Bisbee’s Buzz

INTELLIGENT BUILDINGS: A LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE

–           INTERVIEW WITH JAMES CARLINI

I had the chance to interview James Carlini, President of CARLINI & ASSOCIATES, who has been involved in Intelligent Buildings since the inception of the term.  He was one of the first authorities on the subject through his articles in the mid-1980s that appeared in Real Estate Review (Fall 1985), Government Data Systems (May 1985) and even the cover of Telecommunication Products Plus Technology (November 1985).  He was the Chairman of the Definitions Committee of the Intelligent Buildings Institute in Washington D.C. from 1986-1988 as well as the pioneer of the concept of measuring a building’s IQ (1985) which he wrote about in several articles as well as a chapter in Johnson Controls’ Intelligent Buildings Sourcebook  (Prentice-Hall 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 on 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 the time had a lot of vacant buildings around.  It was easy for a start-up 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 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 $20,000,000 retrofit of a Class A building in Seattle.  JMB Realty was a premiere firm at the time and the Sr. Group VP 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 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 just to make sure they were getting their money’s worth.  When the results came out that their older building actually outscored the newer buildings because of all the technologies they added into it, they wanted to publicize that new type of measurement.  Building IQ actually help 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 Building 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 provide 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 20-30 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 a 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 stand-alone 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:   You wrote a white paper on this didn’t you?

Carlini:  Actually I wrote several, one on Intelligent Business Campuses: Future Keys to Economic Development in 2008, which discussed the movement into campuses or next-generation business parks, this was based on planning work I had done for an 800-acre tech park.   I also wrote one for the US Department of Homeland Security on INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE: Insuring Security for Regional Sustainability (2010); and one for George Mason University,  INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE: Securing Regional Sustainability (2009) both 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 3,000 people on Intelligent Infrastructure and its impact on regional economic development at the BICSI Fall Conference and had great feedback.  I am sure his book will provide a pragmatic perspective on Intelligent Buildings and their evolution to Intelligent Business Campuses.

Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving.

NEVER DRIVE & TEXT.

But that’s just my opinion,

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

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Megladon Announces SM Fiber Optic Couplers/Splitters with Bend Insensitive Glass and HLC® Connections

Austin, Texas, November 4, 2010 – Megladon Manufacturing Group announced today the release of SM Fiber Optic Couplers/Splitters utilizing Bend Insensitive Singlemode glass and HLC connections. The product family includes all standard connector types, packages and can be customized for various split ratios and lengths.

Over the past two years, there has been a growing migration to bend insensitive singlemode glass in high speed fiber optic networks. The accumulation of bend loss at various points along a link can create power budget issues. Bend insensitive fiber minimizes bend loss and reduces the overall loss.

Continued use of standard couplers/splitters in a bend insensitive glass environment can nullify the bend loss reduction. Because of space requirements, couplers may be routed in a way that causes enough bend loss to exceed the maximum loss for the channel. The migration to bend insensitive couplers/splitters is the next logical step.

Megladon’s HLC SCRATCHGUARD® connection technology has been known for a decade for its durability and repeatable performance. It is a one of a kind product that enables business critical applications to operate with minimal connectivity issues. When the HLC connection is married to bend insensitive glass, the four enemies to fiber optic networks are minimized: bend loss, insertion loss, optical return loss and endface scratching/contamination.

“The market has embraced singlemode bend insensitive glass with the HLC connection and the results have been phenomenal.  Many customers have now asked for the missing link in their systems which is the bend insensitive coupler/splitter. The coupler/splitter is the greatest source of insertion loss and many times bend loss due to the way it is routed. Why make the investment in bend insensitive patch cables and not upgrade the couplers?” said John Culbert, President of Megladon.

Megladon® Manufacturing Group Ltd., a subsidiary of TyRex Group Ltd.®, is recognized as a leader in the fiber optic marketplace. Founded in 1997, Megladon made it their mission to provide customers with fiber optic products that far exceed industry standards minimizing installation time and maintenance cost. As technology innovators, Megladon created the HLC® (Hardened Lens Contact) connection, which has changed the market and taken it to the next level. For additional information on Megladon and their patented processes please visit the company’s website at www.megladonmfg.com.

For additional information regarding Megladon’s variety of fiber optic products please contact John Culbert at 512.615.4687 or by email at scratchguard@megladonmfg.com.

John Culbert – President, Megladon Manufacturing Group, Ltd

12317 Technology Blvd. Suite 100

Austin, Texas 78727

Tel: 512.615.4687

Fax: 512.583.0848

Email: jculbert@megladonmfg.com

Web: www.megladonmfg.com

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What’s in Your Toolkit? Tools for today’s diversified field technician

By Tony Cassaza  reprinted from BICSI News Magazine

If you are an installer or technician trying to stay afloat in this recessive economy, you know that the lines are now becoming blurred between audio-visual (AV) installers, electricians, security installers and network cabling installers. It is no longer just simply optical fiber or category copper cabling for data, and today’s installers and technicians need to diversify their services if they want to stay successful. To do this requires professional discipline over a broader spectrum. The scope of diversification encompasses many things, including more diverse tools and test gear needed to stay competitive in an ever-expanding industry. 

Recently, an extensive online tool survey found that professional electricians that also install low-voltage systems prefer to have a toolkit that includes many more tools as compared to strictly low-voltage technicians even if it meant that their toolkit would be larger and heavier. This indicates that electricians are more serious about diversification and doing all types of electrical work, including traditional high voltage and low voltage. They know that all-in-one type hand tools will not pass muster for professional work.

On the other hand, low-voltage system installers and technicians involved in the survey overwhelmingly felt that their toolkit and tools make a statement about them and were an important part of the image projected to customers, employers and peers. They believe their toolkits should be visually appealing and professional looking as well as functional. From both disciplines, we can recognize that tools are important in daily work both functionally and aesthetically and should not be taken lightly.

The Basics

Hand tools are a bit low-tech, but they are important. Today’s diversified installers and technicians require a more comprehensive set of tools then what they needed when they did only one type of work.

Choosing the best quality tools you can afford is important. Here is a simple test to see if you have a good wire cutting tool (e.g., diagonal cutting pliers, linesman pliers). Take your wire cutting tools, and cut a four-pair copper cable. Your cutter should cut it cleanly in one single cut without having to pull. Then, try the test again, but cut only a single conductor from the cable. If it does not cut through in a single clean cut, it is time to replace the tool—it is either no good because of wear, or it was not a professional-grade tool to begin with.

Today, there is a new class of toolkits called electro-tech toolkits, which are ideal for the diversified installer or technician. Some of the very basic hand tool elements of a professional electro-tech tool kit include:

§         Tool case—Professional looking while being rugged shock and water resistant.

§         Screwdrivers and bits—Contains at least four different slotted and four different size Phillips screwdrivers. Also recommended is a ratchet and driver bit set that includes flat, star, hex and pozi. If you find that you do a lot of work with any particular bit type, dedicated drivers are preferable.

§         Pliers and cutters—Linesman’s pliers at least 8 inches, large diagonal cutting pliers, small precision diagonal cutting pliers and long-nose pliers.

§         Wrenches—One large and one medium set of pump pliers, otherwise known as channellocks, and an adjustable wrench.

§         Other hand tools—Hammer, level, measuring tape, sheetrock saw, utility knife and an awl.

§         ITS hand tools—Professional-grade crimpers, termination tools, cable stripping tools for coaxial and category cabling as well as wire and Kevlar scissors.

§         Safety tools—Protective eyewear and work gloves.

§         Utility tools—Electrical tape, tool pouch, magnification device, parts jars and flashlight.

The extended toolkit contains necessary tools for your daily work, but it also consists of tools that you do not typically carry such as drills and drill bit sets, steel fish tape and a reciprocating saw. Also important are accessories that make it easy to carry your tools from job to job. A collapsible utility cart is an indispensible tool, especially those that fold up compactly, weighs less than 20 pounds and can carry about a 400-pound load. When I was a field technician, my cart carried all of my gear and withstood the daily punishment of the streets of New York City.

Test Gear

Test gear, like cable testers with multiple remotes and tone generators and probes for tracing cables, fall into two categories. There is the handy and inexpensive test gear that is part of the everyday toolkit, and there is sophisticated and expensive test equipment that you only use (or rent) on an as-needed basis. For the sake of this article, we will focus mainly on the testers that you carry in your toolkit on a daily basis.

For the most part, butt sets that were used to test plain old telephone service (POTS) lines have gone the way of the old dial telephone and are very rarely needed anymore, and tone and probe units that only provide basic tracing and simple continuity will likely give way to more feature-rich units. Today’s diversified installers and technicians need testers that are more broadly focused and take into account installation, troubleshooting, repair and maintenance and for various disciplines such as network, alarm, security and surveillance, access control, life safety and home automation systems.

Tone and trace units that have additional special features that make them ideal for troubleshooting electronic safety and security systems are quickly gaining popularity. This includes:

§         Both audible and visual indications for continuity.

§         Options for constant and momentary indication.

§         The ability to switch between normally closed and normally open circuits.

Relatively inexpensive four-pair (category 5e and 6) testers with advanced features like multiple remotes and a built-in time-domain reflectometer (TDR) that calculates length and distance to fault can now be found in almost every toolkit. These testers include verification testers that perform basic continuity tests to ensure that the cable is connected properly, qualification testers to ensure that a cabling link can support a certain network speeds (i.e., 100 Base-T, 1000 Base-T) and certification testers that certify whether  a cable or cabling plant is in compliance to industry standards.

Many vendors offer qualification testers that are middle of the road and do not certify a cable to a certain EIA/TIA standard, but they do qualify the cable to support certain network speeds. At the current prices, it does not pay for installers to purchase a qualification tester since they do not provide enough evidence to support a standards compliant installation. Qualification testers are best suited to network managers mainly for troubleshooting practices. However, it seems likely that qualification and verification testers will eventually merge and at a relatively low cost. Newer qualification/verification units will have the ability to store test results and print reports through a PC.

In the near future, more efficient micro controlled, single-board computer design and software will blur the lines between certification, qualification and verification testers. Progressive test gear manufacturing companies embracing this new technology will lead the way with less costly testing units that offer more advanced features. Therefore, if you haven’t purchased a tester yet, renting on an as-needed basis for now may be a prudent strategy.

Optical fiber visual fault locators are inexpensive and are now standard issue in most of today’s toolkits. These diagnostic testing and tracing tools emit a bright beam of laser light into a fiber, allowing the user to easily isolate high losses and detect faults in optical fiber cables for up to 5 kilometers (km). They are truly the best optical fiber maintenance and troubleshooting tool one can carry.

Closing Thoughts

There are several other noteworthy tools that some installers and technicians may not have considered but that can increase productivity:

§         Slim line LED flashlight holder—Attaches to a hat or collar for hands-free light. This is especially useful when fishing cables into a dropped ceiling.

§         Right angle drill adapters—Attaches to a standard corded or cordless drill to reach areas previously not reachable with a standard drill.

§         Off-set power screwdriver head—Allows driving screws in low clearance areas.

§         Visor magnifier—Attaches to a hat for working on small parts. They are magnification devices that easily flip up and down as-needed.

From basic tools to test gear, it is important to possess a variety of tools for a variety of systems. Tools for today’s diversified technician are becoming more vital to success in this economy than ever before. Famous writer, philosopher and poet Thomas Carlyle said, “Man is a tool-using animal; weak in himself and of small stature, he stands on a basis of some half-square foot. Nevertheless he can use tools, can devise tools; with these, the granite mountain melts into light dust before him, winds and fire his unwearying steeds. Nowhere do you find him without tools; without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all."

Tony Casazza is a 30-year industry veteran and has been the president of online datacom store www.lanshack.com for 13 years. In 2010, Tony launched the QuickTreX® brand, a manufacturer of cabling, connectivity and network components. He can be reached at www.quicktrex.com

Reprinted with permission from BICSI News www.bicsi.org

Betsy Conroy

Editor, BICSI News Magazine

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"Wavelength Allocation Chart" White Paper from Light Brigade

When testing FTTH systems, it is critical that your products and equipment match your system's specifications. Legacy B-PON, G-PON, and EPON systems were standardized around the 1310-nm, 1490-nm and 1550-nm wavelengths. The new 10 Gigabit systems for Ethernet, 10G-PON and RFOG use the 1270-nm, 1577-nm, and 1610-nm wavelengths so that they do not interfere with legacy systems. All these require special calibration points and filters for accurate testing. The Wavelength Allocation Chart white paper, compiled by The Light Brigade, identifies each FTTH standard and the wavelengths specified for transmission and testing.  www.lightbrigade.com

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ANNOUNCING THE 2011 BICSI WINTER CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION IN ORLANDO

Educate Globally. Deliver Locally.

Tampa, Fla., Oct. 21, 2010—BICSI, the association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge assessment, announces details surrounding the 2011 BICSI Winter Conference & Exhibition.

The annual conference will host a variety of technical sessions focusing on new ITS technology. Starting January 16-17 with Pre-conference Seminars, the conference officially begins on Tuesday, January 18, and runs through Thursday, January 21 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla. The Exhibit Hall will be open for evening Exhibitions and Receptions Sunday through Tuesday.

Conference highlights include:

Opening Keynote Speaker—Tom Koulopoulos, January 18, 8:45-9:30 a.m.
Koulopoulos is a prolific author and speaker and is the founder of Delphi Group, a global innovation think tank. He is also former Executive Director of the Babson College Center for Business Innovation. He has been named one of the business industry's most influential consultants by InformationWeek magazine and his articles and insights appear frequently in national and international print and broadcast media such as BusinessWeek, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Economist, CNBC, CNN and NPR. His blog, TheInnovationZone.com, is ranked in the top two percent of all blogs worldwide by Technorati. His passion for helping business people understand the implications, challenges and opportunities of leading edge technology is evident in his writing and speaking. Tom’s presentation will provide a tour-de-force combination of energy, deep knowledge, business insight and humor.

Closing Keynote Speaker—Steve Wozniak, January 20, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Wozniak helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products, the Apple I and II, and influenced the popular Macintosh. In 1976, Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Inc. After leaving Apple in 1985, Wozniak was involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, focusing primarily on computer capabilities in schools and stressing hands-on learning and encouraging creativity for students. In 2000, he was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame and was awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for Technology, The Economy and Employment for “single-handedly designing the first personal computer and for then redirecting his lifelong passion for mathematics and electronics toward lighting the fires of excitement for education in grade school students and their teachers.” Currently, Steve serves as Chief Scientist for Fusion-io, and his autobiography, “iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon,” is a New York Times Best Seller. His vast business experience will prove valuable to attendees as he delivers a highly engaging and insightful Closing Keynote presentation.

Fourth Annual BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge
Competitors will be racing against the clock and each other in several fast-paced events such as Fiber Termination, Cable Assembly and SCS Installation. The Challenge will be held in the Exhibit Hall during the evening Exhibitions and Receptions on Sunday, January 16, Monday, January 17, and Tuesday January 18. The winners will be announced during the BICSI Annual Awards Banquet on Wednesday, January 19. Additional information, including a schedule of events can be found at www.bicsi.org/skillschallenge.

Annual Business Meeting, Tuesday, January 18, 11 a.m.-noon

Catch up on the latest association updates from BICSI and witness the inauguration of the new members of the Board of Directors.

Annual Awards Banquet, Wednesday, January 19, 7-10 p.m.

The Awards Banquet, featuring entertainment by comedian Scott Henry followed by the sounds of the band MPiRE, will recognize some of the ITS industry’s finest.

Training & Exams
BICSI will also host several pre- and post-conference courses in the Orlando:

·         DD102: Designing Telecommunications Distribution Systems, January 12-17

·         DD200: Telecommunications Distribution Design Review (RCDD Exam Review), January 12-15

·         DD100: Introduction to Voice/Data Cabling Systems, January 15-16

·         ITP110: Analyzing Telecommunications Distribution Systems, January 21-25

·         ESS100: Introduction to Electronic Safety and Security, January 13-14

·         ESS200: ESS Design Specialist Review (ESS Exam Review), January 14-16

·         ESS110: Designing Electronic Safety and Security Systems, January 21-25

·         DA200: Network Design Specialist Review (NTS Exam Review), January 14-16

·         DA100: Introduction to Networks, January 21-22

·         OSP100: Introduction to Outside Plant, January 13-14

·         OSP200: OSP Design Specialist Review (OSP Exam Review), January 15-16

·         OSP110: Cable Plant Design, January 21-25

·         WD200: Wireless Design Specialist Review (WD Exam Review), January 13-15

·         WD110: Designing Wireless Networks, January 21-25

·         WD100: Introduction to Wireless, January 23-24

·         DC110: Data Center Design Best Practices, January 13-15

·         DD120: Grounding and Protection Fundamentals for Telecommunications Distribution Systems, January 21-23

·         DD125: Advanced Grounding and Bonding, January 24-26

·         PM125: Telecommunications Project Management Program, January 21-25

Attendees may also register to earn a credential while attending the 2011 Winter Conference & Exhibition. RCDD^®, RITP™, ESS, NTS, OSP and WD exams will be administered on site during the Winter Conference from 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on Monday, January 17.

Book It 2 Win It!
Attendees that book their room at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort using BICSI's group rate by December 8, 2010, will be entered in the following drawings:

Drawing 1: $1,000 cash

Drawing 2: Complimentary three-night stay at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and dinner for two at A Land Remembered, overlooking the Shingle Creek Golf Club (valid between January 15-21, 2011)

Drawing 3: Choice of golf for four at the Shingle Creek Golf Club or a $100 gift certificate to The Spa at Shingle Creek

Note: Two winners will be named for drawings 2 and 3. All drawings take place on January 16, 2011.

For a full list of BICSI conference and exhibition details, visit www.bicsi.org/winter.

BICSI is a professional association supporting the information technology 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. Tel. +1 813.979.1991

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Belden to acquire Thomas & Betts communications products business for $78 million in cash

Belden Inc., an electronics components maker, said Thursday it agreed to buy Thomas & Betts Corp.'s communications products business for $78 million in cash.

Memphis, Tenn.-based Thomas & Betts said the communications products business is part of its electric segment. It includes coaxial cable drop connectors, pole line hardware and other products. It generated about 9 cents of earnings per share and $45 million in revenue in the first nine months of this year.

Belden said the Thomas & Betts products complement its existing audio, video and security cables. Belden said it expects the acquisition to close by the end of 2010 and add 5 cents per share to earnings in 2011. www.belden.com

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Real Estate Experts Deliver a 10 Year Industry Outlook

BOMA Foundation and Georgetown University Host Commercial Real Estate Symposium

(WASHINGTON—November 5, 2010) The best and brightest minds in commercial real estate will convene next Tuesday to offer their predictions for the future during 2020: A Vision for Commercial Real Estate, a symposium presented by the BOMA Foundation and the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies and its Masters of Professional Studies in Real Estate Program. Featuring a dozen experts from all sectors of the industry, the program will explore where real estate will be ten years from now. www.boma.org

“This unique program will provide attendees with an insider look at how real estate will evolve over the next decade and insight into how best to prepare for these changes,” remarked BOMA Foundation Chair Marilyn Wilbarger, director of property management, City of Key West, Fla. “Through lively debate, these thought leaders will explain how we can learn from a down market, create growth and optimize sustainability for future success.”

“We are pleased to host such a respected group of experts to articulate their visions for the future of commercial real estate,” noted Chuck Schilke, associate dean of Georgetown University’s Master’s Program in Real Estate. “Providing our students and attendees with a forum to learn first-hand how to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow is an exciting opportunity.”

The State of Commercial Real Estate

This session will examine current market conditions in commercial real estate and new trends that will shape the future. Speakers will discuss economic recovery and employment, high-performance properties, transit-oriented development, the mixed-use live-work-play phenomenon and where the best new opportunities may be discovered.

Speakers include:

·         Henry Chamberlain, APR, CAE, president, BOMA International

·         Katya Naman, CCIM, senior vice president, Lowe Enterprises, Inc.

Real Estate Finance in the Year 2020

This session will feature four real estate finance veterans discussing  the impact of residential foreclosures and how it is affecting commercial real estate. The panelists will take a long-range view of how the commercial real estate industry will be financed with the changing ratio between public and private company investment. The discussion will also focus on the growth and evolution of the debt and investment industries, touching on the CMBS market, REITS, private equity firms and public company investments. From there, they will review demographics, employment statistics and other developments that will drive future industry growth.

Panelists include:

·         Kathleen Day, Center for Responsible Lending, author of S&L Hell

·         Michael Grupe, executive vice president, Research & Investor Outreach, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts

·         Stephen Conley, executive managing partner, Holliday Fenoglio Fowler

·         Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac

·         Moderated by Katya Naman, CCIM, senior vice president, Lowe Enterprises, Inc.

Environmental and Energy Issues in the Year 2020

Without a doubt, the future will be green. In this session, sustainability thought leaders will brief attendees on the key strategies needed to be successful in future markets. Panelists will discuss the increasing importance of distributive energy, the impact of environmental stewardship and incentives—from government to capital to ROI payback. They will also give a perspective on markets and pricing, and explore how to get buildings to “net zero” and even contributing back to the energy grid.

