During the first Clean Energy Ministerial, which attracted 24
governments, DOE announced that the United States will help
launch 11 international clean energy initiatives, ranging from
increased electric vehicle use to distribution of 10 million
solar LEDs to the world’s poorest.

DOE has announced $30 million in Recovery Act and FY 2010
funds to help small businesses commercialize promising new
technologies. Applications are being accepted in the
technology areas of biomass, buildings, geothermal,
photovoltaics, wind power, vehicle efficiency, and energy
transmission and storage.

DOE is embarking on initiatives to install cool roofs on its
buildings whenever practical and is urging other federal
agencies and commercial entities to do the same. Cool roofs
will reduce energy use, limit carbon pollution, and save
taxpayer money, DOE says.

The size of new single-family homes dropped in 2009,
according to a new report from a housing association, in part
to drive energy costs down. Another survey shows new
homes have steadily become more energy efficient over the
past decades.

The U.S. Department of Energy today announced 15 research
and deployment partnerships to help dramatically improve
the energy efficiency of American homes.

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today
announced a series of initiatives underway at the Department
of Energy to more broadly implement cool roof technologies
on DOE facilities and buildings across the federal government.

DOE has awarded $92 million for new Advanced Research
Projects AgencyEnergy projects in 18 states that will
accelerate innovation in clean energy technologies, increase
competitiveness, and create U.S. jobs.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced 43
cutting-edge research projects that aim to dramatically
improve how the U.S. uses and produces energy.

DOE has selected 58 projects to receive more than $76
million in Recovery Act funds to develop advanced
energy-efficiency building technologies as well as
commercial building training programs.

Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Utah have
weatherized a total of more than 9,000 homes with Recovery
Act funding so far, hitting targets that entitle them to
access all of their Recovery Act funding for DOE’s
Weatherization Assistance Program. Seven other states
already crossed that threshold.

DOE announced awards totaling more than $76 million in
funding from the Recovery Act to support advanced energy-
efficient building technology projects and the development of
training programs for commercial building equipment
technicians, building operators, and energy auditors.

Thirty-four weatherization training centers in 27 states will
receive $29 million in DOE grants under the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The energy efficiency funds
will go toward expanding eight existing training centers and
establishing 26 new ones.

DOE has ordered Aspen Manufacturing, Inc.; Summit
Manufacturing; and Advanced Distributor Products to halt the
distribution of 61 models of heat pumps and one air
conditioner model that do not comply with federal energy
conservation standards.

Stand-alone data centers and buildings that house large data
centers can now earn the Energy Star label if they are in the
top 25% of their peers in terms of energy efficiency. Those
looking to earn that label should check out the best practices
compiled by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has joined
with eight Energy Star partner utilities and state energy
efficiency programs located throughout the country in a pilot
program to target commercial building energy efficiency.

Leaders from 15 countries, the European Commission, and
the United States have held the first policy meeting of the
International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation
(IPEEC). DOE Assistant Secretary Cathy Zoi was picked as
the first policy committee chair.

Assistant Secretary Cathy Zoi of the joined leaders from 15
countries and the European Commission today at the first
Policy Committee meeting of the International Partnership for
Energy Efficiency Cooperation to promote global collaboration
on energy-saving programs and policies.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
sponsoring a national energy efficiency contest, featuring 14
commercial buildings from across the country competing to
trim kilowatt-hours. The winner will be announced at EPA’s
final “weigh-in” on October 26.

Vice President Joe Biden has announced the 25 communities
selected for up to $452 million in Recovery Act funds under
DOE’s “Retrofit Ramp-Up.” The funds will leverage an
estimated $2.8 billion from other sources for these pilot
projects.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has selected the
top ten green buildings for 2010, citing examples in six states
and two foreign countries of buildings which make the best
use of energy efficiency strategies such as natural
daylighting, shading, and ventilation.

