canada on March 16, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. ET. Hear examples that highlight how these business models are effecting change, accelerating growth and achieving new cost savings for future-minded organizations and industries everywhere.

§                     Webinar: Build a Winning Energy Services Team
AirAdvice will hold a one-hour webinar on Thursday, March 3 at 2 pm ET with its Senior Business Consultant Zack Buquet and CEO Jim Crowder, who will cover best practices for using the team you have to deliver revenue-driving energy services. For more information and to register, visit www.airadvice.com/winning_team/.

§                     Webcast: Lessons in Integrating BIM
Successfully integrating new technologies and workflows takes tenacity, patience, and a sense of humor. Register now to listen to an experienced panel, hosted by SMARTBIM and Reed Construction Data,
discuss how they are tackling the challenges of integrating BIM into their practices. This interactive webcast, to be held February 24 at 2 pm ET, will allow the audience to ask questions of the panel.

§                     InfoComm Launches New Spanish and Portuguese Webinar Series
Join InfoComm, Wednesday, March 2, for Matematica Audiovisual from 1-2 p.m. EST. This is the first in a series of webinars presented in Spanish and Portuguese. Attendance is free. Register today.

§                     CABA President & CEO Ron Zimmer to address PALME Middle East
PALME's inaugural Middle East Building Automation Conference will present breakthrough discussion topics and latest technological solutions that are influencing the developed world in creating an efficient living and working environment. Key international AV specialists, integrators and automation experts will deliver papers and share their knowledge at this first ever conference of its kind in the region. CABA President & CEO Ron Zimmer will address the conference on the topic of high performance and intelligent buildings. The conference is scheduled for April 28, 2011 in Dubai, UAE. Register today!

§                     CABA Webinar: State of the Connected Home Market 2011
CABA is extending an invitation to your organization to participate in a webinar conference call to discuss the "State of the Connected Home Market 2011" landmark research study that is scheduled for Friday, February 25, 2011 at 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET.

§                     CABA releases Connected Home Roadmap executive summary to members
The Continental Automated Buildings Association has completed a consumer market study that examined all aspects of the connected home marketplace. CABA’s “Connected Home Roadmap 2010” project was a large-scale study created to provide insights into consumer attitudes concerning technologies, value propositions and future market adoption. The Roadmap project examined the following market segments: safety, security, health, energy management, monitoring, entertainment, home control and automation. The Roadmap is now available for sale through CABA's eStore. Please contact George Grimes, CABA Business Development Manager, at 613.686.1814 x226 or grimes@caba.org for more details about purchasing the Roadmap for your organization. CABA has also released the Roadmap executive summary for its members through CABA's Member Research Library.

§                     CABA's LinkedIn group reaches 750 members
CABA's LinkedIn group has over 750 members (http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2121884). Join CABA's LinkedIn group to stay informed on the latest news and developments in both the home and building automation marketplaces and to check job listings.

§                     Smart Energy Canada presentation now available
Ron Zimmer, CABA President & CEO, addressed the Smart Energy Canada conference in Toronto last week. He spoke on home area networks and the smart grid. Mr. Zimmer's presentation is now available on the CABA Web site in the presentation section.

§                     CABA completes “Energy as a Managed Service” research project
The Continental Automated Buildings Association has completed a research study that measured consumers’ opinions and attitudes about energy as a managed service in the home. CABA’s study assessed and quantified the key demand drivers and enablers that determine consumer appeal, interest, applicability and potential adoption of home energy management products and services. Please contact George Grimes, CABA Business Development Manager, at 613.686.1814 x226 or grimes@caba.org for more details about purchasing this report.

§                     CABA and Australia’s Commercial & Home Automation Association enter into agreement
The Continental Automated Buildings Association is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaborative agreement with Australia’s Commercial & Home Automation Association. The Commercial & Home Automation Association was recently formed to offer assistance in the areas of training, certification and licensing for its membership in consultation with national and state governments in Australia.

§                     CABA undertaking "Aging in the Connected Home" study
The CABA Research Program is undertaking a new research project entitled "Aging in the Connected Home". The purpose of this study is to identify a potential new market space by helping seniors remain longer in their home. Areas of consideration involve understanding the various inputs and outcomes of specific jobs/activities within the home that affect the aging adult as they move about the home and take care of basic necessities. This research project will help organizations understand the opportunities for value creation amongst different groups within this population. Ingersoll Rand and TELUS Corporation have committed to participating in this study. To learn how your organization can become involved in this study, please contact John Hall, CABA Research Director at 613.686.1814 x227, hall@caba.org. There will also be a special webinar held for members of the Continua Health Alliance on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 12 noon ET. If you wish to attend, contact Tony Disipio at disipio@caba.org to receive information about the webinar.