Panelists include:

·         Dan Sze, deputy director for state energy programs, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

·         Craig Schultz, president, Energy Buying Strategies, Inc.

·         Anik Jhaveri, AIA, LEED AP, principal, HDR Architecture, Inc.

·         David Borchardt, chief sustainability officer, The Tower Companies

·         Moderated by Richard W. Greninger, CPM, managing partner, Carr Realty Partners, LLC

The program, held Tuesday, November 9 in Washington, D.C., will begin with a reception from 6-7 p.m. at the South Gallery/Terrace of the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center followed by the Symposium, from 7-9 p.m. in the Hariri Building’s Lohrfink Auditorium. The program is free but registration is required.

For more details about the program and to register, visit www.boma.org/Events/2020symposium.

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About the BOMA International Foundation
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Foundation is an independent, tax-exempt organization (501(c) 3) whose mission is to serve the commercial real estate industry by fostering a future vision, forward thinking research, innovative thought, and global best practices.  The Foundation is dedicated to sponsoring and encouraging innovative research and educational activities that advance the commercial real estate industry and profession.  In addition, the Foundation initiates programs that seek to enhance the public appreciation of real estate and its significance in society.  The Foundation is affiliated with the Building Owners and Managers Association International, the nation's oldest and largest commercial real estate organization.

About the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
The Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies offers master’s programs, professional certificates, and a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree in Liberal Studies. These programs offer an applied learning experience enabling professional and personal advancement. Improve yourself and positively impact the world, all while creating a network of valuable relationships. For more information, please visit scs.georgetown.edu, Twitter, and Facebook.

About the Georgetown University Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate
The Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate degree program at Georgetown is a fully-accredited comprehensive graduate real estate program in Washington, D.C., which teaches practical real estate skills at the highest academic level in a supportive social environment. All courses are taught by top real estate professionals from major real estate organizations who know their fields in depth, are strong communicators, and genuinely care about students. In classes averaging 20 students, students take five foundational real estate courses in ethics, law, finance, markets, and accounting, four upper level track courses in a choice of tracks in Real Estate Development, Real Estate Finance, Construction Management, and International Real Estate, followed by one capstone senior thesis course. The program emphasizes private sector real estate while also taking full advantage of the Washington location to emphasize public sector real estate, environmental and energy aspects, and corporate real estate.

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Looking for cabling opportunities? Homeland Security considers $30M-$50M cabling bid

Nov 17, 2010

The United States Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office has posted a request-for-information (RFI). While emphasizing that the post is not a request for proposal (RFP), the office did include a scope of work that calls for "all necessary management, supervision, materials, services, support, maintenance, identification and performance of cabling activities required for approximately 500 ICE locations."

Specific tasks that would be carried out include "site surveys, installation, testing, documentation, problem resolution and maintenance of video, wireless, data and voice communications cabling and related equipment."

ICE estimates the work would begin in January at an estimated value of $30 million to $50 million. The office expects interested parties to act quickly, requiring responses by noon EST on Friday, November 19.

Read the full RFI and view other documentation including a "Cabling Scenarios" document.

After the toxic results from 911, will Homeland Security spec the same materials for their facilities?

 October 2010 Bisbee’s Buzz

 additional medical support to nyc Sept. 11 victims = $7.4 BILLION

There’s something corporate IT and telecommunications management should know. Most of the cable they’re now installing in the workplace across the U.S. contains halogens – chemical that give off toxic fumes when they burn.

INCAPACITATION AND PERMANENT LUNG DAMAGE

In a fire, halogen cable can release acid gases that sear the eyes, nose, mouth, and throat. The fumes can disorient victims, preventing them from escaping the blaze. They can cause severe respiratory damage. And they can kill.

additional medical support to nyc Sept. 11 victims = $7.4 BILLION

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009, sponsored by  Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), would provide medical monitoring to those exposed to toxins at ground zero, bolster treatment at specialized centers for those afflicted by toxins on Sept. 11 and reopen a compensation fund to provide for the economic loss of victims.

And it’s all paid for by closing a tax loophole on foreign companies with U.S. subsidiaries, Democrats said.

The bill, if passed, would reopen the Victims Compensation Fund until 2031 — instead of litigation, victims could try to get money from the fund. Republicans are calling the extension “well beyond what is needed to take care of latent claims,” according to a policy statement from the GOP.

“Republicans continue to believe that those who responded to the [World Trade Center] attack should get the treatment and liability protection they need because they dutifully answered a call for help,” the policy statement reads.

Recognizing this potentially deadly problem, a number of international governments have already standardized on zero-halogen cabling. However the U.S. National Electric Code (NEC), which serves as the basis for local standards in most states, effectively forces IT managers to use halogen-insulated Category 5 & 6 UTP in the plenum spaces above ceilings and below floors in office buildings. And while some organization that are exempt from local building code – like the military and mass transit authorities – have banned halogen from their networks, most network managers have little choice but to obey the law.

Halogen cabling can emit toxic fumes in a fire. Many international governments have moved to less lethal alternatives.

Low Smoke Zero Halogen and RoHS compliant - Why hasn't the U.S. done the same?

And that, argue halogen-free advocates, could be fatal. Building plenums are typically used to circulate air throughout the workplace. If there’s a fire, they warn, heating and air conditioning ducts could become conduits for hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, and the other gasses that cause far more fatalities than flames or visible smoke. The Air Conditioning Committee (NFPA 90A) of the National Fire Protection Association, which developed the section of the code dealing with Plenum-approved cabling without conduit, has not required any toxicity testing on these cables. If they had tested the Teflon FEP they would have discover a nightmare of toxic gasses are released under heat,

TOXIC TEFLON FEP heat decomposition and off-gasses

http://tuberose.com/Teflon.html

DuPont scientists list the hallmark human symptoms of polymer fume fever as tightness of chest, malaise, shortness of breath, headache, cough, chills, temperatures between 100 and 104°F, and sore throat, based on a survey of complaints registered by workers who were struck by the illness. Based on this suite of symptoms, cases of polymer fume fever from home exposures could easily be mistaken for the common flu. The toxic particles and gases identified as Teflon offgas products, and the temperature at which they are first identified in the studies reviewed, are shown below, with toxicity information that is drawn primarily from high dose animal studies, the only source of information available for most of the chemicals:

464°F - Ultrafine particulate matter: Teflon produces very small (ultrafine) particles which are very toxic, causing extreme lung damage to rats within 10 minutes of exposure. Longer exposures cause death. At higher temperatures, Teflon also produces toxic gases. Some scientists have found that the particles and gases together are responsible for Teflon's toxicity, perhaps because the gases adsorb to the particles, which because of their small size can lodge deep in the lower respiratory tract.

680°F - Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE): The National Toxicology Program considers tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) to be a "reasonably anticipated" human carcinogen because it is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals, but has not been adequately studied in people. In rats, inhaled TFE causes tumors of the kidney tubules, liver, blood vessels in the liver and one form of leukemia (mononuclear). Mice that breathe TFE develop tumors of the liver and tumors that develop in blood vessels in the liver or white blood cells.

680°F - Hexafluoropropene (HFP): In people, air exposure to fluorocarbons like HFP can lead to eye, nose and throat irritation; heart palpitations, irregular heart rate, headaches, light-headedness, fluid accumulation in the lung (edema) and possibly death. Long-term exposure in workers is associated with decreased motor speed, memory and learning. In mice and rats, inhalation of hexafluoropropene (HFP) causes kidney lesions, decreased numbers of a type of immune cell (lymphocyte) and increased urination. HFP also causes increased numbers of chromosomal abnormalities in hamster ovaries. HFP can also be added to pesticides as an "inert" ingredient, which does not mean that it is non-toxic, but only that is not the pesticide active ingredient. Another example of a pesticide inert ingredient is butyl benzyl phthalate, a chemical well known to cause serious birth defects of the male reproductive system in laboratory animals.

680°F - Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA): Very few studies have looked at the toxicity of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), but those that have found decreased growth of fetal rat bone-forming cells (osteoblast) and cartilage cells (chondrocytes), and neural tube defects in rat embryos at high concentrations. Other studies show that HCFC-123, a hydrofluorocarbon that breaks down into TFA, causes enlarged liver and decreased levels of glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol in adult animals. But, it is unclear whether these effects are due to HCFC-123 or a metabolite. A monkey study found the TFA concentration in the fetus was two to six times higher than in the mother's blood following dosing with HCFC-123. The long-term environmental impacts of TFA are unknown, but it is extremely persistent and toxic to plants. TFA is also a breakdown product of many hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used as replacement for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are potent ozone depleters used in refrigeration systems, aerosols and other products. Recently, scientists have suggested that high levels of TFA in the environment could be partly due to heated Teflon and other fluoropolymers because measured environmental levels are higher than predicted, based on breakdown of HCFCs and HFCs alone.

680°F - Difluoroacetic acid (DFA): Very little is known about the toxicity of difluoroacetic acid (DFA), although kidney toxicity has been reported in rats.

680°F - Monofluoroacetic acid (MFA, fluoroacetic acid or compound 1080): Monofluoroacetic acid is extremely toxic, doses as low as 0.7 to 2.1 mg/kg can kill people. Initially, people report nausea, vomiting, numbness, tingling, anxiety, muscle twitching, low blood pressure and blurred vision. If exposure is high enough, people can have irregular heart rate (ventricular fibrillation), heart attacks, and severe convulsions leading to respiratory failure. MFA quickly breaks down into a chemical called fluoroacetate. Sodium fluoroacetate was previously used as a powerful rodent killer (rodenticide). In the body, it breaks down into sodium and fluoroacetate, which is responsible for the toxicity. Sodium fluoroacetate kills rodents, and other animals, by inhibiting the tricarboxylic acid cycle which transforms energy found in food to energy the body uses. Sodium fluoroacetate also causes heart and respiratory failure, central nervous system depression and damage to the testes, including decreased sperm production.

878°F - Silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4): Silicon tetrafluoride is a highly toxic, corrosive gas. In the lungs, moisture causes the silicon particles to separate, releasing toxic hydrofluoric acid and also coating the lung with silicon particles. Inhaling hydrofluoric acid can cause eye and throat irritation, cough, difficult breathing, bluish skin color caused by lack of oxygen, lung damage and fluid accumulation in the lung (edema). Long term exposure can cause weight loss, decreased numbers of red and white blood cells (anemia and leukopenia), discoloration of the teeth and abnormal thickening of the bone (osteosclerosis).

887°F - Perfluoroisobutene (PFIB): Perfluoroisobutene (PFIB) is extremely toxic and inhalation can lead to fluid build up in the lung (edema), a condition that can lead to death. PFIB is listed in the Chemical Weapons Convention as a Schedule 2 compound. PFIB is about ten times more toxic than phosgene, a highly toxic corrosive gas also listed as a chemical weapon. In water, PFIB breaks down into hydrogen fluoride which is also very toxic (see below). Short-term symptoms of PFIB exposure in people include bad taste in mouth, nausea and weakness. Lung edema occurs about one to four hours after exposure, which is life-threatening in some cases, but in most people clears up in about 3 days.

932°F - Carbonyl fluoride (COF₂): Breakdown of Teflon (PTFE) in air is the major source of carbonyl fluoride exposure. Carbonyl fluoride is the fluorine version of phosgene, a chlorinated chemical warfare agent. Carbonyl fluoride fumes can irritate eyes, ears and nose. More serious symptoms of exposure include chest pains, breathing difficulty, fluid accumulation in the lungs, weakness, liver damage and increased glucose levels. Because carbonyl fluoride breaks down into hydrogen fluoride and carbon dioxide, it causes many of the same toxic effects as hydrogen fluoride (see below).

932°F - Hydrogen fluoride (HF): Hydrogen fluoride (HF) is a toxic corrosive gas, and can cause death to any tissue it comes into contact with, including the lungs. The toxicity of HF is due to the fluoride ion and not the hydrogen ion. Breathing HF can cause severe lung damage, such as fluid buildup in the lungs (edema) and inflammation of lung passages (pneumonia). The fluoride ion (charged particle) is extremely toxic. It is a small ion and weak acid that diffuses quickly and can pass through tissues with relative ease. Fluoride ions inhibit cell respiration, decreasing production of ATP, the major form of chemical energy used by the body. Fluoride attacts cell membranes causing cells to die. The fluoride ion is negatively charged and naturally likes to react with positively charged ions in the body like calcium and magnesium. When fluoride and calcium bind, creating a "precipitate," a life-threatening condition of decreased calcium (hypocalcemia) can occur. Left untreated, decreases in calcium (and magnesium) can cause abnormal heart rhythm leading to heart attack, muscle spasms and death. Calcium administration is the main treatment for HF poisoning.

1112°F - Trifluoroacetic acid fluoride (CF₃COF): Trifluoroacetic acid fluoride is toxic, mostly because it breaks down into hydrogen fluoride, which is very toxic, and trifluoroacetic acid. The few studies that have looked at the toxicity of TFA found decreased growth of fetal rat bone-forming cells (osteoblast) and cartilage cells (chondrocytes), and neural tube defects in rat embryos at high concentrations. Other studies show that HCFC-123, a hydrofluorocarbon that breaks down into TFA, causes enlarged liver and decreased levels of glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol in adult animals, but it is unclear whether these effects are due to HCFC-123 or a metabolite. A monkey study found TFA in the fetus was two to six times higher than in the mother's blood following dosing with HCFC-123, a hydrofluorocarbon that breaks down into TFA. Fluoride ion (charged particle) is extremely toxic. It is a small ion and weak acid that diffuses quickly and can pass through tissues with relative ease.

Fluoride ions inhibit cell respiration, decreasing production of ATP, the major form of chemical energy used by the body. Fluoride attracts cell membranes causing cells to die. The fluoride ion is negatively charged and naturally likes to react with positively charged ions in the body like calcium and magnesium. When fluoride and calcium bind, creating a "precipitate," a life-threatening condition of decreased calcium (hypocalcemia) can occur. Left untreated, decreases in calcium (and magnesium) can cause abnormal heart rhythm leading to heart attack, muscle spasms and death. Calcium administration is the main treatment for HF toxicity.

1112°F - Octafluorocyclobutane (OFCB): Octaflurocyclobutane is a fluorine-containing gas that is used in the semiconductor industry, sold as Zyron 8020 by DuPont. According to DuPont, inhaling high levels of octafluorocyclobutane can cause heart beat irregularities, unconsciousness and death. People with pre-existing heart conditions may be extra vulnerable. Only a few toxicity studies in animals are available for octafluorocyclobutane. In one study, rats exposed to a one-time-only inhaled exposure of octafluorocyclobutane lost weight and had abnormal breathing. Dogs that inhaled high concentrations (10-25% air), and were dosed with the stimulant epinephrine, had heart problems. According to DuPont, tests for genetic damage in insects are "inconclusive."

1112°F - Perfluorobutane (PFB, Trade Name CEA-410): As a global warming chemical, perfluorobutane has a long half-life in the upper atmosphere and has over 8,000 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. Perfluorobutane is not as acutely toxic as other PTFE off-gases, but has not been tested for long-term effects.

1202°F - Carbon tetrafluoride (CF₄, perfluoromethane): In addition to being a long-lived fluorinated Teflon "off-gas," perfloromethane is used in the semiconductor industry, is a refrigerant and propellant and a byproduct of aluminum production. The U.S. government is encouraging these industries to decrease emissions of perfluoromethane because it is a potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential almost 6000 times higher than carbon dioxide, and can last in the environment for 50,000 years. In the past, perfluoromethane has been used in pesticides as an "inert" ingredient; a label that has nothing to do with toxicity but only means the ingredient is not the main active pesticide. Inhaling fluorinated hydrocarbons like carbon tetrafluoride can cause eye, ear and nose irritation; heart palpitations; irregular heart rate; headaches; confusion; lung irritation, tremors and occasionally coma.

LIFE AND BREATH

For some critics, the difference between international and U.S. standards reveals start contrasts. “U.S. cabling codes are designed to save property. In Europe, we are more interested in saving lives, “ says Dario Erba, Manager for structured cabling at IBM Europe (Vimercate, Italy), which installs only acid-free cables.

Erba’s assessment my strike many as unduly harsh, but it raises an important concern: Given halogens’ lethal potential, why are they used in cabling at all?

There’s actually a method to this apparent madness. Halogens are an extremely effective fire retardant. Adding them to cable insulation increase its kindling point.

The big lie

“If the cable doesn’t catch fire, it won’t give off toxic fumes,” has been the response from DuPont (Wilmington, DE). The chemical company is the leading manufacturer of FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), the most toxic halogen and the one used in the majority of cabling. FEP heat dissipation produce deadly gas without catching fire.

NO EASY ANSWERS

It’s a deadly double blind: Halogen insulation helps prevent cables from catching fire, but if the cable jackets do ignite the resultant fumes can drive up the death toll. And this dilemma has been at the heart of a decade-long debate about the continued use of halogen. “Fluorinated polymers are hundreds of times more toxic than zero-halogen cabling.” Comments Marcelo Hirschler, a consultant with BGH International Inc (Mill Valley, CA) a firm that specializes in fire-safety issues. “They’re also far less flammable.”

To date, halogen’s defenders, which include DuPont and B.F. Goodrich CO (Akron, OH), have carried the day. But the opposition, whose ranks include manufacturers of zero-halogen cable, is running up the heat in hopes of convincing the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA, Quincy, MA) to change the current code. The latest NEC will go into effect in January 2011.

“There was a lot of argument about this, but the people in favor of zero-halogen couldn’t prove their case,” says Dave McCormack, assistant to the president of the International Association of Firefighters (St. Louis). McCormick believes the code should be changed to restrict the use of halogen cabling, which some tests show to be more than five times as toxic as its acid-free equivalent.

CATASTROPHIC CORROSION

This time around, however, the anti-halogen forces are taking a different track. They now argue that these chemicals should be outlawed because of the catastrophic effect acid fumes have on computer circuitry - causing millions of dollars worth of damage even in small fires. “Corrosivity is the Achilles’ heel of halogen cables,” comments Michael Keogh, corporate fellow at Union Carbide Corp. (Danbury, CT). “It ‘s a matter of machine toxicity, now human toxicity,” Union Carbide makes the raw materials used in both halogen and halogen free cable.

And where does all this leave IT managers interested in eliminated halogen from their networks? Unfortunately, they don’t have many options. The law is clear: Meet the code or risk the consequences, which range from being fines by building inspectors or fire marshals to insurance companies that refuse to pay up in the event of disaster (se “The Insurance Angle”).

STANDARDS SCHISM

International cabling standards were developed in response to events in the Falklands War. Research showed that most shipboard fatalities during the conflict were the results of the smoke from fires started by missiles and bombs rather than by the weapons themselves. “Acid gasses also prevented personnel from fighting the fires,” says Karen Long, a physicist at the Naval Sea Systems Command (Washington, DC). Long is responsible for developing fiber cabling standards for the U.S. Navy, which has decided to go halogen-free.

Many countries - including Australia, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and the U.K. – have also moved to halogen-free cabling. And even in countries where the choice of cable is still left to the installer, zero-halogen is becoming the technology of choice, according to IBM’s Erba. “Halogen-free cables account for 40 percent of the total communications cable in Europe, “ he says. He believes that the remaining 60 percent is halogen sheathed PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

The easiest way to see the difference between international and U.S. cabling codes is to compare what they cover. International standards address three issues:

·                     fire resistance (how fast cable burns)

·                     smoke density (how much visible smoke is produced)

·                     toxicity (how harmful the smoke is to human beings)

U.S. codes, in contrast, only address two of those criteria: fire resistance and smoke density. The National Electric Code is still silent when is comes to toxicity. It should be noted, however, that the U.S. standards for fire resistance are more comprehensive and more stringent than their international counterparts. Three levels are defined. The first and least demanding applies to general-purpose cabling (such as that used to connect a phone to a wall jack). The second applies to cables installed in building risers. The third and toughest code is reserved for cabling installed in plenum spaces.

CHEMICAL CONDITIONING

The only way to meet the more demanding U.S. standards is to add one of several halogens to the polymer plastic used in cable insulation. PVC cable contains chlorine; FEP (also known as Teflon ® FEP) is made with fluorine.

FEP is highly fire resistant. Those two characteristics have made FEP the key component in plenum-rated Category 5 & 6 UTP (unshielded twisted pair) in the USA.

It’s a different story overseas. In order to meet rigorous international toxicity specs cable manufacturers avoid halogens altogether, instead adding metal hydrates to their polyethylene and polypropylene cable insulations. When heated, these chemicals release steam.

But halogen-free cables made with metal hydrates are not a fire-resistant as their U.S. counterparts. And once the metal hydrate is exhausted, the insulation burns freely.

Zero-halogen cable meets the two less stringent U.S. fire-resistance standards. It’s acceptable for general purpose use and for building risers. But in order to obtain a plenum rating manufacturers would have to add so much metal hydrate to their insulation that the cable would no longer meet Cat 5 or Cat 6 UTP electrical requirements. “The flame retardant additives, “ explains Keogh, “do not have good electrical properties.”