DOE has selected the 20 collegiate teams to compete in the
2011 Solar Decathlon, which will be held on the National Mall
in Washington, D.C. The teams, representing five countries
and four continents, will compete to design and build the
most affordable energy-efficient and solar-powered houses.

DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
have announced changes to the certification process for
Energy Star products. Manufacturers must now submit
complete lab reports to the EPA for its review and approval.

The United States has invested $4 billion in Recovery Act
funds for the energy-efficient construction and renovation of
federal buildings nationwide. The money is being spent on
new construction and upgrades such as high-efficiency
heating and cooling, solar panels, and solar water heaters.

DOE has finalized tougher appliance standards for home
water heaters and other heating products. The new standards
will save consumers up to $10 billion over 30 years and are
part of the $300 billion that will be saved from DOE’s
increased standards on more than 20 types of products.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the
Department of Energy today jointly announced changes to
the ENERGY STAR product certification process to ensure that
only products meeting the ENERGY STAR requirements can
receive an ENERGY STAR label.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu
announced today that the Department has finalized higher
energy efficiency standards for a key group of heating
appliances that will together save consumers up to $10 billion
and prevent up to 164 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
emissions over 30 years.

DOE is committing $37.5 million in funding over the next five
years to support the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research
Center. The joint initiative will focus initially on building
energy efficiency and clean vehicles, as well as carbon
capture and storage.

Extension cords are in my opinion, one of the top most misused pieces of electrical equipment. Not only on a construction site, but also at home. With the holiday season approaching fast, many households will start setting up their holiday lights and displays – this is why I would like to go over some basic Extension Cord Safety.

One of the most important things to remember about extension cords is, the size of the wire in the cord must be compatible to the amount of power the cord will be expected to carry. Most equipment on a construction site will have a name plate that will state the operation current the equipment will use, and most holiday lighting will also have this information, either on the package or in the instructions that are provided. Finding out the operation current for your extension needs is fairly simple, the formula that you would use is as follows:

Watts Divided by Voltage = Current Rating (Amps)

For example: The lights you are going to use are listed at 15 watts per set, and you are going to have 10 sets of lights on the extension cord, all you would need to do is, first – multiply the 15 watts by your 10 sets, this will give you a total of 150 watts, now divide your 150 watts by 120 volts, this will give you a total of 1.25 amps, with this size load you now know that you could use an extension cord with a wire size of #16 AWG (American Wire Gauge).

With this information, we can now go over what size extension cord to use for the amperage you will need. An extension cord with a #16 AWG would be good for up to 13 amps, a #14 AWG would be good for up to 18 amps (I myself would not exceed 15 amps), and an extension cord with a #12 AWG would be good for up to 25 amps, although I would recommend not exceeding 20 amps with the #12 AWG.

The following are some more safety tips pertaining to EXTENSION CORD SAFETY;

A typical extension cord should have four basic components:

1. A third wire in the cord, called a ground wire
2. A three-prong plug on one end of the cord
3. A three-wire, grounding type receptacle at the other end of the cord
4. Used with the proper grounding outlet (I recommend using a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)

And remember, never use an extension cord if you see exposed conductor wires (this is the wire inside the extension cord outer jacket). If you feel the extension cord is unsafe, then replace it – a new extension cord costs less than a trip to the emergency room or a fire in your house. If you just use a little common sense while setting up your holiday lights and displays, you should have a safe holiday season.

Leonard Kessner
Safety Director

Basic Backhoe Safety

Last week in my blog, I spoke about Excavation and Trenching, so this week I thought I would follow up on last week’s blog by going over some Basic Backhoe Safety precautions, being that backhoe’s are one of the most common pieces of equipment used for excavation.