WISCONSIN POLITICS:  COWARDICE UNDER FIRE by James Carlini

Wake up Wisconsin.  The Tsunami of job cuts and benefit reductions that have hit across all other industries across America is now coming home to the government worker.

First, let’s give credit to the Governor for bringing this issue to light.  It’s a pay issue and there is a question of whether or not the State can continue to pick up all the costs or if the employee can start to pick up some of the costs associated with benefits.  Like it or not, he is taking action which has been criticized just like Governor Christie of New Jersey, who has gone through the same confrontations when it comes to asking state workers to tighten their belts.  Is it better for a Governor to look the other way and pretend the problem doesn’t exist?  That’s the problem in many other states.  Leaders do not want to face and deal with the hard issues.

Immediately, some will say Governor Walker’s a dictator and all the other nasty words that spin into childish foot-stamping when people don’t get what they think they are entitled to.  The bottom line is that Wisconsin has to address this issue and is not the only state with serious financial issues.

There are many perspectives about the pros and cons of what has become the number one story on some of the national network news programs.  One issue that should be questioned is the lack of leadership by some elected officials.

IF YOU WANT TO QUESTION LEADERSHIP OF A PARTY ...

Having the Democratic state senators hide and not show up to discuss the issue or vote speaks volumes on the lack of leadership in Wisconsin in tough times.  This childish behavior shows the fabric, or I should say the lack of fabric, in character and integrity.

As a former elected official, let me say that this is not the way to approach discussing a critical budget issue, let alone work towards some type of reform and solution which are the actions needed to address this problem.

Some Wisconsin politicians need to go back to their history books and read about real statesmen and how they faced serious issues.  People who faced larger conflicts like the Civil War (Lincoln), World War II (Churchill), and the Cuban Missile Crisis (Kennedy).  None of them ran off to hide in a hotel.

Maybe they should also read a couple of books on General George S. Patton about leadership.  If you cannot do the job, you’re replaced.

Another question to answer is how many people were bused to the Capitol from outside the state to amplify the "union" perspective?  The crowds in Madison were not all local and not all government workers. 

 It’s too bad we couldn’t bus tens of thousands of taxpayers to Madison to support the issue of cutting spending by workers picking up some of the costs for benefits but then, they are too busy working because they have had to tighten their belts in the last several years due to the economy and still deal with rising taxes.

DO IT FOR THE CHILDREN

As for teachers, their protests for more money when it comes to voting for a school referendum are always tagged with the "do it for the children" plea.  I see so many walked off the job in order to go to Madison, there does not seem to be much dedication to students, only to their own pocketbooks.  And to use children as shills to get people sympathetic to their almost annual “pay me more” cause is a pretty pathetic strategy.

I could relate story upon story of  people I know who have lost jobs and/or taken serious pay cuts in the last decade to keep their jobs to paint the picture that the average taxpayer cannot “pick up the tab” anymore when it comes to funding lucrative pension plans or healthcare programs.

What the government workers in many states need to realize is that the tax base has eroded and the people that you depend on to pay their taxes to pay your salaries have taken serious hits.  If someone was making $90,000 to $120,000 they would be paying a good amount into the tax base.  When those people lose those jobs and take on a job that pays substantially less, they are not putting that much into the state tax coffers anymore and that is what has happened.

A friend of mine went from a $90,000-a-year corporate job in 2001 to a series of jobs that did not pay over $36,000.  He had a Fortune 250 benefits package in 2001 but over the last decade, his healthcare has diminished and he is funding a lot more of its cost.  He is making about $41,000 right now.

Another was making $250,000 with benefits in 2001 but lost ground in the last decade where he is making about $34,000 with no healthcare.  Both men have degrees beyond a bachelor’s degree so the argument that they don’t have education or skills to command a decent salary is moot.

These examples are not to show the unions that they need to take a drastic cut, these are a wake-up call to show that the people picking up the tab have fallen into a much different salary base and can barely pick up their own expenses, let alone some platinum benefits package for government employees.  The well has run dry. 

If I was faced with taking a wage freeze for two years and/or picking up part of my benefits package, I might not like it but I certainly would do that compared to what others have been through in the last decade.

CARLINI-ISM :  Underfunded pension plans are becoming many states’  killer epidemic.  The cure?  Reforming the whole process.