BURNING ISSUES

When the PVC cables used in building risers burn they emit both hydrogen chloride (an acid gas) and dioxin, which Greenpeace, the environmental advocacy group, calls “the most toxic synthetic chemical known to science” (see table I). Long-term exposure to dioxin has been linked to a number of health problems, including cancer, reproductive disorders, birth defects, impaired neurological development, diabetes, and immune system suppression.

When FEP cable burns it releases hydrogen fluoride, an odorless invisible gas that is considerably more toxic than hydrogen chloride. Tests conducted at University of Pittsburgh in the 1980’s also indicate the presence of another, far more deadly gas, in FEP fumes – known in the cabling industry as “the supertoxin.” Some scientist theorize the gas is a fluoro-phosgene- the fluorine equivalent to phosgene gas used in World War I. The supertoxin has been properly identified. “We know there’s hydrogen fluoride, but that’s not the real problem,” says BGH’s Hirschler. “There’s something else in the gases, and nobody knows what it really is except that it’s highly, highly toxic.”

There is approximately10 lbs of FEP in each 1000’ of plenum cable.

49% of FEP heat decomposition is released as HF – hydrogen fluoride. Upon contact with moisture (even humidity) HF converts to Hydrofluoric acid. This acid evens “eats” glass.

Maybe, it is time to consider the TOXICITY issue, We cannot afford to delay.

Remember: Safety is too important to ignore.

But that’s just my opinion,

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

COMMENTS to The Editor

Frank:

Once again, you bring up several important cable safety issues to your HOTS readers. Plenum cable standards will continue to ignore these critical safety issues because there are no easy answers and because the LIABILITY for 35 years of dangerous cabling practices is so great that the truth cannot be recognized now.

The whole concept of Plenum cabling is replete with serious safety defects that cannot be completely addressed or justified. Cities like Chicago and Las Vegas have long ago outlawed exposed telecom cables in ceiling Plenums. They require these cables to be placed in steel conduit or enclosed in a steel raceway such as Underfloor Duct (for concrete framed buildings) or a Cellular Floor Raceway System (for steel framed buildings). Protected against direct flame exposure in a fire, cabling can be Non-Plenum rated........available at 1/3 the cost of Plenum Rated cable. But Non-Plenum cable does not allow the enormous profit that cable manufacturers make on Plenum cable....... made at about the same COST as Non-Plenum.

If you "follow the money" you'll know why we continue to build Towering Infernos across this once great nation.

Please allow me to correct one of the terms you use in your HOTS addition. You talk about the fire RESISTANCE of cables being covered by the USA Codes. It is not......cables have no fire resistance requirement. Technically, they are allowed by Code to ignite immediately on exposure to a fire.Actually, Non-Plenum cables will ignite in 10 to 15 seconds of flame exposure. Plenum cables can ignite in less than a minute and then begin to emit the Toxic gasses you so eloquently describe.

What is covered by the cable Standard (NFPA 90A) is fire RETARDANCE. Flame spread along the cable is limited to 5 feet in 20 minutes. While this sounds safe ,we can't ignore the fact that toxic smoke is spreading thru the plenum at a much more rapid rate!

Thanks again for your tireless efforts in the search for real cabling safety.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

John Michlovic - PE , Manager of Technical Services

HH Robertson Floor Systems / Centria

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NECA NEWS

December 10 Deadline to Apply for the NABCEP PV Technical Sales Exam

11/11/2010

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OSHA's Complex New Crane & Derrick Standard Takes Effect November 8

11/06/2010

Major aspects of OSHA’s new construction-specific requirements for personnel operating and working with cranes and derricks (29 CFR 1926, Subpart CC) go into effect Monday, November 8, 2010, although the training and certification requirements won’t be fully enforced until 2014.

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NECA Contractors Honored at Zero Injury Awards Program

11/05/2010

Several NECA members were recognized Oct. 28 at the annual National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee (NMAPC) Zero Injury Safety Awards (ZISA) program at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

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Today in America, Inside Business Review and Business Day Partner with NECA

11/05/2010

The producers of the television series’ Inside Business Review with Fred Thompson and both Today in America and Business Day with Terry Bradshaw are pleased to announce their partnership with the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

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Don’t Be Victimized: Criminals Banking on Technology to Commit Check Fraud

10/30/2010

Financial crime professionals have become increasingly skilled and sophisticated, thanks to advances in personal computers, scanners and color photocopiers. They don’t even need to get their dirty hands on an actual paper check in order to steal from your account. Here's some good advice.

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NECA Submits Comments on FASB Disclosures & Contingencies Proposals

10/30/2010

From this article, you can download NECA's comments on the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s proposals which threaten construction employers participating in multiemployer defined benefit plans. A link to other comments on the FASB site is also provided.

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Occupational Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities Declined in 2009

10/24/2010

The total injury and illness  rate among private industry employers has declined significantly each year since 2003, and the 2009 total for fatal injuries represents the smallest annual preliminary total since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program was first conducted in 1992, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But, economic factors may have played a major role in keeping the numbers low.

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Employers Face Hefty Fines under OSHA’s New Administrative Penalty Calculation System

10/17/2010

Contractors are being advised to maintain good safety and health programs and prepare for more difficult negotiations after receipt of OSHA citations in light of changes to the agency’s administrative penalty calculation system. The changes apply to OSHA inspections beginning October 1, 2010, and later.

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Financial Threat Demands Rapid Response from ALL NECA Members

10/16/2010

ALL NECA members and chapter offices are urged to comment to FASB by the end of October 2010 on proposals that have serious implications for those participating in multiemployer defined benefit pension plans.

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Labor Relations General Session: Making the Most of CW/CE

10/12/2010

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Fifteen Exhibitors Named Showstoppers at 2010 NECA Show

10/12/2010

The electrical construction industry’s leading trade expo, the NECA Show, and publication, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine, joined forces at the recent 2010 NECA Show to create the first-ever NECA Showstopper Showcase, where 15 stand-out products and systems were recognized as the most significant of the event.

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2010 NECA Award Winners and Michael Durant at Closing General Session

10/12/2010

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The “Energy Manager” Revolution Begins in Boston at NECA Annual Convention and Trade Show

10/12/2010

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CEO Update Article on Associations’ Campaign Contributions Features ECPAC

10/09/2010

CEO Update interviewed NECA’s Executive Director for Government Affairs Lake Coulson and Beth Margulies, our public relations director, for an article on association PACs in its October 1 issue.  Download it here.

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www.necanet.org

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Optical Cable Corporation initiates dividends

Source: Optical Cable Corporation On Thursday October 21, 2010, 9:20 am EDT

ROANOKE, Va., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Optical Cable Corporation (Nasdaq GM: OCCF) ("OCC" or the "Company") today announced it is initiating a quarterly cash dividend to shareholders for the first time in the Company's history.  

OCC's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.01 per share on the Company's common stock at its meeting on October 15, 2010.  The dividend will be paid on December 15, 2010 to shareholders of record on November 5, 2010.  

OCC anticipates paying a cash dividend each quarter, with expected dividend payment dates in March, June, September and December of each year.   The dividend announced today implies an annual cash dividend rate of $0.04 per common share.

OCC also announced today that it has reduced the balance on its revolving credit facility by $412,000 since the end of the Company's third quarter of fiscal year 2010.  The current balance on the facility is $700,000, providing the Company with available credit of $5.3 million on the $6 million facility.  

As previously announced, OCC achieved a record $18.8 million in net sales and reported earnings per share of $0.09 during its fiscal third quarter ended July 31, 2010.  OCC also generated $1.4 million in net cash from operating activities during its third fiscal quarter.  

At the end of the fiscal third quarter, OCC had a retained earnings balance of $20.7 million, or $3.21 per share.  In addition, OCC's net book value attributable to OCC at the end of the quarter was $26.5 million, or $4.12 per share.  OCC's share price closed at $2.70 per share yesterday.

Management's Comments

Neil Wilkin, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of OCC, said "We are pleased to announce the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend, which will provide for the regular return of capital to our shareholders.  At the same time, we have also reduced OCC's outstanding debt.  These actions reflect the operating leverage in our business model, our ability to generate solid cash flow, and our commitment to maintaining a strong balance sheet.  In addition, the dividend initiation and debt reduction demonstrate our confidence in OCC's strategy and market position, and prospects for continued growth and value creation."  

Mr. Wilkin added, "We continue to realize the benefits of the acquisitions we completed in 2008 and 2009, which were critical strategic moves that positioned OCC for sustainable long-term success in our markets.  We are pleased that our shareholders are now enjoying the benefits of these acquisitions.  We look forward to building on OCC's strong momentum to create further value while continuing to meet and exceed the needs of our customers."

Company Information

Optical Cable Corporation is a leading manufacturer of a broad range of fiber optic and copper data communications cabling and connectivity solutions primarily for the enterprise market, offering an integrated suite of high quality, warranted products which operate as a system solution or seamlessly integrate with other providers' offerings.  OCC's product offerings include designs for uses ranging from commercial, enterprise network, datacenter, residential and campus installations to customized products for specialty applications and harsh environments, including military, industrial, mining and broadcast applications.  OCC products include fiber optic and copper cabling, fiber optic and copper connectors, specialty fiber optic and copper connectors, fiber optic and copper patch cords, pre-terminated fiber optic and copper cable assemblies, racks, cabinets, datacom enclosures, patch panels, face plates, multi-media boxes and other cable and connectivity management accessories, and are designed to meet the most demanding needs of end-users, delivering a high degree of reliability and outstanding performance characteristics. 

OCC is internationally recognized for pioneering the design and production of fiber optic cables for the most demanding military field applications, as well as of fiber optic cables suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and creating a broad product offering built on the evolution of these fundamental technologies.  OCC also is internationally recognized for its role in establishing copper connectivity data communications standards, through its innovative and patented technologies.

Founded in 1983, OCC is headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia with offices, manufacturing and warehouse facilities located in each of Roanoke, Virginia, near Asheville, North Carolina and near Dallas, Texas.  OCC primarily manufactures its fiber optic cables at its Roanoke facility which is ISO 9001:2008 registered and MIL-STD-790F certified, its enterprise connectivity products at its Asheville facility which is ISO 9001:2008 registered, and its military and harsh environment connectivity products and systems at its Dallas facility which is MIL-STD-790F certified.

Optical Cable Corporation, OCC®, Superior Modular Products, SMP Data Communications, Applied Optical Systems, and associated logos are trademarks of Optical Cable Corporation.

www.occfiber.com.

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Prysmian lays out Draka takeover offer – Breaking news from Lightwave

by Stephen Hardy
November 22, 2010

NOVEMBER 22, 2010 By Stephen Hardy -- Prysmian (MSE: PRY.MI) has publicized details of its proposed public offer for the shares of fellow cable-supplier Draka (NYSE EURONEXT: DRAKA). The Italian cable giant plans to offer €8.60 in cash per Draka ordinary share as well as 0.6595 Prysmian shares for each Draka ordinary share. This implies a total value of €17.20 per ordinary share of Draka, based on Prysmian’s closing price of €13.04 on November 19.

The total transaction value would be €840 million for all of Draka’s issued and outstanding ordinary shares, with a total cash consideration of €420 million and enterprise value of €1.3 billion. Draka shareholders would end up with a 15% stake in Prysmian. However, Prysmian still has to address Draka preference shareholders, who are expected to receive a separate proposal.

The proposed transaction has the unanimous approval of both boards of directors, Draka’s supervisory board, as well as Draka’s largest shareholder, Flint. The deal is thus expected to close smoothly by the second quarter of 2011.

Prysmian will fund the deal via a combination of existing cash, committed credit lines, and the issue of new ordinary Prysmian shares.

The combined company will see approximately €100 million in annual run-rate pre-tax synergies within 3 years, Prysmian predicts. These savings will come from manufacturing optimization, greater efficiency in buying raw materials, overhead savings, and unnamed improvements in operating efficiency. Integration costs over the same three years was tabbed at a total of €170 million.

Prysmian expects the deal to be earnings accretive from 2011, excluding one-off charges.

The two companies have been discussing the merger since at least the middle of last year (see “Draka, Prysmian confirm merger talks”). Since then, there were rumors that Nexans may also have interest in Draka. While the agreement with Prysmian does allow Draka to continue to entertain offers, it could only accept an offer that was at least 15% greater than Prysmian’s. In such a circumstance, Prysmian would have the opportunity to top that bid; if it failed to do so, Draka would also have to pay Prysmian €12.5 million to get out of the current deal.

Visit Prysmian

Visit Draka

http://www.lightwaveonline.com/business/news/Prysmian-lays-out-Draka-takeover-offer-109889594.html?cmpid=EnlDirectNovember222010

Reprinted with permission from PennWell’s Lightwave Magazine and www.LightwaveOnLine.com  Watch this for more breaking news as the bidders are revealed.

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ShoreTel Acquires Enterprise Mobility Leader Agito Networks

Leading Edge Technology Enables ShoreTel to Redefine the Meaning of the "Mobile Worker," Changing the Rules in the Communications Industry

SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwire - 10/21/10) - ShoreTel® (NASDAQ:SHOR - News), the leading provider of brilliantly simple IP phone systems with fully integrated unified communications (UC), today announced it has acquired Agito Networks ("Agito"), a leader in platform-agnostic enterprise mobility, for approximately $11.4 million.

The Agito solution expands ShoreTel's vision of setting the user free to communicate on any device (desk phone, mobile phone, computer), at any location (office, home, remote) by allowing individuals to use any network (cellular or Wi-Fi), simply and cost effectively. With this acquisition, ShoreTel redefines the meaning of the "mobile worker" and changes the rules in giving mobile device users the freedom to work anywhere, even beyond the wireless network. The Agito technology puts the full power of the desk phone in the user's pocket, arming them with some of the most sophisticated voice and UC features available today, including enterprise call-control capabilities, voice over WLAN with superior voice quality, as well as presence and location. The solution provides productivity gains for the end user and the IT staff with its heterogeneous PBX and UC support for other vendors, including Cisco, Avaya and Microsoft, as well as legacy TDM PBXs.

The transaction further strengthens ShoreTel's cost-saving proposition by reducing mobile and long distance costs and allowing business to use smartphones as PBX extensions. Enterprises of all sizes are seeing a growing segment of their workforce elect smartphones as their primary communications device of choice. With the Agito solution, ShoreTel will offer native support for leading smartphones and tablets including BlackBerry, iPhone, iPad, Nokia, and Windows-Mobile smartphones, reducing integration complexities for enterprise IT -- a first in the area of enterprise mobility.

"This is a key strategic investment that creates a significant differentiator for ShoreTel in enterprise mobility," said Don Girskis, interim CEO of ShoreTel. "Dependence on smartphones continues to skyrocket, but many workers still struggle with poor coverage areas, inferior call quality, expensive international roaming fees and limited feature sets. By integrating the Agito technology with ShoreTel's brilliantly simple UC system, we free users to use any network (Wi-Fi or cellular), leveraging the power of the desk phone, and taking advantage of industry-leading call quality and call controls from their smartphone. This not only has a positive impact on productivity, but it also positively affects the bottom line with significant savings on mobile and international usage fees."

BENEFITS OF TRANSACTION

·                     Freedom of Choice: Workers are on the move and their communications need to keep up with them. Mobile devices and smartphones are quickly becoming the device of choice. Together, ShoreTel and Agito technology give businesses and their employees a powerful solution to boost productivity inside and outside of the office.

·                     Cost Savings & Productivity Gains: The Agito solution delivers value to businesses of all sizes, including significant cost savings of up to 80 percent on mobile and international usage. Desk phone and UC capabilities, such as presence and location are extended to the smartphone for productivity gains for the mobile worker.

·                     Heterogeneous PBX Support: The acquisition of Agito expands upon ShoreTel's 360 Legacy Migration Program to include mobility. By leveraging Agito's broad smartphone interoperability and demonstrated support of Avaya, Cisco, ShoreTel and other enterprise IP PBX systems, ShoreTel can provide mobility solutions ideally suited to heterogeneous environments.

·                     Secure and Seamless: Agito Networks' patent pending solution is designed to securely deliver industry-leading capabilities on any cellular network and Wi-Fi networks -- transparently to the user, with seamless handoff between networks during active calls.

·                     Brilliant Simplicity: The innovative Agito technology complements the award-winning ShoreTel Communicator Mobile dashboard, and meets ShoreTel's stringent requirements for ease of deployment by IT and ease of use by non-technical business users.

·                     Transaction Details: ShoreTel has acquired all of Agito's intellectual property, customer base, distribution network and has hired certain employees in the all-cash deal.

·                     Expanded Enterprise Customer Base: The Agito technology and distribution channel allows ShoreTel better access to Fortune 1000 customers.

CUSTOMER QUOTES

Hertford Regional College
"Hertford Regional College has more than 900 employees in multiple campus buildings over half a city block. Mobility isn't an option, for us, it's essential. Agito gives us the flexibility to select any mobile device and carrier service in one fully integrated PBX and wireless network. The result is a campus-wide mobility solution that is easy to use, offers outstanding sound quality and works at any location, even where cell service is not available. Employees are reachable on their business phone number all times from their mobile device, while we've been able to cut our costly cellular services expenses in half."

- Daniel Hidlebaugh, Network Services Manager, Hertford Regional College

Anthony Marano Company
"Here at the Anthony Marano Company, our business is done over the phone with a very mobile workforce. Agito Networks turns the wide variety of smartphones we use into mobile desk phones. From our drivers to our sales staff, everyone is reachable and responsive whether in the warehouse, in the office, or on the road."

- Christopher Nowak, CTO, Anthony Marano Company

INDUSTRY ANALYST QUOTES

Frost and Sullivan
"Agito Networks enterprise mobility applications align nicely with ShoreTel's mission to offer communications solutions with sophisticated functionality yet that are easy to implement, administer and use, resulting in lower communication costs for customers. Agito's unique location aware dual mode telephony and mobile UC applications strengthen and bring differentiation to ShoreTel's mobility portfolio, as well as expand the range of solutions ShoreTel can deliver to third-party and multi-vendor enterprise communications networks. With rapidly increasing demand for advanced enterprise mobility applications, the addition of Agito positions ShoreTel well to capture this emerging opportunity."

- Rob Arnold, Senior Industry Analyst, Unified Communications and Collaboration, Information & Communication Technologies, Frost & Sullivan

RELATED LINKS & CONVERSATION
Follow ShoreTel on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to ShoreTel's blog.

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Vancouver Rapid Transit Line wins top national engineering award

OTTAWA, Oct. 27 /CNW/ - The 2010 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards were presented last night at a gala dinner at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa. Nearly 200 guests were in attendance including parliamentarians and other dignitaries.

Held annually for 42 years, the awards are Canada's highest mark of recognition for projects by Canadian consulting engineering firms. The program is held jointly by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC)/L'Association des firmes d'ingénieurs-conseils (AFIC) and Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine.

This year a record 73 engineering projects were entered. 

Two special awards, and 10 awards of excellence, were given.

SCHREYER AWARD (for most technically innovative project):

- Canada Line Rapid Transit Project, Vancouver, B.C. 
SNC-Lavalin Inc.
Measuring over 18 kilometres, the automated rapid transit line connects downtown Vancouver with the Vancouver International Airport and the City of Richmond. The $1.9-billion project includes 16 stations, as well as water crossings, and elevated and underground sections. SNC-Lavalin Inc. designed, built and commissioned the line 110 days ahead of a 51-month schedule.

TREE FOR LIFE AWARD (for outstanding environmental stewardship):

- Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, Calgary, Alberta.
CH2M HILL
The new plant is a shining example of preserving natural resources while establishing new effluent quality standards. It processes 100 million litres a day (100 ML/d) using next-generation technologies such as Biological Nutrient Removal and Ultra-Violet disinfection. The facilities' sustainable features also include energy management, water re-use and green roofs.

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE:

Buildings:
- Manitoba Hydro Downtown Office Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba. 
AECOM Canada Ltd. and Crosier Kilgour & Partners Ltd.

- Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond, B.C.
Fast + Epp and Glotman Simpson

Transportation:
- Kingsway Pedestrian Bridge, Burnaby, B.C.
Fast + Epp

Water Resources:
- Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, Calgary, Alberta.
CH2M HILL

- Ravensview Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades, Kingston, Ont.
J. L. Richards & Associates Limited

- Tatamagouche Water Treatment Plant, N.S.
CBCL Limited, Consulting Engineers

Environmental Remediation:
- Joseph and Gaukel Streets Road Reconstruction and Environmental Remediation, Kitchener, Ont.
MTE Consultants Inc.  

Natural Resources, Industry & Energy:
- CANDU Steam Generator Replacement at Bruce A Units 1&2, Kincardine, Ont.
SNC-Lavalin Nuclear, Inc.