Backhoe’s come in a wide array of styles and sizes, the main type I will be going over is the standard wheeled tractor type, with a front-end loader (bucket) and a hoe attachment with outriggers. This type of backhoe is relatively small, powerful, and quick; a backhoe’s multipurpose flexibility makes it one of the best choices for our industry, but like any piece of heavy equipment, it is very important to follow basic safety procedures when operating, or working around a backhoe. The following are just a few of the main Basic Backhoe Safety tips.

• The operator should be trained and be familiar with the backhoe he will be using.
• Although we rent our backhoe’s, and they should be delivered to the job site after a complete inspection, the operator should also inspect the backhoe for proper operation and mechanical problems at the start of each day.
• Never start or operate the backhoe except from the operators seat, and always wear the seat belt.
• Never dig while employee’s are working under or around the backhoe.
• Never use the front loader (bucket) as a man lift.
• When using the hoe attachment, always use the outriggers.
• When traveling with a load, keep the load centered and close to the ground.

Remember, most injuries involving a backhoe do not occur to the operator, but to the ground personnel working in the vicinity of the backhoe, so always be aware of the location of all personnel working near your backhoe. It is our company policy that all personnel working near or around a backhoe, or even a trencher, must wear a hard hat and Hi-Vis safety vest. Backhoes are an excellent labor saving piece of equipment! However, careless operation may result in costing life or limb.

Leonard Kessner
Safety Director

This week I would like to talk a little about Excavation and Trenching. Cave-ins due to Excavation and Trenching result in more than 100 fatalities each year. This is due to improperly protected walls of an excavated area, which can trap workers. Not only can a improperly protected wall cause injury or death, but also an improper barricade or flagged excavation area can put one in harm’s way.

There are a few ways to protect against injury from trench collapse. Protective systems that can be used include sloping, shoring, trench shield, and step trenching. Sloping is accomplished by cutting the banks back at an angle, with the proper angle, the soil would not slide toward the worker. Shoring would be a system of supports that brace the side walls of an excavation. Trench shield is a heavy metal box designed to be placed in the trench where workers would be inside the box and protected from a cave-in. Another system would be Step trenching. Step trenching is when you excavate the trench in a way that the trench would look like a large set of steps, working from the lowest area of the trench and working upward, and outward. Excavations four feet deep or more must also have at all time, sufficient means of emergency exit, this would be, a ladder (or some other means) within 25 feet of lateral travel from where work is being preformed.

Along with the proper wall protection for Excavation and Trenching, another very important safety system that should be installed, would be the use of proper barricading or flagging of the open trench. It is not unusual for a route that you were able to travel one day to be cut off by open trenching the next, or even the same day; this is why using the proper barricade or flagging is so important – this will allow workers and vehicle traffic to avoid the hazard area.

You can find more information on Excavation and Trenching in the OSHA Construction Standards, Subpart P 1926.650-.652

Len Kessner
Safety Director

Lucky us – it’s that time of year for all of us to look toward the flu season – and this year, the CDC is telling us that we can expect to see a flu pandemic. A new pandemic virus can spread easily from one person to another, mostly by sneezing and coughing. When someone who is sick with a flu virus, and they sneeze or cough near you, you can then breath in droplets in the air that have the flu virus. Those virus droplets can also land on surfaces that you may touch with your hands.

To help in the keeping yourself, your family, and co-workers safe from any flu virus – keep the following in mind: Wash your hands often with soap and water, and if soap and water are not around – use a alcohol based hand gel. Always remember to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough, and you should sneeze and cough into your sleeve not your hands, this is if a tissue is not available. Limit contact around others that might have the flu virus will slow down the spread of the virus. Being around others makes you more likely to get sick and make others sick. If you do get sick with the flu, stay home, this means STAY HOME, don’t leave your house, have someone else go to the store and run errands for you. Even going to your doctor can spread the flu virus, so if you really don’t need to see your doctor – then don’t. Ask your boss about options for working from home if you can, until you feel better.

A flu pandemic is something none of us really want to deal with, so let’s all do our part to help prevent a flu pandemic, and keep ourselves, family and co-workers healthy and safe!