Follow daily Carlini-isms at www.TWITTER.com/JAMESCARLINI

Copyright 2011 – James Carlini

Check out www.carliniscomments.com JAMES CARLINI’s BLOG

“Make critical considerations before purchasing cabling” By Bob Eskew, ASD

Feb 1, 2011 Best practices for ensuring you get the right cable for your specific needs.

By Bob Eskew, ASD

What criteria do you use to purchase Category 6 cabling? Is brand name most important to you? Does it matter to you what brand you are using as long as the cable meets industry standards? Do you trust your installer's recommendations exclusively, or do you base your decision on what features and benefits best meet your needs?

We recently conducted a poll on the social media network LinkedIn. While not scientific, the poll did reveal some preferences for purchasing criteria for Category 6 cabling among the 181 users who responded. For example, approximately 26 percent base their decision largely or solely on the brand name of the cable. The majority of respondents-the other 74 percent-base their decision on whether or not the cable meets industry standards, the cable's benefits and features, or they rely exclusively on their installer's recommendations.

Regardless of what criteria you use as the basis for your decision-making process, you'd be well served to employ some best practices and ask critical questions to make sure you are purchasing the cabling that best suits your needs.

If brand name is everything. Twenty percent of respondents said brand name is everything, while six percent would purchase cable as long as they have heard of the brand. If you fall into either of these categories, consider the following best practices when making your next purchase.

Most organizations that have settled on one brand do so because they want to standardize across their enterprise. To standardize is to simplify, but that does not mean you have to stick to one brand in order to do so. Standardization comes from design, not product brand. A good cabling system designer can design the same system across multiple offices using multiple brands of cabling products if necessary. Fortunately, all structured cabling manufacturers are required to comply with industry standards, which means you are at liberty to choose any brand of cable and components you want as long as they meet the standards of Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek Group (ETL), the National Electrical Code (NEC) and EIA/TIA commercial building wiring standards.

So what accounts for the vast price differences of various brands of cable that meet the same industry standards? One factor that affects price is the distribution channel. In a multi-tiered distribution channel, a manufacturer often hires a manufacturer's rep firm to sell the manufacturer's products in a defined territory for a designated commission. The next stop is a distributor, which then sells the product to a contractor, who in turn marks up the product when selling it to an end user. In contrast, a direct-buy manufacturer sells its products directly to end users, which can significantly reduce the final cost you pay for a product.

Another factor that can affect your purchase price is a brand-specific internal company standard. The standard may be in place as required by a 15-year guarantee for "system sales," which are systems developed using only components made by a specific manufacturer. However, these guarantees may not be as critical or as rare as marketing efforts may suggest. And they may end up costing users more money in the long run. Consider this: Out of the 40-plus cabling-system manufacturers, nearly every company provides a warranty of 15 or more years as a standard feature. It pays to compare warranties from multiple vendors and evaluate whether they are an added benefit or just a way to lock you into a 15-year exclusive contract. By accepting the terms of the 15-year guarantee, you may be limiting your future technology options to those developed by your "system sale" manufacturer, instead of taking advantage of new developments from multiple vendors. You also may end up paying a high price for your cabling. Once a manufacturer is "spec'd in," you lose much of your buying power because all forms of competitive bidding are eliminated.

If standard compliance is most important. For many poll respondents (47 percent), compliance with industry standards is the most important purchase criteria. You may be aware that cables must meet the standards of the UL, ETL, NEC and EIA/TIA. But what does it mean if a cable manufacturer claims to exceed the standards? Some manufacturers have developed tests that exhibit a higher Megahertz rating than field tests. While these manufacturers can test cable at a higher Megahertz with a unique internal test, there is no proven way to test or replicate these levels in the field. This means that any possible added benefit from this feature would likely go unused during normal operation.

In addition to marketing cables that exceed industry standards, much effort has also been put into marketing end-to-end solutions, which are systems developed using only components made by a specific manufacturer. These solutions are often paired with the aforementioned 15-year guarantees, which are usually voided if you move to an open system. With an end-to-end solution, you may pay a reasonable price for cable, but beware of additional required components that may have a high markup.

Despite the hard push for end-to-end solutions, manufacturers develop cabling technologies to be used in interoperable, open systems in accordance with the TIA's 568 series of commercial building cabling standards. Those standards were established to encourage interoperability by allowing diverse manufacturers the opportunity to build equipment and components that will interoperate for the benefit of the end user. By building an open system, you can request bids from multiple vendors competing for your business, as well as choose the exact products to suit your needs.

The reality is companies function largely on open systems a majority of the time. Take a look around your own office. Is your network made up of a single brand? Do you have desktops from one manufacturer, servers from another and applications from still another? Why is a cabling system any different? In fact, business intelligence sources today show that several brands of cable are made in a single factory.