- Nam Theun 2 Hydro Project, Lao People's Democratic Republic
Klohn Crippen Berger (Vancouver)

International:
- Water Transfer from Taksebt Dam, Algeria
SNC-Lavalin Inc. (Montreal)

The judging panel for the above awards consisted of 11 distinguished engineers from academia, government and industry. The jury chair was Mr. Claude Benton Robert, ing. of Ottawa.

BEAUBIEN AWARD:

The Beaubien Award is given by ACEC/AFIC to individuals for exceptional service to the association and the consulting engineering industry. There were two winners this year.

Dave Chalcroft, FEC, FCAE, P.Eng.

During a 37-year career with UMA Engineering Ltd., Dave Chalcroft managed many challenging projects. He was Senior Vice-President responsible for UMA's operations in southern Alberta and for international projects in California, India, Uzbekistan, and St. Lucia, and Senior Vice-President in charge of UMA's national Earth and Water Division. Since retiring from full-time duties in 2002 with UMA Engineering Inc., Dave has operated as an independent consulting engineer overseeing a variety of projects. 

He served as President for Consulting Engineers of Alberta (1994-1995) and as Chair of ACEC (2000-2001). He played an integral role in mobilizing a fund-raising campaign for RedR Canada.

Andrew Steeves, P.Eng.

Andrew Steeves, P.Eng., has been part of the ADI Group of Companies for over 30 years, and is currently Strategic Senior Advisor with Trow ADI. Previously he held several senior positions with the firm including Vice-President Administration, Manager of the Public Works Division and Secretary-Treasurer.

Andrew is past-Chair of ACEC and a winner of the ACEC Chairman's Award for his efforts promoting Qualifications-Based Selection. He is also past-President of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - New Brunswick.

Over recent years, Andrew has been involved in FIDIC (the international association for consulting engineers) serving as Co-Chair of the 2008 FIDIC Conference in Quebec City.

BACKGROUND

The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC)/L'Association des firmes d'ingénieurs-conseils (AFIC) is a business association representing nearly 500 consulting engineering firms across Canada. Consulting engineering is a $21.8 billion a year industry that employs 100,000 Canadians. http://www.acec.ca/

Canadian Consulting Engineer is a bi-monthly magazine for engineers in private practice. It is a division of BIG Magazines LP of Toronto.

The award-winning projects are described in full in Canadian Consulting Engineer's October-November 2010 issue http://www.canadianconsultingengineer.com/

For further information:

John Gamble, P.Eng., President, ACEC, Tel. (613) 236-0569;
Bronwen Parsons, Editor, CCE, Tel. (416) 510-5119;

Maureen Levy, Senior Publisher

Canadian Consulting Engineer and

CNS magazine (Cabling Networking Systems)

12 Concorde Place, Suite 800

Toronto, ON  M3C 4J2

Tel: 416-510-5111

Fax: 416-510-5134

Email: mlevy@ccemag.com

or mlevy@cnsmagazine.com

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Carlyle Group takes CommScope private in $3B buyout

Oct 28, 2010

CommScope, Inc. (NYSE: CTV) announced yesterday it had, after a period of speculation, struck a definitive merger agreement with alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group via which Carlyle will acquire all of the outstanding shares of CommScope common stock for $31.50 per share in cash. The total transaction is valued at approximately $3.9 billion and will.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011.

Reuters reports that analysts see little likelihood of rival bids emerging for the communications cable maker. The offer by Carlyle CYL.UL -- which Reuters notes has a checkered history in telecoms deals -- of $31.50 a share in cash is a premium of 36 percent to CommScope closing price on Friday. CommScope has a "go-shop" period until December 5, during which rival bidders can submit offers.

Carlyle has a long history with CommScope and said in a press release it had known senior members of the company's management for many years. Carlyle said equity financing for the CommScope deal would come out of two of its funds -- Carlyle Partners V, a $13.7 billion U.S. buyout fund, and Carlyle Europe Partners III, a 5.4 billion euro European buyout fund.

The Carlyle Group is a global alternative asset manager with $90.9 billion of assets under management committed to 66 funds as of June 30, 2010. It invests across three asset classes – private equity, real estate and credit alternatives – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. The investments focus on aerospace and defense, automotive and transportation, consumer and retail, energy and power, financial services, healthcare, industrial, infrastructure, technology and business services, and telecommunications and media.

Some of Carlyle's previous telecommunications deals have not fared well, noted Reuters. The firm acquired debt-laden Hawaiian Telecom in 2005 for $1.6 billion from Verizon Communications. Three years later, the Hawaiian provider of local and long-distance telephone service filed for bankruptcy.

“We are proud to enter into this agreement with Carlyle and believe this transaction is in the best interest of CommScope and our stockholders,” said Frank Drendel, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, CommScope. “After careful and thorough analysis, together with our independent advisors, our board of directors unanimously approved this transaction with Carlyle, which has a strong reputation and global network, and a proven record of success in acquiring and guiding companies like CommScope.”

Eddie Edwards, CommScope’s president and chief operating officer, said, “As a private company, we believe CommScope will have greater flexibility to focus on our long-term strategic direction as a global leader in infrastructure solutions for communications networks. Carlyle understands our industry and our business well, and will be a tremendous asset as we build upon our leadership position and continue to implement our strategic plan to deliver enhanced value to our customers around the world.”

Drendel, Edwards, and other members of CommScope’s executive management team are expected to stay in leadership positions after the transaction closes.

Bud Watts, managing director and head of Carlyle’s Technology Group, said, “We’ve known Frank, Eddie, and other senior leaders at CommScope for many years. We have the greatest respect for them, CommScope’s many talented employees, and the business they have built together. CommScope has a clear strategy, a culture of operational excellence and strong commitments to its employees, customers and partners around the world. We look forward to working with the ‘One CommScope’ team as it pursues the next phase of the company’s growth.”

CommScope expects to hold a Special Meeting of Stockholders to consider and vote on the proposed merger and merger agreement as soon as practicable after the mailing of the proxy statement to its stockholders.

The transaction is subject to the approval of CommScope’s stockholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The transaction has fully committed financing and is not subject to any condition with regard to the financing. Equity financing will be provided by Carlyle Partners V, a $13.7 billion U.S. buyout fund, and Carlyle Europe Partners III, a €5.4 billion European buyout fund; debt financing will be provided by J.P. Morgan.

Web:  www.commscope.com/;  www.carlyle.com/

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Cabling Installation & Maintenance Webcast - Cabling Infrastructure for Emerging Applications

Data centers comprise a vortex of network activity that brings together high-speed transmission, densely packed nodes and the constant need for increased computing efficiency. The cabling infrastructure in such an environment must be well-planned and well-managed to support such high-demand, dynamic environments.

Presentation 1: Cabling today for tomorrow’s high speeds

Presented by: Valerie Maguire, Siemon

The major transmission-speed upgrade taking place in many networks today is from 1 to 10 Gbits/sec. But as network owners plan for and carry out these upgrades, the next step on the ladder—40- and 100-Gbit/sec speeds—are already in sight. This presentation tells network managers what they can do now, as they prepare for their 1-to-10 Gbit upgrades, to ensure they are also well equipped for their down-the-road upgrades beyond 10 Gbits/sec.

Presentation 2: Intelligent management for all-scale cabling systems

Presented by: Ben Carmi, RiT Technologies

Whether the need is to administer a large-scale cabling infrastructure for thousands of users, to ensure pinpoint accuracy of a cable-management system for mission-critical connections, or a combination of both, the latest intelligent management systems provide tools for the job. This presentation takes a practical look at the most advanced infrastructure-management systems available and the environments in which they provide the most value.

Presentation 3: What virtualization means for cabling

Presented by: Frank Yang, CommScope

Virtualized networks in enterprise environments and data centers are heralded as models of computing efficiency by requiring fewer servers than traditional LANs. What effect will this consolidation of equipment through virtualization have on a network’s structured cabling system? This presentation explains the fundamentals of virtualization, its benefits for network managers and its impact on the network’s cabling infrastructure.

This webcast seminar, produced by Cabling Installation & Maintenance, will discuss some of the cutting-edge network technologies being deployed today and how cabling systems can be structured to meet these technologies’ demands.

http://www.cablinginstall.com/index/webcasts/webcast-display/8546570384/webcasts/cabling-installation-maintenance/live-events/cabling-infrastructure.html

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Cabling Installation & Maintenance Webcast - Fiber-Optic Cabling and Networking Technologies

With total costs coming down and transmission capabilities continuing to rise, fiber-optic cabling systems are accomplishing more objectives for more users than ever. This webcast seminar focuses on the capabilities of fiber-optic cabling and networking systems. It also examines some of the practical realities that cabling professionals face when designing, installing or managing fiber-optic cabling systems.

Presentation 1: What media conversion can do for you

Presenter: Steve Frank, EtherWAN

In some environments the application of media-conversion technology is bound only by the imagination of the user. From network cameras to high-speed protocol conversions and customer-demarcation extension, media converters have become like a Swiss Army knife for networking applications. This presentation will explain how media conversion can be a solution for many networking challenges.

Presentation 2: The growing importance of fiber polarity

Presenter: Michael Hughes, USConec

With the use of preterminated fiber assemblies and cassettes growing, the issue of fiber polarity has entered the spotlight. This presentation fundamentally explains what fiber polarity is, the types of fiber systems in which it becomes an issue, and the options available to maintain polarity.

Presentation 3: Testing fiber-optic systems

Presenter: Varis Hicks, EXFO

This presentation discusses the best practices for ensuring your fiber-optic infrastructure can adequately support the many applications for which it is being deployed today, including 1- and/or 10-Gbit/sec Ethernet. The presentation looks at the tools and methods available to test fiber-optic circuits, referencing appropriate standards.

http://www.cablinginstall.com/index/webcasts/webcast-display/5166394387/webcasts/cabling-installation-maintenance/live-events/fiber-optic-cabling.html

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Copper prices, FEP supply could drive up cable costs

By Patrick McLaughlin – Cabling Installation & Maintenance Magazine (A PennWell Publication) www.cablinginstall.com

The steady rise in copper prices over the past 24 months, coupled with recent changes in the FEP supply available to cable manufacturers, could soon drive up the price of UTP cable as well as other twisted-pair cable constructions.

A steadily upward price trend for copper has occurred since the bottom fell out of the worldwide economy two years ago.

A more recent turn of events affecting the supply of fluorinated ethylene propylene - FEP - is likely to have a greater impact on the cost to cable manufacturers of producing twisted-pair cable and quite possibly the cost to consumers that buy it. Dyneon, one of three suppliers of FEP to cable manufacturers, announced it is exiting the FEP business early next year. That will leave Daikin and Dupont as the two FEP suppliers to the cable industry.

Overall, fluorine-based products including FEP have risen in price throughout 2010. All three FEP suppliers have already increased the prices they charge cable manufacturers for the material and have suggested that another price increase is looming. They also have limited or allocated the supply of FEP to cable manufacturers, although no cable manufacturer has stated that they either currently have or foresee a shortage that would delay their production of cable.

Still, signs point to the potential for a price increase.

Why China’s to blame for FEP-supply situation

For several years China's ravenous consumption rate of just about everything has made an impact on supply-and-demand levels of, well, just about everything. In the past we have reported about the price of copper being affected by China's consumption of the metal for its infrastructure builds.

Immediately above, we report on the double-whammy that we expect will increase the price of twisted-pair copper cable soon. In addition to the steadily rising price of copper over the past couple years as well as recent news of its expected further price jump, the supply of FEP has become an issue within the cable manufacturing industry. FEP is commonly called Teflon, the way facial tissues are commonly called Kleenex and the things we stick too far into our ears are commonly called Q-Tips. Teflon is Dupont's trade name for FEP, but cable manufacturers get FEP from two other suppliers as well - Daikin and Dyneon. At least, for now. Dyneon is exiting the FEP market early next year.

One of the three FEP suppliers packing up its gear to leave the market comes at a time when the production of a key raw material used to make FEP has fallen off. Fluorspar production is reported to have contracted 16 percent last year.

(This is the part where I start to blame China.)

A report from the United States Geological Survey indicates that China dwarfed all other countries in its mine production of fluorspar in 2008 and 2009. The report says that in June 2009 "the United States had requested World Trade Organization dispute settlement consultations with China regarding China's export constraints on numerous important raw materials. The dispute concerned China's policy that provides substantial competitive advantages for the Chinese industries using these raw materials inputs, including fluorspar."

For comparison's sake, China produced 3.25 million metric tons of fluorspar in 2008 and 3 million in 2009. United States production for those years, combined, totaled a big fat zero. The report also indicates that China has 21 million metric tons of fluorspar in reserve. The U.S.'s reserve is equal to its 2008 and 2009 output. What was that number again? Oh, right. Zero.

That may change, however, as in mid-August WKMS in Kentucky reported on the opening of what it says is the first fluorspar mine to go online in the U.S. in 20 years. In the story Michael Miller of the USGS, who authored the aforementioned report, explained that China exported approximately 200,000 of the 3 million tons it produced last year. He told WKMS, "It basically boils down to they're not exporting it because they're consuming most of it domestically in China."

China consumes like a teenager with an overactive pituitary gland. Don't those teenagers usually enter some kind of rebellion period that can wreak havoc on a household?

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

PennWell Corporation Market Sectors Served: Oil and natural gas, Electric power generation,  Electric power delivery, Hydropower, Renewable energy, Water and wastewater treatment, Waste management, Electronics and semiconductors, Optoelectronics and photonics, Imaging and machine vision, Fiber optics and communications, Aerospace and defense, Cabling installation and maintenance, LEDs and lighting, Firefighting and emergency services, and Dental.

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INTELLIGENT BUILDING CONCEPT HITS CLOSE TO HOME

A vendor in the cabling industry walks the walk by building intelligence into its new headquarters facility. But what about the rest of the market?

By Patrick McLaughlin is chief editor of Cabling Installation & Maintenance.

The concept of intelligent buildings can be likened to that of convergence. As one industry veteran has stated often, we have been six months away from convergence for the past 15 years. Similarly, the idea of intelligent or connected buildings, in which building systems are able to communicate with each other through a common platform and consequently run highly efficiently, has made logical sense for a long time. Yet it has rarely been implemented.

Earlier this year, however, a provider of cabling products and systems and a proponent of intelligent buildings held itself up as an example of what can be achieved with intelligent buildings. Panduit (www.panduit.com) opened its new 280,000-square-foot corporate headquarters in Tinley Park, IL as a showcase for its products and technologies and those systems’ benefits. As a result, the new corporate headquarters is a LEED-certified building from which the company says it is already reaping benefits.

Built-in intelligence

Cisco Systems (www.cisco.com) equipment, including local area network (LAN) systems as well as the Cisco Connected Real Estate framework and several other systems, are built into Panduit’s headquarters. Cisco used the installation as one of its customer case studies. In explaining the rationale behind going “intelligent” as well as “green” with its new building, Panduit’s vice president of global strategic marketing said, “One of our motivations for constructing a sustainable headquarters building was to minimize our power and cooling costs. More importantly, we wanted to do the right thing for the environment and society.”

Cisco explained that by Panduit integrating all its systems on the same network, the company not only eliminates redundant network and operational costs, but also enables automated business processes that reduce costs, accelerate event awareness and reduce energy consumption. Darryl Benson, global solution manager for connected buildings with Panduit, explained how the Connected Real Estate framework works, and what it accomplishes. “Every piece of information we can extract from the building is available on the Cisco network,” he said, “including air temperature, air quality, humidity, energy consumption, light output and lighting needs. By enabling real-time monitoring of our electrical consumption, the Cisco Connected Real Estate framework contributed to energy costs per square foot that are $0.63 lower than the average non-connected building, saving $176,000 annually and more than $880,000 over five years.”

According to the two companies, Panduit displays the 200 most important metrics from building systems on a Web-based dashboard, which facilities personnel consult to monitor progress and spot anomalies. To automate notification about out-of-normal conditions that might waste energy, Panduit is integrating certain sensors with the Cisco IP Interoperability and Collaboration System. When a sensor transmits an alarm, Cisco IPICS automatically notifies appropriate personnel by sending a prerecorded voice message to their phones.

The type of all-encompassing communication and notification now in place at Panduit’s new headquarters facility is the hallmark of intelligent buildings, touted by many and realized by few. Why have so few building owners built intelligence into new facilities, and is the uptake of intelligent buildings likely to change anytime soon?

Looking at the market

A peek into the market for intelligent buildings might be accomplished by reading the results of a market research report, completed last year, by BSRIA Proplan (www.bsria.co.uk). The report examines the world market for building controls and includes coverage of what it describes as intelligent building controls – environmental, which it refers to as IBC(e). Overall the report indicates that, like the majority of markets worldwide, the economic crisis has hampered growth in the building controls market in many countries. From 2006 to 2008, the consolidated world market had witnessed healthy growth rates of more than 7 percent. BSRIA Proplan anticipated negative growth last year and this.

Even so, the total global IBC(e) business reached a level of $18 billion in 2008 and, as BSRIA Proplan explained when announcing the report’s availability, “The IBC(e) service and maintenance market remained buoyant through this turbulent time with expected growth of 1.4 percent during 2009-2010.”

The report specifically points to Saudi Arabia as a bright spot. In that country, the government plays an important role in the national economy and continues to encourage private sector investment, such as in the electricity generation and transmission network, BSRIA Proplan explained. Consequently, the Saudi Arabian economy was expected to continue its steady growth, “which has had a knock-on effect on the building controls market,” the researcher said. It continued, “Between 2006 and 2008 the market grow by over 30 percent, with further investment and building projects in the pipeline. BSRIA’s report expects the market to grow by just over 6 percent in 2009-2010. The product and service markets are expected to experience the largest growth over the period of 2009-2010, with 6.8 percent and 8.3 percent respectively. Drivers behind this healthy growth include growth in new construction, including various new projects already in the pipeline and significant spending on education and universities.”

Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia and perhaps other Middle East nations are where the market is growing, the BSRIA Proplan study points out that the United States remains the largest single market for IBC(e) products. It said, “Total manufacturer’s turnover reached just over $14 billion worldwide in 2008; America accounted for the largest share with 39 percent of the global market, closely followed by Europe, which enjoyed 37 percent of the total manufacturer’s turnover.”

The United States is also the world’s market-share leader in installed systems, accounting for 40 percent while Europe accounted for 37 percent. Asia and the Middle East collectively accounted for 23 percent of installed systems in 2008.

European energy legislation is making a significant impact on this market, according to the study. In particular, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive—in place in the United Kingdom, Germany and France—is making its presence known. “The new energy legislation is an important driver behind the growth of these markets, as it demands that buildings must be energy-saving and energy-efficient,” BSRIA noted. “In the U.K., the EPBD has resulted in the revision of Part L of the building regulations and is expected to fuel the demand for controls; for example, zone control is required in order to pass the carbon emission target in new buildings.”

Controllers account for the largest share of the building controls product market, with sales of approximately $2.8 billion in 2008. Not surprisingly, Europe dominates the market with close to half the global share.

Commenting on the types of users deploying these systems, BSRIA noted, “Installation of IBC(e) products and systems vary from region to region. Offices and industrial buildings are dominant in Europe and collectively hold 43 percent of the European market. A different scenario is evident in the Americas where recent demand has been driven strongly by education and other public buildings. The Middle East market has been driven by demand for IBC(e) products in offices and commercial and retail buildings, while in Asia offices and industrial buildings have been the main segments for installation.”

Research and advocacy

In North America, a group that has taken the lead in promoting and researching intelligent building systems is the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA; www.caba.org). For years the group has researched and advocated the intelligent building marketplace. Among CABA’s most recent initiatives is the North American Intelligent Buildings Roadmap research project, which is being carried out by CABA’s Intelligent and Integrated Buildings Council and new Research Program.

The project will be designed to provide a current snapshot of the intelligent building industry in North America by highlighting industry trends and metrics, and evaluating the prospects and challenges that face numerous industry stakeholders. According to CABA, the project will also execute a review of the evolving trends in building technology convergence with a particular emphasis on smart-grid infrastructure. Areas of interest will include energy efficiency, renewable energy technology, information-technology convergence and the integration of buildings with the smart grid.

Research organization Frost & Sullivan (www.frost.com) will conduct the project on CABA’s behalf. The project will investigate the current and future direction of the intelligent building market in North America—the region holding the greatest share of products and systems according to BSRIA Proplan’s recent research. CABA’s project will uncover the opportunities the market represents for participants within the value chain. It will also seek to understand the influence of current and emerging intelligent building technology solutions, with an analysis that considers commercialization, market preferences and product acceptance.

The old joke about perpetually being six months away from convergence may go by the wayside. Many of today’s structured cabling systems do indeed support converged applications, including Voice over Internet Protocol (IP) and IP-based security systems as well as the Ethernet protocol used in the LAN. In many ways convergence is no longer the “next” big thing but rather the “current” big thing. Intelligent buildings remain the “next” big thing, and how soon they will emerge in greater numbers remains to be seen.

Patrick McLaughlin is chief editor of Cabling Installation & Maintenance.