Thanks,

Leonard Kessner
Safety Director

There is a new tool out to help choose quality LED lighting products, the Lighting Facts Label. Similar to a nutrition label, the Lighting Facts Label provides a summary of performance data for LED lighting products. Lighting manufacturers who take the SSL (Solid State Lighting) Quality Advocates pledge agree to use the label to disclose performance results in key areas – lumens, efficacy, watts, correlated color temperature (CCT) and color rendering index (CRI) – as measured by the new industry standard for testing photometric performance, IES LM-79-2008. There is a list of 160 LED products that qualify to use the Lighting Facts label available at the DOE website.

Jason
Estimator

The week of October 4 – 10 is National Fire Prevention Week, and with this week being Fire Prevention Week, I thought it would be the perfect time to discuss the different types, proper location, and inspection of fire extinguishers.

Fire Extinguishers are classified by the type of fire that they will be used on. A Class ‘A’ Fire Extinguisher is used for your ordinary types of combustibles, like wood, textiles, paper and some plastics. Extinguishers that are used for class A fires should be identified with a triangle and the letter “A”. If the label is in color, the triangle should be green in color. A Class ‘B’ Fire Extinguisher is used on flammable liquids and gas fires like oil, gasoline, ect., this type of extinguisher should be identified by a square and the letter “B”. If the label is in color, the square should be red in color. A Class ‘C’ Fire Extinguisher is used on fires that have live electrical equipment, or electrical power involved. A Class ‘D’ Fire Extinguisher would be used combustible metals like sodium, magnesium, etc., this fire extinguisher would be marked with a five-point star and have the letter “D”, and if in color, the stare would be yellow. One more class would be Class ‘K’, this one would be used on fires involving fats, grease, and oils that you would find in kitchens, this class of fire extinguisher would be mark just with the letter “K”, no shape or color.

Next, let’s look at location for the different types of Fire Extinguishers. A Class A should be no more than 75 feet in travel distance, a Class B should be at 50 feet of travel distance, and the Class C is normally based on the hazards that the Class A and B would be used on, typically you would want the Class C to be no more than 50 feet away in my opinion, the Class D would be t a travel distance of no more than 75 feet, and last, the Class K, there is no real requirement on distance. The Class K type FIRE EXTINGUISHER is typically located near the point of possible fire ignition.

Last, I would like to go over briefly inspecting Fire Extinguishers, portable Fire Extinguishers must have a visual inspection monthly, the inspection should cover the following;

1. They are in their assigned location
2. They are not hidden nor blocked
3. They are mounted in accordance with the NFPA Standard #10
4. Pressure gauge show adequate pressure
5. Pin and seals are in place
6. No visual sign of damage or abuse
7. The nozzle is free of blockage

If you would like more information on FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, please look at the OSHA reg 29CFR 1910.157 portable Fire Extinguishers, or the NFPA Standard #10, portable Fire Extinguishers.

Len
Safety Director

According to industry sales data, T-12 Fluorescent lamps still account for 3 out of 10 fluorescent lamps sold in the U.S. With the July 1, 2010 date for the final step of a multi-step phaseout of T-12 Ballast quickly approaching, there is still opportunity to put together lighting retrofit projects for all of these commercial and industrial facilities that are still using T-12 technologies that are literally 70 years old. Facility owners and managers stand to reap significant benefits from these upgrades, from increased energy savings of as much as 48% to incentive programs offered by the Federal Government and State agencies that can offer a 2 to 3 year payback for these projects. Now is the time to act, contact Harmon Electric to find a lighting solution that’s right for you.

Jason
Estimator

This week I would like to talk about basic hand tool safety, hand tool safety depends on the right tool for the job! Some people think that if you are at home working, you can get away with using tools improperly or substituting one tool for another. Our work makes rugged demands on our hand tools, so why cut corners at home. When you misuse a tool, or use the improper tool for the job, or use one in poor condition, it can result in an injury.