If the installer's recommendation matters most. Thirteen percent of respondents trust their installer's recommendations exclusively. Your installer can be a valuable resource of information to help you make decisions regarding your cable purchases. Their expertise and experience can help guide you through the purchase process; however, it is important to identify any possible conflicts of interest before accepting a recommendation.

The most important question to ask is whether or not your installer supports all the standards from Underwriters Laboratories as well as the design and engineering standards of the TIA/EIA cabling standards. It is also a good idea to ask if your installer is recommending a direct-buy cable or a cable from a reseller. Most importantly, ask if your installer receives a price-protection advantage or incentives for selling a particular brand. Some installers have sales quotas they must meet in order to maintain certification with particular brands. Installers may also be awarded rebates or cash incentives to sell a particular brand, which could steer their recommendations toward that brand.

Without level competition among brands, you may end up paying more than you have to for cabling products. The easiest way to level the playing field when requesting quotes from multiple installers is to base your request on specifications, not price or brand. Allow the installers to present you with the best product that meets your specifications at their best price, allowing you to base your final decision on features and benefits that meet your needs.

If it's even beyond features and benefits. Purchasing products that offer only the benefits you want, without any unnecessary features, will help you keep your project on target without sacrificing your technology needs.

Because all manufacturers must adhere to the same cabling-system standards, determine which features will offer you the most valuable benefits. Some features you might want to consider that vary by manufacturer include: labeling systems, color coding, port density, wire management and ease-of-use.

While the poll conducted via LinkedIn was not scientific, the purchasing preferences expressed are in line with what cabling professionals experience in the real world on a daily basis. Choosing a structured cabling system is a task that should not be, and is not, taken lightly. A facility's cabling system is expected to last up to 15 years or even longer, which can be multiple lifespans of the networking equipment the cabling supports. Asking the right questions of cabling manufacturers and cabling-system installers can help ensure you get the performance you need at an appropriate price.

BOB ESKEW is founder and chief executive officer of ASD (Automated Systems Design; www.asd-usa.com). He participates in several LinkedIn professional groups.

Reprinted with permission from Cabling Installation and Maintenance Magazine (a PennWell Publication) www.cablinginstall.com  February 2011

http://www.cablinginstall.com/index/display/article-display/_printArticle/articles/cabling-installation-maintenance/volume-19/issue-2/features/make-critical-considerations-before-purchasing-cabling.html

comCables Introduces New ID Faceplates, Unloaded Patch Panels & Surface Mount Boxes

New products offer high-end features at a competitive price

Denver, CO (February 14, 2011) – comCables, a Denver-based manufacturer of structured cabling solutions, recently released its new ID Faceplates, Unloaded Patch Panels and Surface Mount Boxes. These products offer top-quality features at extremely competitive prices.

Beyond the obvious benefits of the ID label, the new ID Faceplates feature a shatterproof, modern design and satin finish that prevents fingers prints from showing. The new faceplates come in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 port in white and ivory.

“We are excited about the flexibility and shatterproof design of our ID Faceplates.” said Andy Work, Director of Product Management at comCables. “These faceplates are going to make our contractors jobs easier, which is what we strive to do.”

comCables also introduced its new flush mount, high-density, 24-port Unloaded Patch Panel that uses 1u space. The new patch panels work with comCables Crescendo HD jacks and Rapid Punch Tool and includes a wire manager that attaches to the back. The major advantage of the Unloaded Patch Panel is the amount of training time it saves installers when used with the RPT crimp tool.

“The comCables Unloaded Patch Panels and RPT tool give contractors a significant labor savings.” Work said. “Contractors can be trained on installing jacks and patch panels at the same time, while learning to do so with more accuracy and in less time.

The final product comCables released are modern Surface Mount Boxes in 1, 2 and 4 port in white and ivory. The surface mount boxes fit all four styles of keystone jacks that comCables offers and have the ID label on the back.

The ID Faceplates, Unloaded Patch Panels & Surface Mount Boxes are “Buy American Act’ compliant, as is comCables complete product line. These products developed after comCables gathered customer feedback and researched products to make its customers more effective in the field. The three new products are the first of many product improvements comCables plans to make in 2011.

Michael Shannahan, VP of Communication Planning Corp. (Jacksonville, FL) reported “We had the opportunity to review these products at the recent BICSI conference. Our experts found the comCables products were very durable and high quality.”