Reprinted with permission from Cabling Installation & Maintenance Magazine www.cablinginstall.com

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Accu-Tech hosts LEED Seminar Series courses

On Nov. 3rd in Baltimore and Nov. 4th in Tyson's Corner, VA -
 
Accu-Tech held the first of our LEED Seminar Series courses. The four hour course consisted of Passive Cooling and Energy Efficiency, Building the Eco-Efficient Data Center, Optical Cabling Enabling the Green Data Center and A New Breed of Halogen-Free Category Cable.  The seminar was well received by all who attended. In attendance were industry professionals which hold various credentials such as the RCDD, LEED AP and P.E. designation.  In addition to the unique educational opportunity the seminar provides, the course also worth (4) Continuing Education Credits for a number of professional industry designations including the LEED AP and BICSI RCDD. As of 11/4/10, the course was approved by the American Institute of Architects to receive (4) SD (Sustainable Design) Learning Units for their AIA professional designation.

At the end of the seminar Mike Long (Accu-Tech Federal and LEED Green Associate), who coordinates the LEED Seminar Series for Accu-Tech, was told by a number of Professional Engineers that the seminar would also help them obtain (4) Continuing Education Units towards their P.E. designation. One engineer in attendance told Mike "This course was great. I came for the knowledge but since I found out that your course is approved by the USGBC, BICSI and the AIA and listed on their websites, I can self report these four hours towards my P.E. credential." He also added that in 2010 the Commonwealth of Virginia made it mandatory for all P.E.'s to obtain 10 CEC's per year. "To get (4) of them for free is unbelievable."
 
To all Professional Engineers out there... check out what your state requirements are for your P.E. CEC's.Accu-Tech can help! www.accu-tech.com

To request the LEED Seminar Series in your area, contact us today.

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BIG CHANGES to CABA Board of Directors

Best Buy Joins CABA Board of Directors

September 23, 2010

CABA is pleased to announce that electronics retailer Best Buy Co., Inc. has joined the CABA Board of Directors.

Kris Bowring, senior director, platform lead, new business customer solutions group, will represent Best Buy. Bowring leads the home and energy management platform for Best Buy, which facilitates concepts and experiments in both retail and alternative channels for include energy management devices and controls, home energy audits and surveys, online energy efficiency programs, and alternative and renewable energy solutions and services. He also oversees the company’s external partnerships to accelerate time to market of new growth opportunities and challenge current business model conventions. Additionally, Bowring has been active in several research projects, including the CABA Connected Home Roadmap and Energy as a Managed Service.

By joining CABA's Board, Best Buy has joined an elite group of industry leaders that promote advanced technologies for the automation of homes and buildings in North America and throughout the world. CABA's members include manufacturers, dealers, installers, telecommunication companies, energy utilities, builders, consultants, research organizations, publishers, educational institutions, governments and associations.

"I sincerely welcome Best Buy to the CABA Board of Directors," said Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA President & CEO. "The appointment of Kris Bowring will enhance the Board's expertise and experience and brings valuable knowledge concerning the retail channel and technical side of the home automation business."

# # #

Stephane Kirkland from Direct Energy Business Appointed to CABA Board

September 21, 2010

Direct Energy Business and the Continental Automated Buildings Association are pleased to announce the appointment of Stephane Kirkland from Direct Energy Business to the CABA Board of Directors. CABA is a global nonprofit industry association that provides information, education and networking to help promote advanced technologies for the automation of homes and buildings.

Currently, Stephane Kirkland is Vice President, Small Business, Solutions and Strategy for Direct Energy Business. He is responsible for Direct Energy small business customers across the U.S. and Canada and for Direct Energy Business Solutions, which includes energy management and Demand Response offerings. He is also responsible for the Direct Energy Business strategy and for acquisitions.

"Stephane Kirkland and Direct Energy have a unique understanding of the utilities sector due to the company's high standards in meeting growing business customer demand in an efficient manner," stated Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA President & CEO. "We are extremely pleased to welcome Stephane Kirkland to the Board. His expertise will assist the Continental Automated Buildings Association immensely."

Prior to coming to North America, Kirkland was employed by Direct Energy’s parent company, Centrica PLC as Head of European Business Development, based in Paris, France. He was also a non-executive member of the board of SPE, Centrica's Belgian JV. Previous to that, he held roles in corporate strategy and business development at Centrica headquarters in Windsor, UK. Before joining Centrica, Kirkland was a strategy consultant at Marakon Associates. He started his career as an architect, founding and managing his own architecture firm near Toulouse, France. Kirkland has degrees in architecture and art history from the University of Paris as well as an MBA from the Stern School of Business, New York University.

"I am pleased to offer my services to the CABA Board of Directors and to the industry-at-large," said Kirkland. "My experience in both architecture and management will assist the organization in its continuing promotion of automation and system integration in homes and large buildings." As part of its ongoing commitment to CABA, Direct Energy will participate in the new CABA Research Program.

# # #

Jon Summers from Ingersoll Rand Joins CABA Board

October 28, 2010

The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) is pleased to welcome Jon Summers from Ingersoll Rand to its board of directors. CABA is a trade association that promotes advanced technologies for integrated systems and the automation of homes and buildings.

Jon Summers is the global portfolio manager for systems controls for the Trane business of Ingersoll Rand where he is responsible for new product development, product management and commercialization of system-level solutions for commercial buildings, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) control, energy management, building system integration and smart interfaces. His team is focused on providing strategic solutions to balance customer requirements for productivity, comfort and business value.

"Jon Summers will bring extensive experience and a history of strong leadership to CABA's board of directors," commented Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA president and chief executive officer. "His experience and knowledge make him an important addition to our team. I am pleased to welcome Jon to the board and look forward to working with him."

Summers has nearly 20 years experience in product and program management, new product development and market fulfillment in the HVAC controls and process automation industries. He is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accredited professional. Prior to joining Ingersoll Rand, Summers worked for Rockwell Automation and Daikin/McQuay, providing strategic market direction and managing multiple product portfolios both domestically and internationally.

"By joining CABA's board, I will work to assure that a strong voice is raised on issues concerning the ability of large buildings to provide more productive environments through automation," said Summers. As part of its commitment to CABA, Ingersoll Rand will participate in the new CABA Research Program.

# # #

About CABA
The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) is a leading industry association that promotes advanced technologies in homes and buildings in North America. More information is available at http://www.caba.org/

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BOMA Helps Defeat Amendment 4 in Florida

(WASHINGTON – November 3, 2010) Members of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International and other real estate and business interests achieved a significant victory on Tuesday with the defeat of Amendment 4 in Florida. If passed, the amendment would have required the state’s voters to approve all local comprehensive land use plan changes, rather than having those changes approved or rejected by city and county commissions. The amendment needed 60 percent of the vote for approval; however, 67 percent of voters rejected the measure. The outcome of the vote is expected to set a national precedent for other states.

“The defeat of Amendment 4 yesterday by Florida voters is an important milestone for commercial real estate, businesses and communities around the country,” commented BOMA International Chair Ray H. Mackey, Jr., RPA, CPM, CCIM, partner and chief operating officer, Stream Realty Partners, L.P. “Voters clearly recognized that if passed, the amendment would have increased taxes and derailed growth in an already fragile economy.”

BOMA International and BOMA Florida leveraged Industry Defense Funds to join other real estate organizations in Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, a coalition of more than 200 organizations that oppose the initiative, to protect commercial real estate’s interests. Other members of the coalition include NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, the American Resort Development Association, NAIOP of Florida, the Florida Apartment Association and other business groups.

Spearheading the campaign to get Amendment 4 approved was a group of environmental lawyers who founded Florida Hometown Democracy, a special interest group. More than half of its funding comes from Floridians for a Sustainable Populations, a population control group.

Had the amendment passed, it is estimated that the average voter would be expected to decide about 200 to 300 intricate land-use planning amendments each year. Local governments would be forced to use taxpayer dollars to fund additional elections or would have to wait until the next election to list out all of the changes proposed to a comprehensive land use plan. A recent study published by the Washington Economics Group showed that Amendment 4 would cost Florida 260,000 jobs and reduce its economic output by more than $34 billion per year.  

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About BOMA International:
Founded in 1907, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is an international federation of more than 100 local associations and affiliated organizations. The 16,500-plus members of BOMA International own or manage more than nine billion square feet of commercial properties in North America and abroad. BOMA’s mission is to enhance the human, intellectual and physical assets of the commercial real estate industry through advocacy, education, research, standards and information. On the Web at www.boma.org.

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Industry Leaders Examine the Future of Commercial Real Estate

The BOMA Foundation and the Georgetown University Present 2020: A Vision for Commercial Real Estate

(WASHINGTON—Oct. 27, 2010) The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Foundation will present its first Thought Leaders Symposium, 2020: A Vision for Commercial Real Estate, on November 9 in conjunction with the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies and its Masters of Professional Studies in Real Estate Program. The symposium will bring together some of the best and brightest minds in commercial real estate in a forum with the academic community and graduate students in the real estate program to explore the future of commercial real estate in 2020. Leaders in the commercial real estate industry will examine environmental and energy issues as well as real estate finance in this thought-provoking program.

“This symposium is a unique collaboration between the leading commercial real estate trade association and a prominent educational institution, bringing together academic theory and real world practitioner insight to examine the future of our industry,” commented BOMA Foundation Chair Marilyn Wilbarger, director of property management, City of Key West, Fla. “We are very excited to bring such a dynamic program to our members and the students of Georgetown University.”

“This symposium will provide attendees with a long-term perspective on the trends and influences that will shape the next ten years in commercial real estate,” remarked Chuck Schilke, associate dean of Georgetown University’s Master’s Program in Real Estate. “The program’s mix of real estate practitioners, economists, government officials and Georgetown faculty will give our students and industry professionals an outlook rich with information and takeaways.”

The program, held Tuesday, November 9 in Washington, D.C., will commence with a reception from 6-7 p.m. at the South Gallery/Terrace of the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center followed by the Symposium, from 7-9 p.m. in the Hariri Building’s Lohrfink Auditorium. The program is free but registration is required.

For more details about the program and to register, visit www.boma.org/Events/2020symposium.

***

About the BOMA International Foundation

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Foundation is an independent, tax-exempt organization (501(c) 3) whose mission is to serve the commercial real estate industry by fostering a future vision, forward thinking research, innovative thought, and global best practices.  The Foundation is dedicated to sponsoring and encouraging innovative research and educational activities that advance the commercial real estate industry and profession.  In addition, the Foundation initiates programs that seek to enhance the public appreciation of real estate and its significance in society.  The Foundation is affiliated with the Building Owners and Managers Association International, the nation's oldest and largest commercial real estate organization.

About the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies

The Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies offers master’s programs, professional certificates, and a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree in Liberal Studies. These programs offer an applied learning experience enabling professional and personal advancement. Improve yourself and positively impact the world, all while creating a network of valuable relationships. For more information, please visit scs.georgetown.edu, Twitter, and Facebook.

About the Georgetown University Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate

The Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate degree program at Georgetown is a fully-accredited comprehensive graduate real estate program in Washington, D.C., which teaches practical real estate skills at the highest academic level in a supportive social environment. All courses are taught by top real estate professionals from major real estate organizations who know their fields in depth, are strong communicators, and genuinely care about students. In classes averaging 20 students, students take five foundational real estate courses in ethics, law, finance, markets, and accounting, four upper level track courses in a choice of tracks in Real Estate Development, Real Estate Finance, Construction Management, and International Real Estate, followed by one capstone senior thesis course. The program emphasizes private sector real estate while also taking full advantage of the Washington location to emphasize public sector real estate, environmental and energy aspects, and corporate real estate.

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CABA News Brief

Home Systems

§                     Retailers offering pre-Black Friday TV discounts
The coming onslaught of state-of-the-art TV sets is prompting several top consumer-electronics retailers to offer significant pre-Black Friday deals on older models. Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Amazon.com already are cutting prices on older flat screens, and hhgregg is expected to begin discounting when Black Friday comes. The Wall Street Journal (11/10)

§                     Apple, Android drive double-digit handset growth
Global cell phone shipments rose by double-figure percentages year-on-year for the third consecutive quarter, powered mostly by demand for Apple's iPhone and Android-based devices, according to a Gartner report. The 35% growth failed to lift Nokia and other mainstream phone makers, who have been losing share to smaller, no-brand Chinese equipment makers. The Wall Street Journal (11/10)

§                     Study: 22% of CE retail associates are unfamiliar with connected TVs
Despite the belief that 40% of consumers are very interested in Web surfing on their TV, 22% of consumer-electronics retail sales associates say they are not familiar or only somewhat familiar with connected TV sets, according to a study from Creative Channel Services. The study added 53% of the sales associates do not believe consumers will dump their cable or satellite TV services in favor of a connected TV for at least another five years. CE Pro (11/9)

§                     Motorola outlines the home of the future: Video from everywhere
Motorola Inc. sees a future where there are more mobile devices, more screens to watch and more opportunities than in the past to help consumers navigate a roiling sea of content. The Wall Street Journal/Venture Capital Dispatch blog (11/3)

§                     Nielsen: High-def TVs are now in more than half of U.S. homes
The Nielsen Co. reports high-definition TVs are in 56% of U.S. homes. The report goes on to say that only 13% of cable TV viewing and 19% of broadcast viewing is in high-definition, which requires not only an HDTV but an HD tuner and HD channel. MediaPost Communications/Media Daily News (11/8)

§                     Tactile motion actuators provide a moving experience
Companies such as Crowson Technologies have carved out a niche for themselves with their tactile motion actuators, a device that connects audio amplifiers to furniture and provides deep, pulsing bass. With an actuator, "your chair is transformed into an active home theater component that delivers sound energy, motion and vibration directly to your body," according to this report. HomeEntertainmentOnline.com (11/8)

§                     Oakley enters the market for 3-D TV eyewear
Following in the footsteps of Gucci and Calvin Klein, Oakley unveiled its first set of 3-D glasses. The Oakley Gascan glasses, which are priced at $120, also are the industry's first "optically correct" 3-D glasses, according to CEO Colin Baden, who added the company will optimize the visual experience at most 3-D theaters around the world. The Wall Street Journal/Digits blog (11/8)

§                     Netgear adds TV to its wireless portfolio
Netgear unveiled a 3-D HD Wireless Home Theater Networking Kit, which, via an Ethernet connection, will be able to wirelessly stream online content throughout the house and over long distances. Patrick Lo, Netgear's chairman and CEO, said that adding wireless products for the TV to his company's portfolio will help double annual revenue to $2 billion. SlashGear (11/8)

§                     Report: Bidders are interested in Philips' Pronto unit
Philips, which announced it would shutter its Pronto universal remote control and home automation solution, apparently is still on the lookout for a buyer. Philips reportedly received positive feedback from a variety of interested bidders and "may now be engaging with potential acquirers" of the company, sources report. CE Pro (11/5)

§                     How free-to-play will affect the traditional gaming market
The rising sophistication of free-to-play online games will, during the next few years, pose a serious threat to the market dominance of gaming consoles such as Xbox and PlayStation, according to Ben Cousens of Electronic Arts' Easy division. "Anyone who thinks in terms of walled gardens is in trouble," he said. GameSpot (11/5)

§                     Kinect problems are related to light levels
Consumer Reports has found that any problems the Xbox console's Kinect gesture-controlled add-on has had in recognizing players is related to low or insufficient lighting conditions during play. The problem is not related, as has been suggested, to skin color, Consumer Reports said. GameDaily BIZ/IndustryGamers (11/5)

§                     Powermat unveils upgrades
Powermat, the company that makes portable charging mats for consumer-electronics devices, announced a number of upgrades, including a form-fitting design for the smartphone receiver backplate. The redesign effectively enables users to lay down devices on the mat for immediate charging. Marketnews Magazine (11/5)

§                     Chinese firm to debut first E Ink color screen e-reader
Beijing-based Hanvon Technology plans to unveil the first color e-reader that uses technology from E Ink, the product that provides black-and-white screens for 90% of the e-readers on the market. Apple's iPad and a new version of Barnes & Noble's Nook both feature color screens using LCD, which drains battery power faster than E Ink and is more difficult to read in direct sunlight. The New York Times (11/7)

§                     HAI Intercom on OmniTouch 5.7e touchscreens now available
Home Automation, Inc. (HAI), a leading manufacturer of integrated security and home automation products since 1985, announced that Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP ) intercom has been added to OmniTouch 5.7e touchscreens. Home Toys (11/9)

§                     Sony adds Hulu premium service to a host of CE devices
Hulu Plus, the premium version of the online video portal, is now available on several Sony devices, including 2010 Bravia HDTVs and Bravia Internet Video Link. Starting next week, the service will be available to PlayStationNetwork members and will soon come installed on Sony Blu-ray systems. TWICE (11/4)

§                     Western Digital eyes at-home digital market
Western Digital will target "digital home" products to boost its hard-drive sales, its chief financial officer said. The lineup includes the WD TV Live Hub media player and a photo-storage device that allows remote access for smartphone users. The shift comes as the market for hard drives faces increasing competition from new technologies such as flash storage. Reuters (11/4)

§                     WiGig, VESA partner for wireless display upgrade
The Wireless Gigabit Alliance is teaming with the Video Electronics Standards Association to update wireless display standards and create a certification program. The technology would give users new tools to connect a range of devices to HD monitors, TVs and projectors wirelessly but at the same quality as a wire-based connection, the groups say. InformationWeek (11/4)

§                     Gamers stand out as lead e-commerce influencers
Online gamers are 20% more likely to also be online shoppers than non-gamers, according to a new report from Interpret. Even more significantly, half of all gamers are more likely to influence their friends and family with opinions on products. "Given the growth and popularity of an ever-widening range of gaming experiences, there is an opportunity for transaction-based businesses to tap the gamer ethos by gamifying shopping experiences," said CEO Michael Dowling. GameDaily BIZ/IndustryGamers (11/3)

§                     Blockbuster delivers VOD to more CE gadgets
Blockbuster will begin offering its video-on-demand service in nearly 100 consumer-electronics devices, the company said, noting its recent partnerships with Magnavox, Integra, Sylvania and Western Digital. Blockbuster On Demand allows subscribers to choose from hundreds of movies for download. Home Media Magazine (11/3)

§                     Smart energy homes of tomorrow coming to Texas today
Texas homeowners will find out what the home of the future looks like before the future gets here. Reliant Energy's Smart Energy Home Makeover Sweepstakes will transform two Texas homes of today into the smart energy homes of tomorrow. Sweepstakes winners will each receive a $10,000 package of technology and services to give them the power to manage how and when they use electricity. MarketWatch (11/8)

§                     Rival firms ready 3-D smartphones
Two Japanese phone carriers are racing to launch a new 3-D smartphone that will not require special glasses to view programming. Softbank and NTT DoCoMo will use phones developed by Sharp that rely on a special liquid display screen to display 3-D imagery. Softbank is scheduled to launch its version this week, with NTT DoCoMo to follow in the coming months. Asahi Shimbun (Japan) (11/4)

§                     Samsung sets the bar at 1 million tablets this year
Samsung Electronics predicted it will sell 1 million tablets worldwide this year and announced it has given exclusive distribution rights to the devices in South Korea to SK Telecom. Samsung also secured certification for its Galaxy X smartphone as a Wi-Fi Direct product, making the device the first to earn permission to use the technology, which supports peer-to-peer wireless connections without the need of an access point or hot spot. The Wall Street Journal (11/4)

§                     Microsoft expects Kinect to connect with consumers
Microsoft has increased its quarterly sales forecast for the Kinect Xbox controller by more than 65%. The company said it now expects to sell 5 million Kinect devices, which are designed to enable players to control games using their own sound and motion. Electronista (11/4)

§                     Xfinity offering $99 security and home automation
Xfinity, formerly Comcast, has entered the Houston market with $99 deals on home security and automation, and monthly service plans that cost almost $20 less than ADT Pulse. CE Pro (11/5)

§                     Internet TV challenges cable for viewers
American TV subscribers are ditching their cable companies at an ever faster rate in the past few months, and many of them aren't signing up with a satellite or phone competitor instead. CBC (11/5)

§                     The aging population is the latest hot market
Baby boomers are hitting old age—and they are terrified of nursing homes. If only there was some way to keep the elderly in their homes and healthy. Inc. Magazine (11/1)

§                     Get to know smart thermostats
Remember when a “smart” thermostat was one that you programmed for each day of the week? If you’re like most Americans, you never got around to setting those daily start-and-stop temperatures. Fortunately, thermostats are smarter today, imparting useful information to homeowners, reacting automatically to cues from the utility, and enabling the remote monitoring and management of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for the utmost in energy savings and comfort. Electronic House (11/4)

§                     Video: The case against broadband reclassification
Part of the ‘Connected States of America’ documentary series, TelecomTV's Guy Daniels interviews Grant Seiffert, President of the Telecommunication Industry Association, to discover why it is so opposed to further regulation and the plan to reclassify broadband services. Telecom TV (10/21)