It is important that you choose the right tool for the job, at home and at work. Would you use a hammer to drive a screw? I would hope not! Or a Phillips screw driver to punch a hole? Not me. Why take a chance of injury? Get the right tool to do the job. Even if it takes a little more time to complete the job, you will not only prevent the possibility of injury, but you will also save your tool from damage. Once you use the improper tool for a job, and damage it, you never know what might happen. For instance, using a hammer that has a head on it that is loose or wiggles, you never know just when that head of the hammer might fly off, and hurt you or a co-worker – if the hammer is in question, replace it.

Here are just a few tips for using tools in a safer manner;

• Always cut away from yourself, not towards yourself
• Don’t use a chisel or screw driver as a pry bar
• Don’t’ use a file without a handle
• Use the full handle of a hammer, don’t choke up on it, you’ll lose control of it
• Tools are not toys, if someone wants to borrow a tool, hand it to them, don’t throw it. It’s not a ball – it’s a tool!

Basic hand tool safety starts with you, just use some common sense, if you don’t know how to use a tool, or what tool to use, don’t be afraid to ask someone who does.

Len
Safety Director

Maintenance programs for lighting are a good way to make sure that you facility lighting doesn’t come into disrepair, which keeps production levels high, but most of the time it overlooks real cost saving areas. Instead of just replacing bad lamps and ballasts with the same old thing as is customary, take a look at the following ideas that can help make your maintenance program even more effective.

Cleaning fixture lenses and reflectors will increase light output and also the dirt and bug build up will increase the amount of heat inside the fixture which in turn will decrease the efficiency and life of the new lamps and of ballasts that you just installed.

Look into more modern and efficient lighting technologies to replace your old and inefficient lighting systems. Cost can always be prohibitive when looking an entire facility upgrade, so just start with one room. Motion sensors can be installed to save wasted energy when no one is occupying the space. New 2X4 T-5 HO (High Output)direct/indirect lighting can put out more usable light with less power that older prismatic lens, parabolic, and even older direct/indirect 2X4 lighting.

There are a lot of newer lighting technologies out there that have been put to the test, and the prices are coming down daily as the technology becomes more and more commonplace with set standards. Starting slowly with your lighting system maintenance on a monthly basis you can build a more efficient and more effective lighting system for your building.

Jason
Estimator

Most of us have taken a shortcut at one time or another. I know when I was a kid, I would climb over a fence if it was quicker than using the gate, or cut through an empty field, instead of walking through the neighborhood. In many cases, a shortcut can involve danger.

If you are in the habit of taking dangerous shortcuts, break it. Working in construction, a shortcut can be deadly.

If you are in need of reaching a higher elevation, don’t use a bucket turned upside-down, or a stack of boxes, or even a chair – use a ladder, that is what it was built for! Don’t just try to avoid dangerous situations, make it your goal, and if you see there’s no safe way – Let someone know – and I am sure every attempt will be made to access the necessary means to make it safe! We all deserve the right to go home at the end of each and every day without injury. So keep in the front of your mind (not the back), the shortcut you want to take, may not be the safe way to go.

Len
Safety Director

Have you ever thought of ways to make your job safer? Perhaps if someone came up with a better and Safer tool to use, or a safer piece of equipment – maybe a way to simplify construction methods. But here is something most people give no thought to – Practicing Good Housekeeping.

Poor Housekeeping can cause accidents, results can range from a small cut to a loss of life. A nail in a scrapped Piece of wood, a cluttered walkway, scrap conduit, even your lunch trash can cause an accident!

Once-A-Day or Once-A-Week clean up is just not enough. Good Housekeeping is a continuing process in which everyone must participate in throughout the work day!