About comCables
comCables is a premier manufacturer of end-to-end structured cabling solutions and the industry’s first and only manufacturer to sell directly to our contractors. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Denver, CO, comCables brings more than 30 years of expertise in both copper and fiber cabling solutions. With an unparalleled commitment to providing the highest level of service to our vastly expanding clientele, comCables operates six facilities in the U.S. and Mexico, with plans for further expansion in 2011. For more information, contact comCables at (866) 302-3301 or visit www.comCables.com.

Concert Technologies White Paper for Large Multi-Site Technology Deployments Provides Guidance to the CTO’s Team

DULLES, VA, FEBRUARY 16, 2011 –  Concert Technologies, the leader in nationwide technology rollouts and international technology deployments, today announced the release of its white paper titled Rollout Delivery Team Comparison for Large Multi-Site Technology Deployments. This white paper provides an overview of the various scenarios impacting the resources for a rollout delivery team utilized for large technology infrastructure rollouts at multiple locations, as it is found in the Information Technology Systems (ITS) industry, today.

This paper focuses on:

Large multi-site technology infrastructure rollouts

Shifting processes, methodologies and resources to streamline the technology rollout at each site

Alterations to the rollout delivery team configuration determined by project variables that can impact site delivery

“Maintaining a consistent and well-defined rollout delivery team throughout your project is critical to success, especially when numerous locations are being deployed,” said Dennis Mazaris, President of Concert Technologies. “For all technology rollouts, it is important to discuss the different processes, methodologies and delivery team configurations with the technology rollout company prior to beginning the project so you are not hit with unexpected resource allocations during the deployment rollout phase, which can impact the delivery and/or quality of your project.”

This white paper is the sixth published by Concert Technologies and is designed to aid in the understanding and selection of the most efficient technology rollout system utilized to accelerate multi-site, multi-service, multi-technology rollouts both nationwide and internationally.

About Concert Technologies

Concert Technologies, founded in 1995, is a privately-held technology service company based in Dulles, VA. It is the leader in the accelerated delivery of nationwide rollouts and global technology deployments for government, commercial and international organizations. Utilizing the Maestro Technology Rollout System of methodologies, it quickly implements, installs and manages multi-site, multi-service, multi-technology infrastructure projects. Visit Concert Technologies online: www.concerttech.com

Copper costs soar to $10,000 per ton.

Copper will continue to rise as the market gains an appreciation for the scope of the long term supply and demand situation. CSC is taking a bold leadership role in getting the word out on this looming cost scenario.

Adam Greenblatt View The CSC Market Brief Video and learn how the increasing cost of raw materials in the structured cabling industry is directly affecting the overall price of network cabling and connectivity products. Comment

The CSC Market Brief - Q1, 2011
Learn from industry leader Communications Supply Corporation (CSC) how the increasing cost of raw materials in the structured cabling industry is directly af...

www.gocsc.com

Did You Know...

-Design Build / Design Assist work was performed by 86% of firms with 10+ employees in 2009

- More than 8 in 10 electrical contractors report having a “medium” or “high” ability to influence the overall electrical design or specifications with building owners or design team member

- 83% of electrical contractors report receiving any plans and specs that are incomplete (that is, where their firm is responsible for completing the design documentation). Electrical contractors say that, on average, plans and specs are incomplete 45% of the time

- Almost 7 in 10 electrical contractors estimate that some portion of their 2010 sales will include projects with Sustainable / Green elements

-On average, a “single” brand is specified less than 25% of the time. In all other cases, other factors -- multiple brands, “or equal to” or performance specified – come into play. Note that a “single” brand specification is far more common among electrical contracting firms with 1- 9 employees than among larger firms.

-Overall, contractors are able to select the brand/make brand substitutions about 70% of the time.
( 2010 Electrical Contractor Profile Study, presented by Electrical Contractor Magazine, conducted by Renaissance Research)

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Leviton Network Solutions Joins the Cisco Developer Network as Solutions Developer and Announces Compatibility with Cisco Products

Bothell, Washington – March 2, 2011:  Leviton Network Solutions announced that it has joined the Cisco Developer Network as a Solution Developer within the Cisco Unified Communications technology category. In addition, Leviton’s GigaMax^® CAT 5e System is compatible with Cisco IP phone model #6901, version Unified Communications Manager 8.0. 