§                     Researchers at Basque university working on "aware home"
A team of researchers at the Public University of Navarre (UPNA) has presented research proposing the incorporation of domotic technology wireless devices into facilities and services inside buildings and dwellings. The aim of this work takes yet another step towards the “digital home”, which now enables enhancements in homes in terms of illumination, energy management and remote control security systems in order to achieve what has become known as the “aware home”. Basqueresearch.com (11/10)

§                     Rogers to add home security to its services
Rogers Communications is looking to break into the home security services market as soon as next year, and will "bundle" such serviced with its TV, internet, and phone services. Rogers says that bundles entice customers to use more services with one company because of higher value, since prices can be slashed for customers subscribing to many of a customers' services. TechVibes (11/4)

§                     Lutron begins energy-saving awareness campaign
Lutron Electronics wants homeowners and business owners alike to better understand the energy-saving benefits of using its dimmers, sensors, appliance controls, and automated shading systems. To that end, Lutron is launching a national, energy-saving awareness campaign with an aggressive goal: to get every home in the United States to replace two light switches with energy-saving dimmers. Residential Systems (11/4)

§                     Multi-billion dollar home area network ecosystem within five years
Smart Grid initiatives have energized the "Internet of Things" and soon Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) technology will be deployed in millions of neighborhoods and homes worldwide, according to ON World, a global market research firm. ON World's recently published reports cover ZigBee, Wireless Sensor Networking (WSN), and the emerging Smart Energy Home market that could reach $3 billion in 2014. PR Newswire (11/10)

Largr Building Automation

§                     A sea of sensors
RFID tags, which have been used to identify everything from cattle to tombstones, will not be the only type of sensor crowding the planet. Anything and anyone—machines, devices, everyday things and particularly humans—can become a sensor, gathering and transmitting information about the real world. Economist (10/21)

§                     Video: Enco Technologies finds security in energy management
Gus Cueto, Owner of Enco Technologies, discusses how his company integrates with a businesses security system to provide energy management services. The Daily Energy Report (11/1)

§                     Lagotek, Seesmart combine building automation and LED lighting
Lagotek, control systems manufacturer, has partnered with Seesmart, LED lighting manufacturer, to deliver advanced energy products to commercial consumers. The complete range of Seesmart LED lighting solutions can be controlled to add programmable events as well as dimming and zoning capabilities. Azoptics (11/9)

§                     Energy harvesting leader EnOcean to exhibit, demo at Greenbuild
EnOcean, a pioneer in self-powered wireless sensor technology for the building automation market, will exhibit at Greenbuild 2010 Booth 583, Nov. 17-19, at McCormick Place West in Chicago. The company also will be demoing the latest innovative maintenance-free wireless sensors that have been engineered by EnOcean Alliance members. BusinessWire (11/9)

§                     EnergyPlus Version 6.0 and OpenStudio Plug-in 1.06 now available
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released an updated version of EnergyPlus simulation software for modeling heating, cooling, lighting, ventilating, and other building energy flows. Additionally, a new version of OpenStudio Plug-in for Google SketchUp is available, which makes it possible to perform EnergyPlus simulations using Google's user-friendly 3-D drawing interface. U.S. Department of Energy (11/2)

§                     Thrifty offices are the new energy stars
Companies leasing commercial office space will have to disclose the building's energy efficiency rating for the first time, in a move designed to make Australia's thousands of brightly lit office blocks use less power. A star-rating system—similar to that used for electrical appliances—will now be a mandatory part of advertising for lease or sale of office space. The scheme is designed to make climate change a more important consideration in corporate decision making, in part by naming and shaming companies with office space in energy hungry buildings. The Sydney Morning Herald (11/1)

§                     Ontario startup could be a 'game changer' in the solar industry
Toronto-based Morgan Solar Inc. is developing more efficient, low cost solar photovoltaic technologies and could become the "game-changer" in the solar industry. Its first product to be brought to market is the Sun Simba, designed for ground-mounted solar farms. It is the first concentrating panel that doesn't require a focal distance between the optic and the photovoltaic cell. GLOBE-Net (11/5)

§                     Kingston General Hospital launches energy efficiency upgrade program
Kingston General Hospital in Ontario, Canada has entered into a $10.5-million facility upgrade and conservation program with Honeywell to reduce energy costs and its impact on the environment. The program, which combines innovative roof-mounted solar panels with traditional energy-efficiency upgrades, will save the hospital about $760,000 in utility costs per year. IFMA (11/8)

§                     New energy standard provides for 20 percent energy savings
By following the guidance in the newly published 2010 energy standard from ASHRAE and IES, more than 20 percent energy reduction can be achieved over savings in the 2004 standard. ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, provides minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design of buildings except low-rise residential buildings. The standard contains 109 addenda approved since the 2007 standard was published. ASHRAE (11/3)

§                     Standard for life cycle assessment aims to settle key green building debates
A new draft of the National Standard for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is set to address key issues facing the green building industry. The standard, which will be voted upon in February 2011, is being used to address pressing concerns: which responsible wood certification has the lowest environmental impact and whether LEED certified buildings actually result in improved environmental performance. PR Web (11/10)

§                     Boston's Colonnade Hotel cuts energy use 30 percent
The Colonnade Hotel has completed an energy-efficiency upgrade that has yielded a 30 percent cut in energy use and a utility incentive from NSTAR for more than $460,000 with the help of Bluestone Energy. The Boston Back Bay neighborhood landmark hotel expects to save $295,000 annually, and achieve a return on investment in two years. Environmental Leader (11/10)

§                     A guide to understanding green buildings
Green building takes into account the way a structure uses energy and water, the types of materials used in construction, and how much waste the building creates, as well as its indoor air quality. Green building for developments also takes into account factors that help to create healthy neighborhoods and minimize urban sprawl. Earth Techling (11/10)

§                     Siemens predicts sales of green technology products to reach $55 billion
Siemens AG, Europe’s largest engineering company, aims to grow its sales from so-called green products designed to save energy to 40 billion euros ($55 billion) by 2014. Revenue from environmental products totaled about 28 billion euros in the fiscal year through September, the company said in a recent statement. The company had previously targeted revenue of at least 25 billion euros by 2011. Bloomberg (11/8)

§                     Honeywell introduces multi-path IP/cellular fire alarm communicator
Honeywell recently introduced the IPGSM-COM, a UL-listed primary fire alarm communicator providing Contact ID reporting via IP (Internet Protocol) or GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) cellular pathways. Honeywell (11/5)

§                     Commercial buildings code changes secure 30 percent efficiency increase
It was a nearly unanimous vote at the International Code Council’s (ICC) final action hearings held in Charlotte, North Carolina to adopt changes to the national model energy code that will boost energy efficiency in commercial buildings by a historic 30 percent. Throughout the last week of October, 2010 local and state building code officials convened and approved a series of proposals which will directly affect the commercial section of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). New Buildings Institute (11/2)

§                     Standard for life cycle assessment aims to settle key green building debates
A new draft of the National Standard for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is set to address key issues facing the green building industry. The standard, which will be voted upon in February 2011, is being used to address pressing concerns: which responsible wood certification has the lowest environmental impact and whether LEED certified buildings actually result in improved environmental performance. San Francisco Chronicle (10/29)

§                     Marine military academy uses smart grid tech to help stablize Texas grid
Vedero Software and Cirro Energy Services have teamed to provide the Marine Military Academy with an automated approach to reduce energy usage during emergency events on the Texas electric grid. This results in economic benefits to the Military Marine Academy and reliability benefits to the Texas electric grid during power shortages. PR Web (11/10)

Member Press Releases

§                     EMerge Alliance advances DC power distribution platform to focus on energy efficient data centers
The EMerge Alliance – an open industry association leading the rapid adoption of safe direct-current (DC) power distribution standards for commercial buildings – announced it has formed a new technical standard committee for data and telecommunications centers and added 11 new members as part of the group’s planned expansion to address building-wide opportunities for reduced power consumption.

§                     Other Items

Cortexa Releases New In-wall iPad Dock
SmartGrid Forum Explores Smart Grid Opportunities for Broadband Service Providers
MatrikonOPC Introduces KNX OPC Server for Green Buildings and Data Centers
FieldServer Technologies Gateway aboard Latest U.S. Navy Advanced-Tech Destroyer
MatrikonOPC maximizes security and interoperability in building automation with OPC Server for LonWorks
MatrikonOPC offers Universal Connectivity for Vendors and OEMs
SAVANT Desktop and In-wall iPad Docks Mark the Beginning of a New Era in Affordable Touch Panel Solutions
New Powerlink® EM Lighting Control System from Schneider Electric Incorporates Smart Metering Technology
Yoga chosen to be a partner of VTT, the leading technical research centre of Northern Europe

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

CABA Research Spotlight

§                     National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency
The US Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency organized a study on improving energy efficiency in homes, buildings, schools, governments, and industry. Recommendations were developed for utilities, regulators, and partner organizations. Demand for energy is expected to increase 30 to 40 per cent for electricity by 2030. Energy efficiency programs could eliminate the need for 40 new 500-MW plants over the next 10 to 12 years. Among the recommendations in this extensive report are policy changes through rate designs to move utilities towards energy efficiency. Read the full report as published in CABA's Public Research Library. Paid CABA membership provides you access to the full CABA Member Research Library.

Education & Training

§                     Event: Smart Grid Forum 2010
With today's telecom industry rapidly growing, as well as the need to cut back on energy, there's a demand to expand our need for knowledge on SmartGrid. The SmartGrid Forum is the perfect opportunity for you to gain the necessary insight to develop your SmartGrid strategy, network with knowledgeable colleagues and establish partnerships. Attending this year's summit will benefit both you and your company, providing you leverage over your competitors. Will you capitalize? For more information or to register today, visit www.smartgridforum2010.com. The Forum will be held November 11 & 12, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV. CABA President & CEO will be speaking at this event and CABA members can receive a 20% registration discount using the code CABAMBR (case sensitive) when registering.

§                     Webinar: Seven Trends Transforming Enterprise Mobility
Mobility is becoming a prerequisite for many workers. According to Yankee Group data, approximately 79 million business users in the U.S. today use a mobile device for work, and both end-users and business leaders agree that those mobile technologies enhance productivity. This begs the question from many service providers, vendors and developers: What devices, applications and services are next on the horizon to transform business? Join Yankee Group Research VP Eugene Signorini on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 11 am ET as he explores the mobile trends affecting enterprises and how to capitalize on the transformation.

§                     Free CEDIA Webinar: Understanding Google TV
Google TV is a new platform enabling connected TV which is hitting the market now. This one-hour webinar to held by CEDIA on November 22 at 12:00 pm ET will discuss what Google TV is and how it works. This course will also cover where Google TV and the concept of a connected TV will go in the next few years.

§                     Event: USTelecom's Voice Innovation Summit
USTelecom's Voice Innovation Summit, to be held in Washington, DC on Nov. 16, will assemble industry leaders to explore how to increase demand for voice services. What do broadband and Internet and SIP-enabled voice provide in the way of new features and benefits? Why are technology companies (Google, Skype, Facebook, etc.) rolling out new voice options? What are the new devices and software to handle broadband-enabled voice? Get the answers at this important summit.

§                     Event: Demand Response Optimization: Strategies in Pricing, Policy, Technology and Customer Adoption (U.S.)
CABA members receive 15% off registration. Use promo code CABA15 to take advantage of this offer! The advent of AMI and the Smart Grid are pushing the envelope and enabling customers/utilities to manage consumption in ways that are dramatically evolving from traditional electricity production and usage. What does this mean to utilities and their customers? In addition to technology, what other pricing and policy issues must come together to create a unified demand response solution? One aspect is certain – to effectively take shape, all of these elements will have to work together to shift and reduce usage. Hear first hand experiences from the utilities in the U.S., how the technology and pricing pilots are being designed and executed, how some are using DR as a virtual power plant, and how residential load management programs are being executed. The conference will also address which policies promote the development of DSM and how to optimize the true value proposition. Last but not least the event will evaluate strategies in educating, engaging, and empowering the customer.

CABA News

§                     Jon Summers from Ingersoll Rand Joins CABA Board
CABA is pleased to welcome Jon Summers from Ingersoll Rand to its Board of Directors. CABA is a trade association that promotes advanced technologies for integrated systems and the automation of homes and buildings. Jon Summers is the Global Portfolio Manager for Systems Controls with Ingersoll Rand Climate Solutions (Trane), where he is responsible for new product development, product management and commercialization of system-level solutions for commercial buildings, including HVAC control, energy management, building system integration and smart interfaces.

§                     CABA President & CEO to speak at ICT for Sustainable Homes 2010
Ron Zimmer, CABA President & CEO, will be a speaker at ICT for Sustainable Homes 2010 in Nice, France next week. If you are attending this event and would like to meet with Mr. Zimmer, please e-mail him directly at zimmer@caba.org. At the end of the week, after the completion of the event, Mr. Zimmer's presentations will be posted on the CABA Web site in the presentation section.

§                     CABA supports NextGen Home Experience at 2011 International Builders' Show
The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) is pleased to announce that it will co-sponsor a VIP Event on January 12, 2011 at the NextGen Home Experience during the 2011 International Builders' Show. There is an opportunity to support CABA at this function. Download the sponsorship package to learn more about this opportunity. For additional information, contact George Grimes, CABA Business Development Manager at 613.686.1814 x226 or at grimes@caba.org.

§                     Sponsor CABA receptions at CES and AHR Expo
CABA will be holding receptions at the 2001 International CES and at its Intelligent & Integrated Buildings Council meeting at the 2011 AHR Expo. Both events will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase your organization and to network with CABA members, who are major industry stakeholders. Download more information about the CES reception sponsorship opportunity and the AHR Expo reception sponsorship opportunity. For additional information, contact George Grimes, CABA Business Development Manager at 613.686.1814 x226 or at grimes@caba.org.

CABA Research Program to hold webinar on "Formulating a Growth Strategy for the Aging-In Population" study
The CABA Research Program is proposing a new research project entitled "Formulating a Growth Strategy for the Aging-In Population". 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. It should also help organizations identify key targets of opportunity for short-term innovation and long-term strategic planning. Learn more when CABA presents a webinar on November 19, at 2 PM ET. For more information about the webinar, please contact John Hall, CABA Research Director at 613.686.1814 x227, hall@caba.org or George Grimes, CABA Business Development Manager at 613.686.1814 x226, grimes@caba.org.

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CABA Webinar Invitation - "Formulating a Growth Strategy for the Aging-In Population" Research Study

CABA is extending an invitation to your organization to participate in a webinar conference call to discuss the "Formulating a Growth Strategy for the Aging-In Population" research study that is scheduled for Friday, November 19, 2010 at 2 PM ET.

The purpose of this study is to examine and determine potential connected home product, service and business opportunities based on needs and expectations of the senior consumer market to support aging in place. 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. It should also help organizations identify key targets of opportunity for short-term innovation and long-term strategic planning.

Several core opportunity platforms will be explored with sponsoring member companies as to their collective interests in areas such as: 

·                     Health and Wellness

·                     Food (eating, cooking, etc.)

·                     Exercise & Fitness

·                     Universal Design

·                     Medical Support

·                     Communications

·                     Entertainment

Ingersoll Rand has come forward as the project champion, with several others organizations already expressing serious interest in participating in this collaborative research study.

For more information about the webinar, please contact John Hall, CABA Research Director at 613.686.1814 x227, hall@caba.org or George Grimes, CABA Business Development Manager at 613.686.1814 x226, grimes@caba.org.

To register for this FREE Webinar, please contact Tony Disipio, disipio@caba.org, for the webinar call-in information and participation pass code.

Regards,

John Hall

CABA Research Director

hall@caba.org

613.686.1814 X227

Fax: 613.744.7833

Web site: www.caba.org

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/caba_news

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2121884

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Concert Technologies Reveals Essential Third-Party Independent Verification Information in Article Published by BICSI

DULLES, VA, NOVEMBER 19, 2010 –  Concert Technologies today announced the publication of its Third-Party Independent Verification article in the November/December edition of BICSI News, the leading information technology systems (ITS) association magazine.

This strategic article contains:

o      Advice to the end user or solution provider on third-party verification for their structured cabling system

o      How independent verification can add value to the contractor’s proposal

o      The importance of ensuring the physical and electrical/optical performance of the structured cabling system as installed to TIA-568-C standards

o      A look at optional warranty programs in comparison to independent verification of your structured cabling system

“You may have procurement requirements for the lowest compliant bidder receiving the award and you may be able to confirm their references, but the issue is not the quality of the contractor during the selection process. The problem may result from the pressure on the contractor from numerous other concurrent jobs during your installation, which causes a lack of skilled labor to provide the quality workmanship you expect,” said Concert Technologies President, Dennis Mazaris. The article titled “Third-Party Independent Verification” is available online in the current edition of BICSI News.

About BICSI

BICSI is a professional association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry. ITS covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety & security, and audio & video technologies. BICSI provides information, education and knowledge assessment for individuals and companies in the ITS industry, serving more than 23,000 ITS professionals, including designers, installers and technicians. BICSI Web Site

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

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Don’t Miss out on BICSI Training

Learn Vital Aspects of ITS in February
Be at the top of your game by getting training in hot ITS topics in 2011. Click on the links below for more information and to register for these upcoming courses and exams.

Courses and Exam in Memphis, Tennessee
NEW! RITP Course

ITP110: Analyzing Telecommunications Distribution Systems, February 7-11
ITP110 is a 5-day course focusing on the practical application of a structured cabling system. You will analyze telecommunications spaces and horizontal and backbone distribution systems, respond to change requests for RFQs and blueprints, and assist with the implementation of an efficient workflow environment.

TE350: BICSI ITS Technician Training, February 7-11
Take your installation performance to the next level through the study of specialized systems and advanced copper and optical fiber structured cabling systems. TE350 is an intensive 5-day course that provides the necessary skill set of a structured cabling systems technician. ITS Technician examinations will be held February 11-12.

Courses and Exam in Birmingham, Alabama
DD100: Introduction to Voice/Data Cabling Systems, February 14-15
Learn about cabling pathways and spaces, different types of cabling, how to work with contractors, how to evaluate the work and how projects are implemented.

IN101: BICSI ITS Installer 1 Training, February 14-18
IN101 is an intensive 5-day, 40-hour course designed to provide entry level ITS cabling installers with the background, knowledge and basic skills needed to function effectively on the job. ITS Installer 1 examinations will be held February 18-19.

WD100: Introduction to Wireless, February 16-17
The first in the wireless series of courses, WD100 covers the wireless communications, with emphasis on cellular and wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies.

Courses and Exam in Spartanburg, South Carolina
WD110: Designing Wireless Networks, February 21-25
WD110 is a 5-day course that provides you with an in-depth understanding of wireless networking for information transport within a floor, building or campus perimeter.

IN225: BICSI ITS Installer 2, Copper Training, February 21-25
Whether new installation or existing premise, BICSI’s ITS Installer 2, Copper Training Course gives you a competitive distinction by allowing you to showcase your skills as a copper system specialist. IN225 is a 5-day course that provides the foundation of a copper-based structured cabling system installation. ITS Installer 2, Copper examinations will be held February 25-26.

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! Preregis.ter 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.

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Electec’s eco-friendly modular wiring system selected as a BuildingGreen Top-10 Product for 2010

CHICAGO, IL, November 18, 2010 – Electec’s low-smoke zero-halogen (LSZH) modular wiring system has been selected as one of BuildingGreen’s Top-10 products of the year by the editors of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec®. This ninth annual award recognizes the most innovative and exciting green building products added to the GreenSpec® Directory during the past year or covered in Environmental Building News.

“Our selections of the Top-10 Green Building Products represent a wide range of product types in many different application areas,” noted BuildingGreen founder and GreenSpec executive editor Alex Wilson. This year’s list is particularly diverse, ranging from a decking product made from recycled carpeting, to a window glass with UV-reflective patterning that is highly visible to birds (to minimize collisions), an ingenious toilet that uses a passive vacuum-assist mechanism to achieve excellent performance using just 0.8 gallons, an LED lighting module that offers comparable light quality to that of halogen, and an advanced, cellulose-insulated modular wall system for residential building. “Many of our Top-10 products this year have multiple environmental attributes,” said Wilson.

BuildingGreen’s Top-10 product selections, as in previous years, are drawn primarily from new additions to the company’s GreenSpec Product Directory. Over 170 products have been added to the GreenSpec database during the past year. “New products are being introduced all the time, making it a challenge for our staff to keep up,” said Wilson. The GreenSpec database includes more than 2,200 product listings, representing several times as many actual products.

A big driver in the development of green products continues to be the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Rating System (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which awards points for the use of certain product types or for the energy or water savings that certain green products can achieve. “Designers of LEED buildings are looking for green products, and manufacturers are responding,” said Wilson. In the online version of GreenSpec, users can find products organized by LEED credits.