The following are some simple ideas towards Good Housekeeping:

• Keeping extension cords off the floor as much as possible, hung them if you can, just no low enough that someone could hang them self
• Keep walkways clean and clear of trash
• Keep scrap conduit and wood picked up
• Clean up spills and liquids on the floor to prevent slipping hazards
• Keep storage areas and storage containers neat and orderly
• Use trash cans for your empty lunch bags and other food rubbish, like soda cans, water bottles, plates and hamburger containers, etc.

Good Housekeeping does pay off. It is easier and safer to work in a clean area than in a cluttered junk pile – Good Housekeeping is everyone’s job.

Len
Safety Director

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been traveling a lot more on the freeways, as I have joined a gym that is located about 15 miles away from my house. I used to drive around the valley a lot as a service technician. I have forgotten how frustrating it can be to deal with traffic. The direction that I go to the gym actually has less traffic than going the other way, so it’s not like I’m dealing with “Rush Hour” (ever notice that rush hour actually lasts about 3 hours!). What I have noticed is that people can’t seem to keep a consistent speed. The speed limit is 65 M.P.H. and traffic in the fast lane is going from 75 M.P.H to 55 M.P.H …WHY? I look ahead and I can see the one car that is in the fast lane with about a dozen other cars backed up behind them. This driver has decided that they can drive however they want, wherever they want without consideration for others. It doesn’t matter that they are being passed by a constant stream of red faced drivers who, trust me, are not waving “hi.” These same drivers in a situation where a lane is ending and traffic is really heavy, will pull part way into that lane that is ending, in order to keep you from passing them in that lane, even when there is 1000′ till the lane actually ends. I guess that they figure that if they have to wait in a longer line then you should too, however what I think is that they are just too stupid to realize that if they had gotten in that lane they could be ahead of you. If traffic can fill up all the space available for the merge, then at the point at which you HAVE to merge, if everyone will just take their turn and one car from each lane at a time merges, it’s like a zipper, and traffic moves as efficiently as it can in a grid lock.

What all of these annoying practices of these drivers comes down to is a problem that is rampant everywhere…People are selfish and don’t consider others. Next time you are on the road and you see that guy coming up behind you really fast, pull into the lane next to you, and let him go by, even if he is not driving the way you think he should, it is the considerate thing to do.

Jason
Estimator

Your employer can do everything he/she can to protect you while on the job, we can issue protective equipment, post signs, have safety meetings, but off-the-job safety is in your hands. Your safety away from work is important to your employer. It’s not easy to replace good employees, even temporarily. So, when you get hurt away from work, your employer will suffer too. Not only that, we hate to see anyone injured, on the job or off.

Take your safety practices from work home with you. You wouldn’t work without eye protection at work if it is required, so why work in your workshop at home without it? And don’t overlook safety during recreation either. Have you ever noticed how many injuries happen when people are playing football in the backyard on the weekend, or skiing on a weekend getaway. Don’t overdo it when it comes to recreation, play with the kids, but don’t try to keep up with them, you are no longer one yourself. Remember, if you are over 20, what you were doing all day, now takes all day to do. Safety belongs in our life all the time, not just at work.

Len
Safety Director

I believe that there are three words that belong together, the three words are common, sense, and safety – If you think about it, safety more times than not is nothing more than common sense! That is why I believe these three words belong together – COMMON SENSE SAFETY

Here is something to remember: If you are the one who has an accident, then you are the one who is going to suffer the pain and the potential loss of income – so again I say common sense safety.

Some common sense safety tips:

• Be alert, pay attention, know what’s going on around you and your work area
• Wear the appropriate PPE, no matter how inconvenient it may seem
• Keep your work area clean and hazard free
• Never be afraid to ask for assistance to move or lift heavy items
• Take safety seriously

Common sense safety is often simply thinking before doing, working safe and responsibly is everyone’s job.

Len
Safety Director

DOE issued a subpoena to AeroSys, Inc. on July 23 to obtain
data necessary to determine whether certain AeroSys
commercial air conditioners and heat pumps comply with
relevant DOE energy efficiency standards.