The Cisco Developer Network unites Cisco with third-party developers of hardware and software to deliver tested interoperable solutions to joint customers.  As a Solution Developer, Leviton Network Solutions shares Cisco’s strong commitment to customer service and satisfaction, has completed a compatibility review based on criteria set forth by Cisco, and can provide their customers 24 hour, 7 days a week customer support. With offerings such as GigaMax CAT 5e, customers can more quickly deploy a broad range of Cisco Compatible business applications, devices, or services that can enhance the capabilities, performance, and management of their Cisco network.  For more information on GigaMax CAT 5e interoperability with Cisco IP phone model #6901, version Unified Communications Manager 8.0 go to: http://developer.cisco.com/web/partner/search?accountId=0014000000OZBKjAAP

About Leviton Network Solutions

Leviton Network Solutions was created 25+ years ago to meet the growing need for telecommunications and high-speed data technologies. Today, the division is dedicated to producing complete network infrastructure systems for the enterprise, data center, government, education, health care, and residential markets. Copper, fiber, and power solutions include structured cabling systems, enclosures, PDUs, and much more. All Leviton products are engineered to exacting standards and offer guaranteed performance. For more information, visit Leviton.com/ns.

Leviton Launches Opt-X^® Unity Fiber System for 40GbE, 100GbE

Industry-first 24-fiber MTP^® system meets growing demand for higher-speed Ethernet

February 8, 2011 – Bothell, WA: Leviton today announced the launch of the Opt-X^® Unity 40/100G Fiber System, a pre-terminated MTP system featuring new cable, connector, and termination technologies. For the first time, customers will be able to use a 24-fiber pre-terminated MTP system to transmit 100GbE speeds. The Opt-X Unity system was unveiled at the 2011 BICSI Winter Conference in January, and is available through Leviton’s distribution network.

The Opt-X Unity system was designed specifically to meet IEEE 802.3ba requirements and new 100GBASE-SR10 and 40GBASE-SR4 equipment. It allows for a straightforward migration path to 40G or 100G performance, and is backwards compatible with existing Gigabit or 10G networks. The system meets the tight optical cabling channel insertion loss (IL) requirements specified in the IEEE standard, from 2.6 dB for 10GbE to 1.9 dB for OM3 40/100GbE and 1.5 dB for OM4 40/100GbE. The 24-fiber MTP system offers at least double the density in fiber enclosures than legacy 12-fiber cabling, and it allows for fewer cable pathways and improved air flow in data centers. Also, customers are less likely to require the assistance of contractors with 24-fiber cabling due to streamlined, simplified installation.

"This is a very exciting development in pre-terminated MTP structured cabling," states Gary Bernstein, director of fiber and data center product management for Leviton Network Solutions.
"Our customers desire an easy migration path solution to 40G and 100G Ethernet, and we are thrilled that Leviton is able to provide it."

The Opt-X Unity System includes pre-terminated, factory-tested trunks, harnesses, and array cords. Test results are included with each assembly. Trunks are available in 12- and 24-fiber count connections, and harnesses and array cords are available in 8-,12-, and 24-fiber connection configurations. The system also includes the Opt-X Unity 40/100G Multimode MTP Module.
Modules come with 12- or 24-fiber MTP connectors on the back that break out to duplex LC connectors or 8-fiber MTP connectors on the front in OM3 and OM4 fiber types. The module and assemblies can be custom-built to customer specifications through Leviton’s make-to-order (MTO) program.

For more information, go to www.leviton.com/opt-xunity

About Leviton Network Solutions

Leviton Network Solutions was created 25+ years ago to meet the growing need for telecommunications and high-speed data technologies. Today, the division is dedicated to producing complete network infrastructure systems for the enterprise, data center, government, education, health care, and residential markets. Copper, fiber, and power solutions include structured cabling systems, enclosures, PDUs, and much more. All Leviton products are engineered to exacting standards and offer guaranteed performance. For more information, visit Leviton.com/ns.

MTP^® is a registered trademark of US Conec, Ltd.

NAED Names Paul McCool as Incoming South Central Region Vice President-Elect

McCool is an industry veteran with 26 years of experience

ST. LOUIS… The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) has named Paul McCool, CEO of Revere Electric Supply Co. in Chicago, as the incoming South Central Region vice president-elect. The South Central Region Council elected McCool by majority approval.

McCool has been in the industry for 26 years and serves on the South Central Region Council, the Channel Advantage Partnership Council, and the Theft and Fraud Task Force. He is active in the Lake Michigan Club, and regularly attends the NAED National Electrical Leadership Summit and the South Central Region Conferences.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve NAED and the South Central Region as the incoming vice president-elect,” McCool said. “As old and large as the electrical industry is, it is equally small and new. Participating in NAED presents us all with the networking and educational opportunities necessary to succeed now and in the future.”

McCool received a BSBA degree in Finance from the University of Delaware. He also completed the Emerson Electric Executive Development Program and received a Financial Management Certificate from the University of Chicago.