Electec’s EZ-Wiring® is a cost-effective plug-and-play branch circuit modular wiring system that contains no halogens (bromine, chlorine, or fluorine), which are commonly used in cable sheathing, and no heavy metals. Rated as “low-smoke, zero-halogen” (LSZH), these systems are compliant with the European Union’s RoHS and REACH programs. Electec’s EZ-Cabling® is a LSZH steel-shielded voice/data zone cabling system that satisfies requirements for Cat 5e, 6, and 6A cabling. Both of these systems are designed for easy reuse and reconfiguration using foolproof, uniquely keyed connections. This provides benefits in the form of resource and cost savings, easier retrofits, and preventing the buildup of abandoned cabling in walls or air-handling spaces, a common fire and health hazard.

GreenSpec is the leading national directory of green building products. Products are selected based on criteria developed over the past 18 years. Manufacturers do not pay to be listed in GreenSpec, and neither GreenSpec nor Environmental Building News carry advertising; both are supported by users of the information. “Our policy of not accepting money from product manufacturers allows us to be objective in our review of products,” said Wilson. The GreenSpec product database is also available online as part of the BuildingGreen Suite.

Other BuildingGreen resources include Environmental Building News, the oldest and most widely respected newsletter in the green building field, and LEEDuser.com, a resource for teams pursuing certification through the LEED Rating System. BuildingGreen celebrates its 25th year in business this year. For information on BuildingGreen resources, visit www.BuildingGreen.com or call 800-861-0954.

About Electec
A leading-edge manufacturer of modular wiring systems (MWS), Electec offers the most consistent, safe and robust integrally-moulded connectors.  Electec manufactured wiring systems are industry proven with hundreds of installations across North America.  For more information about Electec products contact Chris Pezoulas, VP of Business Development at (613) 836-0300 x226. www.electeconline.com

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GENERAL CABLE JOINS U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KENTUCKY, October 20, 2010 – General Cable (NYSE: BGC) continues to accelerate its environmental commitment through its participation in the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  The Company, who joined the USGBC in order to be better informed and gain tools focused on sustainability and green initiatives within the green building industry, launched a line of 17 FREE^™ halogen-free premise, fiber and electronics cabling solutions that may qualify for LEED credit under the USGBC.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the system that certifies the greenest performing buildings in the world.  General Cable’s 17 FREE product innovation nearly coincided with the USGBC’s announcement of its LEED Pilot Credit 2.  The pilot program potentially gives credit for products geared toward reducing the release of persistent bio-accumulative toxic chemicals, or PBTs, associated with the life cycle of building materials, including electrical wiring and cable jacketing. 

General Cable, who initially developed the 17 FREE line after receiving many requests for green products, saw the LEED pilot credit issue as a significant opportunity to capitalize on the new riser-rated halogen-free design. 

“As we continue to strengthen as a Lean, flexible and responsive global organization, the quest to introduce new and better products through continuous improvement of environmentally-sound processes and product designs reflect our on-going commitment to achieving industry-leading standards,” said Richard Barker, Vice President, Technical Standards & Marketing for General Cable.  “We are proud to a part of the U.S. Green Building Council.”

With our involvement with the USGBC, as well as the Green Suppliers Network, we not only support our own Lean and Green culture but strengthen our alignment with the sustainability goals of our partners and suppliers,” said Bethany Sarchet, National Accounts Manager, General Cable. “Lean manufacturing techniques coupled with sound environmental management strategies will ensure that we are delivering value to our customers – high-quality products with minimal waste and environmental impact.”

-more-

About the U.S. Green Building Council
The USGBC community is transforming the way we build, design and operate our buildings for healthier places that save precious resources for people to live, work, learn and play in. UGSBC is helping create buildings and communities that regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Council is the driving force of the green building industry, which is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product by 2013. USGBC leads a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials, concerned citizens, teachers and students. The USGBC community comprises 80 local chapters, 17,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 150,000 individuals who have earned LEED Professional Credentials. Visit www.usgbc.org for more information.

About the Green Suppliers Network
The Green Suppliers Network’s Lean and Clean Advantage drives environmental excellence by targeting companies, such as General Cable, with strong environmental records to go above and beyond their legal requirements. By expanding the traditional definition of Lean to one that includes environmental wastes opens up significant business improvement opportunities, further strengthens Lean results, and improves environmental performance.

About General Cable
General Cable (NYSE: BGC), a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, specialty and communications markets. Energy cables include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products. The Industrial and Specialty segment is comprised of application-specific cables for uses such as electrical power generation (traditional fuels, alternative and renewable sources, and distributed generation), the oil, gas and petrochemical industries, transit, mining, industrial automation, marine, military and aerospace applications, power applications in the telecommunications industry, and other key industrial segments. Communications wire and cable products transmit low-voltage signals for voice, data, video and control applications. General Cable, with annual revenues approaching $5 billion, has 47 manufacturing facilities in 25 countries and offers competitive strengths in such areas as breadth of product line, brand recognition, distribution and logistics, sales and service and operating efficiency. Visit our Web site at www.GeneralCable.com.

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KITCO Fiber Optics Recognized For Exemplary Contract Performance

KITCO Fiber Optics was recently honored by the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime (formerly Defense Supply Center Columbus) as one of the government’s best suppliers at an award ceremony held during the 2010 DLA Enterprise Supplier Conference and Exhibition, August 23-25 in Columbus, Ohio.

This recognition signifies that KITCO has attained an exemplary level of contract performance during calendar year 2009.  Firms that qualify as Automated Best Value System (ABVS) award winners have met the stringent quality and delivery requirements established by the Defense Logistics Agency.  The ABVS computerized system collects a vendor’s past performance data and translates it into a numeric score, ranging from zero to 100.  KITCO Fiber Optics supplies fiber optic tools and tool kits to the United States government.  To be eligible, vendors must have shipped 50 or more contract line items for DLA Land and Maritime during a 12-month period. 

KITCO Fiber Optics is a leading provider of fiber optic connectorization products, training and consulting services to the military and commercial communications industry.  We specialize in the design and fabrication of fiber optic tools, tool kits and custom cable assemblies; producing private label kits for a number of major connector manufacturers and selling our own broad line of commercial and military products.  We develop curriculum and provide commercial and military training worldwide, and serve as the U.S. Navy’s sole shipboard fiber optic trainer.  Our highly skilled field services team can respond to your fiber optic requirements anytime, anywhere – rapidly providing the best solutions for overcoming system problems or delays.

www.kitcofo.com

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Light Brigade has a New CFHP Certification Custom Training Course

TUKWILA, WASHINGTON — The Light Brigade is pleased to announce that the new Certified Fiber-to-the-Home Professional (CFHP) certification program, which launched earlier this year, is now available on a custom basis to address client’s needs at their locations in North America and internationally.

This course is specifically designed to certify professional competence in FTTH design, architecture, deployment, and administration technologies. The CFHP content addresses active Ethernet and PON FTTH systems, physical network architecture options, video systems, Ethernet and IP networks, FTTH and FTTB designs, business and economic issues, and future migration considerations. Using The Light Brigade’s 30 years of fiber optic training expertise, the CFHP course is structured to allow easy absorption and application of the FTTH technology options available to today’s system designers.

Providing the course at a client’s site allows the content to be customized to their specific schedule and training needs while still maintaining the CFHP certification requirements. The client can select the key objectives, applications, products, and techniques that are of particular importance to their operation. The training staff at The Light Brigade can then focus the course to meet these criteria. Course length can vary and can incorporate optional FTTx for Technicians and Installers training, which includes practical hands-on exercises.

 About The Light Brigade
The Light Brigade, the world’s leader in fiber-optic training, coordinates and presents FTTx events and classes at prominent industry conventions such as OFC, ECOC, and the FTTH Conference. The company provides fiber optic training courses, DVDs, a computer-based training module, and fiber-optic certifications. For more information on The Light Brigade’s educational programs, visit www.lightbrigade.com. For more information or to host this course at a location near you, please call Pam Wooten at (800) 451‑7128 or email pam@lightbrigade.com.

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Mike Holt’s Holiday Special is a gem

Mike Holt's new 2011 products are now available at a 25% pre-publication discount! When you use discount code HOTS with your order you can take 25% off any Mike Holt 2011 title until December 30th 2010. New products include Mike's Understanding the NEC Requirements for Photovoltaic Systems (available this March) and his Changes to the NEC 2011  which has just been released with 45% more illustrations! If your items are backordered you will not be charged until the products are available for shipping. To see the full 2011 product line please visit

http://www.mikeholt.com/products.php?year=2011

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NAED Education & Research Foundation Announces Annual Contribution Campaign

Contributions Support the Expansion of Educational Offerings for the Industry’s Future

ST. LOUIS… The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) Education & Research Foundation announces its 2010-2011 Annual Contribution Campaign is now underway. The funds collected from the campaign are used to develop the industry-specific training programs and education that NAED offers its members. This year’s campaign efforts are led by Foundation Chair Sandra Rosecrans, president and CEO of City Electric Company, Inc.

“We are launching the 2010-2011 Annual Contribution Campaign during such an exciting time in the electrical distribution industry,” said Rosecrans. “We are all figuring out ways to integrate technologies into our services and products, while maintaining the more traditional aspects. The NAED Education & Research Foundation provides us with the key research, education and development that we all need to keep advancing the future of our industry.”

The Foundation works to help companies develop a knowledgeable and skilled workforce through the delivery of convenient, effective, and targeted education and training. Continued support allows the Foundation to expand its offerings and create new products such as the Branch Manager University, which will help tomorrow’s industry leaders succeed now and in the future. This year’s goal for the campaign is $200,000, all of which would be used for important program development. In recent years, member support has helped the Foundation:

·                     Offer the online NAED Learning Center

·                     Develop and introduce EPEC online

·                     Design and implement the Certified Electrical Professional™ (CEP) program

All donations to the NAED Education & Research Foundation go directly to program development and are tax-deductible. Those who contribute to the campaign receive a certificate, a listing in tED magazine, and ribbon acknowledgment at all NAED regional conferences and the National Electrical Leadership Summit.

To make a contribution, download an invoice that can be mailed to the Foundation or you can make a donation online. This year’s campaign runs through June 2011. For more information, please call the NAED Education & Research Foundation at 888-791-2512.

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.

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NAED Names August Sodora, Jr. as Incoming Eastern Region Vice President-Elect

Industry veteran with 28 years experience in the electrical distribution channel

ST. LOUIS… The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) has named August Sodora Jr., president of Swift Electrical Supply Company Inc., as the incoming vice president-elect of the Eastern Region. Sodora was elected by the Eastern Region Council, which represents NAED member companies in the northeastern U.S.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve NAED and the Eastern Region as the incoming vice president-elect,” said Sodora. “Developing relationships and gaining industry knowledge really is what NAED is all about. The things that I have learned from my peers have been of such great value to our company throughout the years.”

Sodora has been in the industry for 28 years and has a long tenure on NAED’s Eastern Region Council. He has participated in numerous region projects, including the Strategic Planning 101 Toolkit and “The Electrical Distributor of 2020 – How to Get There.” Sodora has also served as a member of the AD Product Committee.

A husband and father of three, Sodora is the third generation of his family to make a career in the industry. Sodora is a 1982 graduate of Fairfield University in Connecticut.

Based in Teterboro, N.J., with four branches and 75 employees, Swift Electrical Supply Company is a full service electrical distributor serving customers in the commercial, contracting, government, and energy services markets.

Sodora offers this advice to those wanting to be successful in the industry, “The best part about the industry is the entrepreneurial spirit of the people you get to meet, do business with and enjoy friendships with. Make a great effort to gain an in-depth knowledge about the products, people and markets you want to serve in.”

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

Fil Cerminara, president, F&M Electric Supply Company Inc., Danbury, Conn., currently directs the Eastern Region Council. Beginning in May, Dan Nitowsky, vice president, Mars Electric Company, Willoughby, Ohio, will take up the 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.

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NEMA Announces New Board Members

ROSSLYN, Va., November 10, 2010—The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has elected the following individuals to its board of governors during its annual meeting in Palm Beach, Florida: Susan Graham, Elantas PDG; Luis Ramirez, GE Energy; Kenan Sahin, TIAX; Gabriel Garza, Prolec; and Greg Sebasky, Philips Electronics North America.

NEMA is the association of electrical and medical imaging equipment manufacturers. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its approximately 450 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end use of electricity. These products are used in utility, industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential applications. The association’s Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) Division represents manufacturers of cutting-edge medical diagnostic imaging equipment including MRI, CT, x-ray, and ultrasound products. Worldwide sales of NEMA-scope products exceed $120 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia, NEMA also has offices in Beijing and Mexico City. www.nema.org

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NEMA Bestows Awards on Electroindustry Leaders

ROSSLYN, Va., November 4, 2010—Joel A. Spira, founder, chairman, and director of research of Lutron Electronics, heads the list of electroindustry leaders being honored this weekend by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) at its annual conference.

Spira, who has dedicated his career to what he calls “the magic of lighting,” is the recipient of the 2010 Bernard H. Falk Award, which recognizes an important contribution to the industry through technology, marketing, education, and public affairs.

Spira formed Lutron Electronics in 1961 to market his invention of the first electronic solid state dimmer for incandescent lighting. It ultimately paved the way for contemporary digital lighting controls. He also invented the first electronic dimming ballast for fluorescent lamps, as well as hundreds of devices, systems, and processes for controlling electric and natural light. He is credited with 266 design patents and 226 utility patents.

In April 2010, Spira donated materials related to his inventions and Lutron’s history to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History electricity collection. 

Kite and Key Awards, which were established in 1987, recognize individuals from NEMA member companies who have advanced the interest of the electroindustry through active and sustained involvement in NEMA activities. This year’s recipients are John P. Goodsell, PE; Helen J. Harris; Frank K. Kitzantides; Vince Saporita, PE; and Harry R. Solomon.  The Awards will be presented at NEMA’s annual conference in Palm Beach, Florida.

John Goodsell, PE, vice president research and engineering at Hubbell Electrical Systems, serves as vice chair and parliamentarian for NEMA’s Codes and Standards Committee. He is also a member of the International and Regional Standardization Committee, NEMA-UL Policy Committee, and the Environmental Design Call to Action Steering Committee. He is active in several NEMA sections.

Helen J. Harris, financial analyst at Schneider Electric, chairs the NEMA 1IS Statistics Committee, where she designs reports, finds solutions for various reporting issues, and brings more industry members into statistical reporting. She represents Schneider Electric on the Low Voltage Distribution Equipment, Transformer, and Switchgear; Lighting; and Motor & Generator statistics committees.

Frank K. Kitzantides, who has held various positions at NEMA, including senior vice president and chief technical officer, currently advises NEMA on standardization and conformity assessment, and represents NEMA on boards and management committees of other organizations. He is also vice president of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC); a member of its executive committee; and chairman of its Standardization Management Board.

Vince Saporita, PE, vice president, technical sales at Cooper Bussmann, is vice chair of NEMA’s Codes and Standards Committee; and chair of the NEMA-UL Technical Forum, Fuse Technical, and Fuse Ad-Hoc committees. He participates in the Industrial Control Section and Low Voltage Distribution Equipment switch and panelboard sections. He serves as NEMA’s representative on the National Fire Protection Association Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.

Harry Solomon, interoperability architect at GE Healthcare, was a member of the joint committee that developed the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard. This global information technology standard ensures the interoperability of systems used to produce and process medical images. He is chair of the DICOM Cardiac and Vascular Information Working Group, and helped established standards for cardiac image exchange.

NEMA is the association of electrical and medical imaging equipment manufacturers. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its approximately 450 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end use of electricity. These products are used in utility, industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential applications. The association’s Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) Division represents manufacturers of cutting-edge medical diagnostic imaging equipment including MRI, CT, x-ray, and ultrasound products. Worldwide sales of NEMA-scope products exceed $120 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia, NEMA also has offices in Beijing and Mexico City.

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Automated Systems Design, Inc. (ASD®) Moves Headquarters to Alpharetta, Georgia, to Accommodate Continued Growth

ASD®, located in Roswell, Georgia, with offices in Hickory, North Carolina, has announced that it will move its headquarters to 775 Goddard Court in Alpharetta, Georgia, in response to ASD’s continued growth.  

ATLANTA, Ga. — Automated Systems Design, Inc. (ASD®), the leading nationwide solution for custom turnkey information transport systems, announces that it will move its headquarters from Roswell, Georgia, to 775 Goddard Court in Alpharetta, Georgia, to accommodate the company’s continued growth. In addition to the headquarter offices, ASD® also has offices in Hickory, North Carolina, which will remain in the same location. The headquarter relocation is scheduled to take place November 19, 2010.

ASD® purchased the 10,500 square-foot facility in Alpharetta in response to the company’s rapid growth and need for additional space. The new headquarter offices will be fully equipped with the latest technology, including ASD’s own iCAT-ITS™ Category 6 cables and an iGLO-ITS™ fiber optic system. The facility will also feature an IP-based video surveillance and access control system, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system, ASD's proprietary OMNI project management software, and AT&T Metro Ethernet Services, which will provide ASD® with bandwidth that can burst up to 100 megabits per second. ASD® will also continue to operate using the latest Google Apps for Enterprise cloud computing collaboration programs to provide real-time collaboration for ASD® employees and clients in the management of IT projects throughout the United States.

"The new headquarter location in Alpharetta not only provides us with additional space, but it also provides a state-of-the-art work environment for our employees,” said Bob Eskew, founder and CEO of ASD®. “With our nationwide capabilities, there has always been an emphasis on mobility with the way we do business. We were using cloud computing before most people even knew what the term meant. At the beginning of the year, we started using Google Apps Enterprise programs and private network cloud computing, which has been critical for real-time collaboration for our clients and employees.”

ASD’s growing success has also resulted in a newly designed website, which now features an online product catalogue, an online AASDI™ submission form, an email newsletter, as well as an interactive blog with industry news, case studies, video entries and best practices. Users can also access detailed information about ASD’s project management services and information transport system solutions.

About Automated Systems Design, Inc. (ASD®)

Founded in 1987, Automated Systems Design, Inc. (ASD®) is the leading nationwide solution for custom turnkey information transport systems. ASD® manufactures, manages and maintains high-performance iCAT-ITS™ cables and products for copper wiring and iGLO-ITS™ for fiber optic systems. The experienced team at ASD® provides physical infrastructure systems nationwide with one point of contact for all project deployment. Additional turnkey solutions include structured cabling, audio video systems, VoIP phone systems, surveillance and access control IP-based systems, digital signage, point of sale systems, network moves, adds and changes, wired and wireless networks and National Rollout Services. For more information, visit www.asd-usa.com or call 1-800-CABLING™.

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Nominations Open for NAED Annual Awards

Submission Deadline is December 31 for Awards Recognizing Outstanding Companies, Individuals

ST. LOUIS… The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) is requesting nominations for the association’s top honors, the NAED Annual Awards. The awards will be presented at NAED’s 2011 National Electrical Leadership Summit, to be held April 30 – May 3, in San Diego.

Submissions for the 2011 awards are due by December 31, 2010. Nominations for the following awards are being accepted:

·                     Arthur W. Hooper Achievement Award. This award is presented to an individual who has had an exceptional career in distribution spanning a number of years. Based on cumulative contributions, this award recognizes an individual who has had a positive impact on NAED and the industry.

·                     Distributor Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes an individual associated with an electrical distributor for their outstanding and dedicated service to NAED and the electrical distribution industry as a whole.

·                     Associate Service Award. This award is given to an individual associated with an electrical manufacturing firm who has consistently been active in promoting and supporting the tenets and goals of NAED.

·                     Industry Award of Merit. This award honors an associate company (rather than in individual) that has been exceptionally active in promoting, supporting, and/or improving the electrical distribution channel.

To submit a nomination, click here and download the award nomination form. After the nominations are received, NAED’s Awards Committee will review the submissions and decide on the final award winners. For more information, contact Sandy Hanebrink at 888-791-2512 or shanebrink@naed.org.

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 represents approximately 4,400 locations internationally.

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FTTH Council Next-Generation Broadband Workshop in Phoenix Dec. 8^th

Day-Long Session on Potential of All-Fiber Networks is Open to Non-Members

WASHINGTON -- The Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council, a national organization dedicated to expanding the deployment of high speed all-fiber networks, will convene a workshop in Phoenix on December 8 on next-generation, all-fiber broadband and the opportunities that exist for telecommunications service providers to help advance the nation's Smart Grid network.

The latest in the FTTH Council's series of "hot topic" workshops, to take place at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, will include a full day of presentations, panel discussions and audience participation focusing on "The Future of Video, Telco's and Smart Grid: Going for the Gigabit."

The event is open to anyone with an interest in next-generation broadband. An agenda and registration information can be found on the FTTH Council's website, www.ftthcouncil.org.

The all-day session will include a presentation on the future of video services over all-fiber networks from the consulting firm BIA/Kelsey and a look at Smart Grid networks from the Utility Telecom Council, which recently released a landmark study showing that utilities on their own will not be able to build all the communications networks they need to make Smart Grid happen, and that best of breed communications service providers will be essential to their success.

Also offering their perspectives will be representatives of Arizona municipalities that have applied to be part of Google's fiber to the home pilot project, which aims to bring next-generation broadband services to a select number of communities.  In addition, the workshop will feature a session on the legislative and regulatory outlook for all-fiber networks, as well as a panel of successful FTTH service providers who are operating in the southwestern United States.