At this being not only summer time, but also being our Monsoon season, with working in the hot and humid days, certain precautions must be taken. Overexposure to high temperature and humidity levels during prolonged physical exertion may result in HEAT CRAMPS, HEAT EXHAUSTION, or HEAT STROKE. Working in very hot or poorly ventilated workspaces should be avoided during the peak heat hours of the day.

When the body is unable to cool itself through sweating, heat illnesses may occur. The most severe heat induced illnesses are HEAT EXHAUSTION and HEAT STROKE. If actions are not taken to treat HEAT EXHAUSTION, the illness could progress to HEAT STROKE and death.

At this time of year, with the high temperatures and high humidity, it is extremely important to remember to replace the fluids that you have lost, avoid long periods of sun exposure, try and use shading if possible, have a fan to help move air and keep you cooler. If you feel that you might be heading towards HEAT EXHAUSTION, you might place a cool damp towel over your head, on your neck, between your thighs, and even under your armpits, this will help in the lowering of your body core temperature.

I know that with working in the construction trades we cannot avoid working in the heat and the humidity, but we can do things that will help us to avoid HEAT EXHAUSTION, and HEAT STROKE, the main thing is to make sure you replace your fluids, and try to cool yourself down.

Here are the primary three categories and the signs to look out for:

HEAT CRAMPS – the first phase
Heat cramps are severe muscle spasms that often begin suddenly in the hands, calves, or feet, they are painful and disabling.

HEAT EXHAUSTION – the second phase
This causes excessive fluid loss, leading to fatigue, weakness, anxiety, low blood pressure, drenching sweat, faintness, and sometimes collapse.

HEAT STROKE – the third phase (sometimes called sunstroke)
Heat stroke is imminent when the body core approaches 106F, a higher temperature may result in coma, or even death. The symptoms to look for are; dizziness, weakness, nausea/vomiting, confusion, blurred vision, collapse, and unconsciousness.

Len
Safety Director

On any type of construction site, be it a job from ground up, a Solar installation, or even a simple service call, an electrical shock can come from the use of many types of tools, electric drills, saws, concrete breakers, roto hammers, ect. If these electrical tools and their power cords are not checked and properly maintained, the user of that tool or cord may be subject to electrical shock, which could result in burns and even death. OSHA requires that when using an electrical tool, or extension cord, it must be connected to a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), which disconnects the power at the slightest hint of an electrical problem.

The two safest ideas that I can recommend would be:

• At the beginning of every day you should first check all your extension cords and power tools
• Only plug into a GFCI protected circuit

If you notice that you have an extension cord, or electric tool with a bad cord, get it replaced/repaired immediately before continuing with that cord or tool.

Len
Safety Director

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced
the availability of nearly $300 million in funding from the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for state-run
rebate programs for consumer purchases of new ENERGY
STAR qualified home appliances.

Something I learned of today has me a little nostalgic. Unfortunately, this walk down memory lane was sparked by some very unfortunate news. It was just announced that Bashas’ Supermarkets Inc., our state’s family-owned grocery chain has filed Chapter 11 and is closing 10 of its 158 stores across the state. This news is very sad for so many reasons. The biggest one in my book is the unknown road that lies ahead for the hundreds of employees that must find a new job. Facing a very similar situation, more than 30 years ago, Richard Harmon was a casualty of budget cuts while working as a service electrician for A.J. Bayless. Another locally owned grocery chain, A.J. Bayless ultimately ceased operations, selling the last of its stores to Bashas in the late 80s. Can you see why the Bashas news struck a chord?