Revere Electric Supply is an automation and electrical distributor, servicing the industrial and commercial markets, as well as government agencies. The company has been in business since 1919 and operates its headquarters from Chicago, with additional Illinois locations in Buffalo Grove, Morris, and Peru; as well as a branch in Hartland, Wis.

As an NAED regional vice president-elect, McCool will serve on the NAED Board of Directors and help lead the region’s conferences, council meetings, and other events. He will also participate in NAED’s Membership Committee.

The South Central Region is currently under the leadership of Ray Womack, vice president of Womack Electric Supply Co., in Burlington, N.C. Beginning in May, Maureen Barsema, vice president and CFO of BJ Electric Supply, Inc., in Madison, Wis., will take up regional leadership for 2011-2012.

NAED is the trade association for the $70+ billion electrical distribution industry. Through networking, education, research, and benchmarking, NAED helps electrical distributors increase profitability and improve the channel. NAED’s membership operates in approximately 4,400 locations internationally.

Siemon Delivers 3D Network Infrastructure Models Through the Autodesk Seek Web Service

Building and network designers and construction professionals can now easily find and include Siemon cabling product models in pre-construction BIM designs

Watertown, CT, February 23, 2011 — Leading network infrastructure company Siemon announced that it is making data-rich 3D models of its data center infrastructure, cable management and network cabling products available through the Autodesk Seek web service.   Autodesk Seek  (http://seek.autodesk.com) allows design professionals to search for and access high-quality building product information and design files directly from AutoCAD and the Revit desktop design applications for Building Information Modeling (BIM).

“Our support of the BIM process will help network design, engineering, architectural and construction firms using Autodesk Revit to drive more efficient and cost-effective network projects,” said Bob Carlson, VP of Marketing for Siemon.  “The BIM process allows infrastructure products to be considered in the overall design from the earliest phases.  In a data center, for example, you can take full advantage of innovative products like our VersaPOD cabinet by seeing how it fits within the overall design.  Doing this can reduce rework in the field by allowing you to identify potential conflicts and adjust the design before you even begin actual deployment.”

“It is increasingly important for design professionals and builders to be able to rely on high quality data as the AEC industry moves to BIM,” said Jeff Wright, senior director of Content Solutions for Autodesk. “The addition of Siemon’s information-rich part models to the Autodesk Seek web service is one more step in delivering a ‘critical mass’ of product information to designers, while providing building product manufacturers with an unprecedented platform for online marketing to Autodesk’s customer base. “

Autodesk Seek (http://seek.autodesk.com) allows design professionals to search specifically for the building product design files they need—in the form of 3D models, 2D drawings, visual images, and part and product specification data. The service includes access to existing content from Autodesk applications and building product manufacturers in a single, unified search experience.

View Siemon's library of BIM objects:

http://seek.autodesk.com/search/siemon?source=SearchBox&q=manufacturer%3ASiemon

Follow Siemon on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/siemoncabling/

Join Siemon on Facebook: http://www.siemon.com/go/facebook

# # #

Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries.

About Siemon

Established in 1903, Siemon is an industry leader specializing in the manufacture and innovation of high quality, high-performance network cabling solutions. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, with global offices, manufacturing and service partners throughout the world, Siemon offers the most comprehensive suite of copper (unshielded and shielded twisted-pair) category 5e, category 6 (Class E), category 6A (Class EA) and category 7/7A (Class F/FA), and multimode and singlemode optical fiber cabling systems available. With over 400 patents specific to structured cabling, from patch cords to patch panels, Siemon Labs invests heavily in R&D and development of industry standards, underlining the company's long-term commitment to its customers and the industry.

News from tED Magazine

BUTLER SUPPLY—based in Fenton, Mo., this distributor of electrical, plumbing, and communications products has 26 locations—which this month are celebrating the company’s 70^th anniversary.

CAREER NIGHTS—

1. Russ Trowbridge of Crescent was on hand at the career night held earlier this month at Iowa State University by the Supply Chain Management Club, according to the school’s paper. His quote in the article: “We’re looking for somebody who possesses a solid work ethic—somebody who has interest in sales-type roles. It comes down to how they will fit in our industry.” There were said to be 33 employers on hand.

2. Peter Ray of AG Electrical Supply was listed as participating in the fifth annual Students Taking Action for Real Success interview conference, held Jan. 14 at the Long Island Marriott (according to AntonNews.com). The article said that 100 11^th and 12^th grade students “were required to attend the conference for a very different kind of mid-term exam.”