Now available to more than 20 million North American households, fiber to the home is fast becoming the technology of choice for next-generation, high-speed access to Internet, video and emerging applications. A recent survey of small telephone companies commissioned by the FTTH Council found that three-quarters of them say they are likely to expand or upgrade their networks with end-to-end fiber in the near future.

"America's fiber to the home providers are laying the groundwork for the next generation of superfast networks and the advanced video and Internet applications these networks will make possible," said Daniel O'Connell, President of the FTTH Council.  "This workshop will be an outstanding opportunity for anyone interested in our broadband future to learn more about how fiber is transforming the nation's telecommunications networks and its electrical grid."

Following the workshop, on December 9 and 10, the FTTH Council will be joining with its partner The Light Brigade in conducting its second two-day exam preparatory course for the Certified Fiber to the Home Professionals Program (CFHP) at the Arizona Biltmore.  The course is structured to certify competence in overall FTTH theory, terminology, topology, equipment and system cost estimation.  More information about the program can be found on the FTTH Council's website.

About the Fiber-to-the-Home Council
Now in its tenth year, the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council is a non-profit association consisting of companies and organizations that deliver video, Internet and/or voice services over high-bandwidth, next-generation, direct fiber optic connections - as well as those involved in planning and building FTTH networks.  The Council works to create a cohesive group to share knowledge and build industry consensus on key issues surrounding fiber to the home. Its mission is to educate the public and government officials about FTTH solutions and to promote and accelerate deployment of fiber to the home and the resulting quality of life enhancements such networks make possible.  The Council organizes North America's largest annual FTTH event, the FTTH Conference & Expo, which will be held September 26 - 30, 2011 in Orlando, Florida.   More information about the Council can be found at www.ftthcouncil.org.

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Protecting America: Borders and Beyond Webinar

Please join: MOOG, Inc. and Security Products

Topic: Protecting America: Borders and Beyond

Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Time: 2 PM (EST) 11 AM (PST)

Register Today at:

http://www.digital.1105pubs.com/t.do?id=6383818:2935042

Overview:

The security and surveillance of our borders and beyond are a 24/7 operation that doesn't allow down time. Outside threats to our country are continually changing and it is imperative to identify threats in order to deter possible attacks. As threats change we need to be aware of new security solutions for intrusion detection.

With that in mind, do you have the optimal security / surveillance system to prevent or identify attacks before they happen?

Join us to learn and discuss the latest technologies and techniques in border, transportation and port security:

    * Ports and Harbors - Secure ports and harbors are critical to the international movement of goods and materials and is vital to the US economy foreign trade.

    * Multiple Border Security - Illegal movements across our borders continually endangers the safety of our country.

    * Airports and Transportation Hubs - Perimeter security and surveillance provide a solid foundation for protection and continuity of operations.

Speaker:

Ms. Sheryl DiVita, Director of Business Development for Moog QuickSet Sheryl DiVita is a 25+ year professional in the security and surveillance industry with extensive experience in business development initiatives, general management and financial control of aerospace and aviation operations. Throughout her career Ms. DiVita has successfully managed financial and engineering performance to mitigate risk for several large advanced technology programs. Ms. DiVita has worked on major military programs including the B-52 Sensor Integration, YF-23 Tactical Fighter and the B-2 Stealth Bomber.

Rod Harris, Product Management at Moog QuickSet Mr. Harris is a veteran industry expert with extensive experience working with sales, marketing, engineering design and product development. Rod has led the charge in designing innovative technologies for a wide variety of applications for commercial, industrial and military sectors. Rod has also written and published several whitepapers and articles which have educated the industry on advanced security and surveillance systems. Rod began his career with the United States Navy, serving as a Microwave Communications expert. Post military Rod was with Hughes Aircraft for several years, moving his way up the ranks to Staff Engineer.

Steve Wyatt, Vice President of Programs and Engineering for Moog QuickSet Mr. Wyatt began his career with the USAF at Edwards AFB as a flight test engineer and later joined McDonnell Douglas to develop advanced aircraft systems, including the F-15 and classified programs. He then moved to Recon/Optical where he lead a 40+ person team in advanced product development, as well as program managed multi-million dollar business development initiatives throughout his tenure. Steve has over 30 years of professional experience in technical, management, manufacturing and sales within the security market. He also is the holder of 4 patents for advanced long range reconnaissance camera systems

A Q&A session will be held during the last 15 minutes of the Webinar.

Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Time: 2 PM (EST) 11 AM (PST)

Register Today at:

http://www.digital.1105pubs.com/t.do?id=6383819:2935042

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Revealing What Your Ceiling is Concealing Webinar

Building Operating Management and CISCA present

"Suspended Ceilings vs. Open Plenum:

Assessing Life Cycle, Energy and Performance"

November 9

1:00 p.m. Eastern

http://facilitiesnet.com/webinar/bom_ceil1010/default.asp

REVEALING WHAT YOUR CEILING IS CONCEALING

Your ceiling is more than a cosmetic detail. It was especially designed to address any or all of these important factors:

* Air distribution ducts and plenums

* Power and telecom wiring

* Fire and life safety systems

* Security systems

* Distribution of horizontal systems

Because buildings (and businesses) are not exempt from unpredictable and rapid change, all these hidden-by-ceilings systems may require modification at any time. The ceilings then, too, must be modified to allow for greater ease of reconfiguration and flexibility.

Possibilities include a suspended ceiling, providing a finished interior that allows access to systems located in the plenum space above, or an open plenum, providing a ceiling that leaves systems exposed for ease of accessibility.

Learn all about this and more when you attend the absolutely free Webcast "Suspended Ceilings vs. Open Plenum: Assessing Life Cycle, Energy and Performance" on Tuesday, November 9, at 1 p.m. Eastern. Learn more or sign up now at:

http://facilitiesnet.com/webinar/bom_ceil1010/default.asp

You will also learn about the results of an in-depth life cycle cost study - initiated by the Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association

(CISCA) - that examines the cost and performance benefits of suspended ceiling vs. open plenum design.

Industry experts Bill Frantz, Senior Principal Scientist, Armstrong World Industries, and Robert Grupe, Director, USG, will also respond to attendee-submitted questions at the end of the Webcast.

Trade Press Media Group is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEUs for this program. Learn more at:

www.facilitiesnet.com/misc/CEU_info.asp

This Webcast is produced in conjunction with CISCA, Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association http://link.argifocus.com/1hs-10150

This Webcast is sponsored by:

USG

http://link.argifocus.com/1hs-10140

Armstrong

http://link.argifocus.com/1hs-10141

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New Siemon Z-MAX™ 6A Solid Cords optimize performance and extend the reach of Network Cabling Consolidation Points and Cross Connects

Solid conductor single and double-ended modular cords now feature Z-MAX’s patented PCB-based RJ-45 Smart Plug technology

October 28, 2010, WATERTOWN, CT – Siemon today introduces innovative category 6A Z-MAX solid cords terminated to 23-22 AWG copper conductors for use in high-performance consolidation points and cross connects as an equipment cord.

Available in both 10Gb/s category 6A shielded and UTP configurations, these new solid cords feature the patented Z-MAX 6A RJ-45 Smart-Plug design that integrates a precisely tuned printed circuit board (PCB) into every plug.  Normally found only in outlets, the integrated PCB provides enhanced signal tuning capabilities, allowing the cord’s transmission parameters to be perfectly matched to the Z-MAX outlet.  This Smart Plug technology supplies the best in class guaranteed category 6A margins when utilized as part of an end-to-end Z-MAX 6A cabling system.

Z-MAX’s PCB-based plug design enables it to be terminated to either stranded or solid, shielded or UTP category 6A cables.  The new Z-MAX 6A modular solid cords extend the distance reach from consolidation points and cross-connects compared to stranded cords, which must be de-rated per industry standards.  Standard RJ-45 plugs cannot be factory or field terminated to most solid 6A cables due to their inability to accept the larger-diameter solid cable conductors. These historical limitations are eliminated with the Z-MAX plug.  

In the Z-MAX plug, cable conductors are terminated to the PCB at the rear of the plug rather than directly to the plug contacts, as in traditional plugs.  This not only supports larger conductor sizes,  but minimizes the pair untwisting often responsible for transmission issues in standard plugs. In addition the Z-MAX plug features a unique Zero-Cross™ termination that eliminates the split pair and pair-cross condition responsible for increased signal noise and performance degradation common in non-PCB RJ-45 plugs. The plug’s fixed front contacts also ensure proper mating with outlets to eliminate performance issues with contact height variability of traditional crimp-style terminations.

Standards compliant and fully backwards compatible with any standards-based RJ-45 outlet, Z-MAX category 6A cords feature a low profile boot design, which optimizes side-stackability of patch cords and enables usage in even the highest density connectivity environments.  A cantilevered latch design further enhances the cord’s high-density accessibility by allowing latch activation from further back on the boot.  Removable colored clips allow simple, high-visibility field color-coding even when cords are connected.

In addition to the exclusive Z-MAX Smart-Plug enabled solid or stranded cords, Siemon’s revolutionary Z-MAX end-to-end category 6A/class E_A network cabling solution includes the innovative Z-MAX outlet, which offers best-in-class termination times of less than 60 seconds for both UTP and shielded varieties; one part number for both flat or angled work area mounting, high-density modular patch panels offering up to 48 ports in just 1 U; and Siemon’s high performance category 6A shielded or UTP cable.

To receive more information about Siemon’s end-to-end category 6A Z-MAX solution, and to access Z-MAX resources such as whitepapers, detailed specifications, termination videos and more, visit www.siemon.com/go/zmax.

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.

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Siemon Announces Secure Connectivity Options for 40+Gb/s High-Speed Data Center Interconnects

Low latency, 40+Gb/s SFF-8470 passive copper interconnect assemblies available with ruggedized thumbscrew fasteners

Watertown, Connecticut – November 11, 2010 –   Siemon, a leading global manufacturer of IT network cabling and infrastructure systems, announces the addition of a thumbscrew fastener option for their 40+Gb/s SFF-8470 4X passive copper cabling assemblies.  The thumbscrew provides added physical security to these high-speed low-latency interconnects, eliminating the possibility of accidental disconnections in SAS storage, ruggedized and military data center applications.

Siemon’s SFF-8470 assemblies offer data transfer rates from 2.5Gb/s to 10+ Gb/s per lane for support of high-speed interconnect applications such as high-performance computing (HPC), enterprise networking and network storage systems.
 To learn more about Siemon’s SFF-8470 assemblies visit: http://www.siemon.com/sis/

These high-speed interconnect assemblies feature a shielded wafer construction where the signal conductors are directly attached to the connector's contacts eliminating a printed circuit board and enhancing noise resistance to maximize signal integrity. The twin-axial shielded cable conductors are laser welded reducing crosstalk and jitter to support 10+Gb/s data rates.  SFF-8470 die cast back shells and screws are interoperable with all compliant interfaces.

Siemon’s 8470 interconnects support a wide array of data protocols/interfaces, including SAS, InfiniBand SDR, DDR and QDR; Ethernet 10GBaseCX4, 40GBaseCR4. These cables also support FibreChannel, RapidIO, Myrinet, SATA, Aurora, VITA VXS and XAUI/XAUI-2 IO interface links as well as SONET/SDH.

Product options available include 24 to 30 wire gauges and various assembly lengths for specific applications.

“Siemon's SFF 8470 supports the second generation of the Shielded Multi-Lane SFF-8470 copper cabling standard with data rates through 10+Gb/s per lane for IO interface applications” said Ed Cady, Business Development Manager for Siemon Interconnect Solutions division. “By adding robust thumbscrew connectivity, we have created a more secure high-speed interconnect option and brought 8470 performance to more challenging environments."

Learn more about Siemon’s high-speed interconnect products at: www.siemon.com/sis

Follow Siemon Interconnect Solutions on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siemonis/

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

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Thomas & Betts Corporation Announces Plan to Divest Non-Strategic Communications Products Business

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov 11, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Thomas & Betts Corporation (NYSE:TNB) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its communications products business to Belden Inc. (NYSE: BDC) for cash consideration of $78 million. The business, which is included in the company's global Electrical segment, generated approximately $45 million in sales and approximately $0.09 earnings per diluted share for the first nine months of 2010. The transaction is expected to be completed by year-end 2010, subject to regulatory approval.

The communications products offering includes coaxial cable drop connectors, pole line hardware and telecom enclosures sold under the Snap-N-Seal(R), LRC(R), Diamond(R) and Kold-N-Klose(R) brand names. The sale includes, among other assets, two manufacturing facilities, the above-mentioned trade names and associated intellectual property.

"This was an opportune time to divest this non-strategic business," said Dominic J. Pileggi, chairman and chief executive officer of Thomas & Betts. "We continue to focus on our strategy of enhancing our core electrical products portfolio and expanding our global market presence as demonstrated by our strategic acquisitions earlier this year."

In the fourth quarter, the results of this business will be shown as "Discontinued Operations" and all prior periods will be restated to reflect this classification. It is expected that, after allocation of segment goodwill, the divestiture will result in an after-tax, non-cash book loss of approximately $10 million.

Belden Inc. (www.belden.com) designs, manufactures and markets cable, connectivity and networking products for industrial automation, enterprise, transportation, infrastructure and consumer electronics.

Thomas & Betts Corporation (www.tnb.com) is a leading designer and manufacturer of electrical components used in industrial, construction and utility markets. The company is also a leading producer of commercial heating and ventilation units and highly engineered steel structures used for utility transmission. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company has manufacturing, distribution and office facilities worldwide.

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TIA Files Comments to USTR Supporting Malaysia Joining Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement Negotiations

Telecommunications Industry Association Advocates for Including Multilateral Trade and Regulatory Principles That Will Benefit the ICT Sector, Including Technology Neutrality, the Government Procurement Agreement, and a Mutual Recognition Agreement

Washington, D.C. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) officially filed comments with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) supporting Malaysia in joining negotiations of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, which includes Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

"The Asia-Pacific region is the largest telecommunications market in the world and holds tremendous opportunity for growth," said TIA President Grant Seiffert. "TIA supports a trade agreement with the TPP countries and would like to see USTR build upon its efforts in the future and extend it to include other countries in the region, including Malaysia."

In the filing, TIA specifically urges the TPP to include commitments by countries to sign the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Information Technology and Government Procurement Agreements, and establish an independent telecommunications regulator if one does not exist. TIA also encourages TPP countries to establish Mutual Recognition Agreements under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) framework. Supporting the inclusion of these market-oriented, technology neutral principles in the final agreement will help build a strong, global, digital economy based on quality infrastructure, network of services, and a solid legal and commercial framework.

TIA's Trans-Pacific Partnership submission is available on its USTR filings page at tiaonline.org.

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.

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., Walkerand Associates and WirefreeCom, Inc. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates and Telcordia Technologies.

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TIA Hails Congressional Passage of the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010

Legislation Will Be Sent to the White House for President Obama's Signature

Washington, D.C. - The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) applauded both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for passage of the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010. The House voted to approve the Act yesterday. As the Senate had already passed the full legislation by unanimous consent, the bill will now be sent to the White House for signing by President Obama.

The legislation gives federal agencies 180 days to develop and implement eligibility requirements for employees. The legislation also requires each agency to provide training and management for teleworkers, establish nondiscriminatory policies, establish information security guidelines, and designate an employee as the telework managing officer for each agency.

"TIA thanks Congress for its support on the telework issue, which will enable federal employees to take further advantage of the advances in information and communications technology to improve efficiency while reducing the carbon footprint of the United States," said TIA President Grant Seiffert. "We're also proud that innovation by our member companies helped forge this new reality, which we also take advantage of at TIA through our own telework policy. This is a great day for America."

TIA looks forward following up with the Administration and federal agencies to discuss how the new law is implemented.

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.

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., Walkerand Associates and WirefreeCom, Inc. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates and Telcordia Technologies.

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WESCO to Acquire TVC Communications

PITTSBURGH, November 17, 2010/PRNewswire/ -- WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC), a leading provider of electrical and industrial MRO products, construction materials, and advanced integrated supply procurement outsourcing services, today announced that WESCO Distribution, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire TVC Communications, L.L.C. (TVC) from Palisades Associates, a Bethesda, Maryland-based private equity firm. The transaction is subject to certain customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. 

TVC, headquartered in Annville, Pennsylvania, and founded in 1952, is a leading distributor of broadband communications network infrastructure products serving the cable, telecommunications and satellite industries.  TVC has annualized sales as of October 31, 2010, of approximately $300 million, employs over 300 employees, and operates 20 locations serving markets in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe. 

Mr. John J. Engel, WESCO’s President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “I am very pleased to announce the acquisition of TVC Communications, a leading distributor of broadband infrastructure products and services.  Our strategy of providing industry leading supply chain solutions to our global customers is being executed as we continue to expand our business through above-market organic growth and accretive acquisitions.  TVC strengthens WESCO’s data communications platform by providing a more comprehensive suite of products and services to existing and new customers, while expanding our geographic footprint into previously untapped international growth markets.  The purchase price for TVC is expected to be approximately $246.5 million, subject to certain closing adjustments. The acquisition will be financed utilizing WESCO’s existing cash and credit facilities. We expect this acquisition to be immediately accretive, and we currently estimate an improvement to WESCO’s 2011 diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.30 or more. Closing of the transaction is expected to occur prior to year-end.”      

Mr. Stephen A. Van Oss, WESCO’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, stated, “The addition of TVC will make WESCO the leading one-stop-shop for enterprise and telecommunication infrastructure solutions by providing the necessary products to support the entire broadband network, from signal origination to and through the customer premises. TVC has a track record of success, and an experienced management team that will report to David Bemoras, Vice President and General Manager of our Data Communications and Security business. We are looking forward to the addition of this seasoned and energetic management team to WESCO.”

Mr. James Manari, President and Chief Operating Officer of TVC, commented, “We are excited to have the opportunity to be part of the WESCO organization, with its outstanding supply chain capabilities and broad product and service offerings.  The combined resources of our companies, in addition to our industry knowledge, experience and excellent customer service, will provide a terrific value proposition to both our customers and our loyal supplier and manufacturing partners.”

About WESCO:  WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC) is a publicly traded Fortune 500 holding company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose primary operating entity is WESCO Distribution, Inc.  WESCO Distribution is a leading distributor of electrical construction products and electrical and industrial maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies, and is the nation's largest provider of integrated supply services.  2009 annual sales were approximately $4.6 billion.  The Company employs approximately 6,100 people, maintains relationships with over 17,000 suppliers, and serves over 100,000 customers worldwide.  Major markets include commercial and industrial firms, contractors, government agencies, educational institutions, telecommunications businesses and utilities.  WESCO operates seven fully automated distribution centers and approximately 380 full-service branches in North America and select international markets, providing a local presence for area customers and a global network to serve multi-location businesses and multi-national corporations.

About TVC:  For more than 50 years, TVC Communications, L.L.C.  has been providing integrated business solutions to the broadband telecommunications industry. Whether a network uses fiber optic cable, twisted pair or coaxial cable, TVC offers the technical products and supportive services to help its customers understand and meet their communications goals in the US, Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America.  Backed by close working relationships with top manufacturers and a deep understanding of the applications and technology behind the products it sells, TVC has proven itself to be a valued partner to both the broadband cable and telecommunications industries.

About Palisades:  Palisades Associates, Inc., is a merchant banking firm based in Bethesda, Maryland.  Palisades acquires middle-market companies which enjoy historical leadership positions and are led by solid management teams, but which require new capital, debt restructuring or strategic repositioning in order to refine their business models and resume profitable growth.  Over the last few years, Palisades has successfully invested in historical leaders in industries as diverse as electronic component distribution and food processing.

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FIBER OPTIC CABLING LOOKS BETTER EVERY DAY

Dyneon withdraws from FEP production, but the remaining two major FEP producers (DuPont and Daikin) remain at full strength. DuPont recently announced the second round of price increases for Teflon FEP and Daikin quickly followed suit with a price increase on their Neoflon FEP.

Industry insiders speculate if the increases may be due to price fixing or inflation. In any event, the price of plenum approved cable may climb more than 10% before the end of next month. Cabling Contractors are being cautioned to limit their bid price guarantees. 

Claims that China is to blame for the price increases are offered as the excuse for the FEP price increases. This may be only a small part of the price increases from Daikin & DuPont.

The FEP prices do not affect the prices of cable in Europe, because their code will not permit halogen materials in the cabling. Low Smoke - Zero Halogen and RoHS is the safety approved cable for the EU.

Adding to the price pressure of FEP (fluorinated Ethylene Propylene) from DuPont and Daikin, copper prices are up to $3.68 per pound as of October 1, 2010. This is still lower than the all time high of $3.94 per pound in April 2008.

In any event, these conditions have the Fiber Optic cable manufacturers looking at a narrowing window of costs between copper and fiber.

But that’ 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

frank@wireville.com 

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COUNTERFEITSCANKILL.COM REALLY WORKS

www.counterfeitscankill.com

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