CENTRAL WHOLESALERS—this Maryland-based company earned the Rayovac Industrial Distributor Award for “outstanding performance in sales and distribution of Rayovac batteries and lights” for Q4/2010. The company celebrates its 30^th year in 2011; it reportedly “has posted a 9.4% normalized quarterly growth rate over the past three quarters.” From Ken Olson, Rayovac’s director for industrial, government, and OEM: “Distributors play a critical role within the industrial battery industry.”

COLONIAL ELECTRIC—based in King of Prussia, Pa., this distributor said in a Feb. 9 release that it would open its 20^th counter location by Mar. 31—in Brooklyn, N.Y. It’s the company’s first location in New York state; it already operates in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. According to Colonial, the site in which it will open in Brooklyn was a Liberty Electric Supply branch for 75 years. The former CFO of Liberty, Steve Mayer, will be executive vice president for Colonial’s New York region. The branch manager is Curtis Pecherek, a long-time employee of Colonial.

EMI SUPPLY—this Concord, N.C. “stocking distributor of electrical, motorsports, and industrial supplies” issued a release Feb. 7 on two new First Aid Kits, “perfect for small businesses and contractor operations.”

EVERGREEN SUPPLY—this electrical distributor was included in a round up article in the Jan. 10 issue of Crain’s Chicago Business on “goals met or goal posts moved?” Apparently, the magazine checked in with the company a year ago and now was checking back.

            Colleen Kramer of the company told the weekly that she had trimmed expenses by 2% and that 2010 sales were $16 million, up from $15 million in 2009. But wait: Kramer also invested in Evergreen.

            “She also spent cash on a new computer system and an energy-savings overhaul. The company hired two employees, bringing its total to 34.” Kramer did not touch the marketing budget, Crain’s reported, instead looking for “low-cost ways to promote the business”—including the launch of an e-newsletter that reaches 2,500 people.

K/E ELECTRIC SUPPLY—on Jan. 26-27, Generac Power Systems held two seminars “on code changes dealing with backup generator power installation.” They drew a combined 100 electrical contractors, according to the 22-year-old metro Detroit electrical distributor.

STEINER ELECTRIC—this distributor, based in Elk Grove Village, Ill., “is looking to build a new location in the vacant Beverly Manufacturing Building” in Tinley Park, according to the Tinley Park Patch (Jan. 26). According to the article:

            “In return for this $6.96 million investment, Steiner wants the village, county, and state to chip in for a total $1.2 million in incentives. Otherwise, the company could build the new facility at an existing location in Hobart, Ind.”

SUMMIT—this Albuquerque, New Mexico-based electrical distributor, which has previously supported the state’s largest homeless shelter, recently went an extra step—with the donation of four dozen coats. “Summit associates followed Joy Junction’s Lifeline of Hope food truck,” according to a release, “to motels, parks, and street corners where the homeless and others in need gather.” All 48 coats were handed out to people who needed them…in just one day.

            According to the release, Summit originally donated the food truck in 2009; it’s needed because there are more homeless people than Joy Junction can house (which is 300). The truck “now stops at as many as six motels a day distributing food and other necessities.”

            In December 2010, Summit donated $10,000 to Joy Junction.

TRITON POWER—this subsidiary of American Generators, which says it is “the largest independent commercial generator distributor in North and South America,” said it now carries automatic transfer switch products from 125 amps to 4000 amps and three-phase applications.

TVW ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT—Kent Lawrence, owner of this distributor in Decatur, Ala., was quoted near the end of a mostly positive Jan. 30 article on DecaturDaily.com on the local economy’s situation. His contribution: “Right now, our volume is still way down. Last month was one of the worst months we’ve ever had.”

VAN METER INDUSTRIAL—this electrical/automation distributor is part of a collaborative program, according to a release from Alliant Energy, which owns Interstate Power & Light. Another partner is the Iowa Energy Center. They recently worked together to help a Hy-Vee Food Store in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, replace 12 metal halide parking lot lights with LED lamps.

            From Mary Meisterling, Alliant’s key account manager: “Van Meter gives us access to multiple LED manufacturers and a team of lighting design specialists.” There are, apparently, other LED demonstration projects underway.

WERNER ELECTRIC SUPPLY—was identified in the Feb. 1 issue of The Stevens Point Journal as being among the “biggest supporters” of Mike Wiza, a candidate (running against the incumbent) for the post of mayor of Stevens Point, Wis. The others listed with Werner—based on financial support—were the University of Wisconsin-Stevens and the Wisconson Interscholastic Athletic Association.

            According to the newspaper: “Employees from those companies individually each contributed $250 to Wiza’s campaign.”

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