Fortunately for the electrical contracting and solar industry, after the layoff, Richard decided to remain self employed and worked as an independent service electrician. As the demand for his services grew, he eventually expanded into electrical installs for construction projects. Shortly after, Harmon Electric was born. I’m sure when Richard left A.J. Bayless he never expected that he would be responsible for a thriving electrical contracting and now a solar installation company. While tough times are scary, they also test our limits, and we often come out further ahead then we could have imagined. My deepest thoughts are with the Bashas family and their employees. Although a tough road ahead, I’m confident that several years from now, we’ll be reading the company’s success story and of another “Richard Harmon” who took the road less traveled.

Holly
Public Relations

DOE is providing more than $448 million in Recovery Act
funding to expand weatherization assistance programs in
Alabama, Idaho, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma,
Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington,
Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

One of my suppliers and I were discussing Lighting Retrofits, and he told be that FSC Lighting has a new energy efficient light out. The PLI 99100i is an Induction Parking lot light fixture that is available in a 100W or 200W fixture. This fixture is extremely efficient, it has an average lamp life of 100,000 hours compared with a standard Metal Halide lamp that has an average lamp life of 10,000 hours. It’s lamp design has no electrode which allows for installation in high vibration applications. Instant on and instant restrike allow for the lights to be “Full On” immediately compared with Metal Halides that take several minutes to get to full brightness, and can take up to 10 minutes to restart after being shut off. These fixtures are pricey, but the 10 year warranty for the lamp and ballast on all induction fixtures makes that cost worth the savings in lamp and ballast maintenance and replacement. Depending on the situation, it may also be possible to take advantage of lighting retrofit incentives.

If you are looking at lighting retrofits, but were unhappy with the bottom line, it’s time to take a second look with a Phoenix electrical contractor that has enlisted the help of a leader in the lighting retrofit industry.

Jason
Estimator

DOE is offering $3.9 billion in grants to support the
development and demonstration of smart grid technologies,
with the bulk of the money going toward awards of up to $200
million that will enable smart grid functions on the nation’s
power grid as soon as possible.

While only 12% of new homes built in the United States in
2007 earned the Energy Star label, the market share
increased to 17% in 2008, according to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. Nearly 940,000 Energy
Star-qualified homes have been built to date.

Fish Tapes are used in our industry on a daily basis, used to fish or snake power runs and low-volt communication lines through walls and ceilings. Fish Tapes are a quick and convenient way to pull lines without having to resort to unneeded demolition. Fish Tapes that are most commonly used are made of spring metal and can present laceration or electrical hazards to their user. Below you will find a few helpful hints to make your Fish Tape usage a little safer.

• DO NOT RUN A FISH TAPE THROUGH YOUR BARE HANDS; fish tapes can have sharp edges or burrs which can lacerate your hands
• BE AWARE OF THE SPRING HAZARD OF A COILD FISH TAPE; keep your fish tape constrained in the holder as much as possible
• BE AWARE OF ALL ELECTRICAL HAZARDS; never run a fish tape into a energized panel without first making safe the panel you are pushing to
• USE PROPER LOCKOUT/TAGOUT PROCEDURES; whenever possible while working around energized electrical circuits

Use common sense and work with extreme caution when using a fish tape, fish tapes can make your work easy, and they can present a hazard. Look before you fish.

Len
Safety Director

Yes, we are in the midst of the Dog Days of summer. The only problem is, in Arizona, the days last until September. Although we can stand the heat, sometimes the heat comes after us. It is understood that the monsoons in Arizona can be vicious and sudden. It is best to be prepared for all that can happen. With the frequency of lightning during our monsoon storms, there are things we can do to prevent electrical damages to our homes and our businesses.

I have heard all the warnings about the need to be prepared but keeping safe is a priority here at Harmon Electric. Our company employs high standards to keep your buildings safe. It is this standard that has helped us to have the pleasure of helping the Phoenix area grow to its great stature today.

Harmon Electric also cares about the citizens of Phoenix. I would like to remind you all that water, batteries, radios and important phone numbers are always good to have handy. It is also important to remember that your wiring must also be protected.

If you experience an outage, turn off lights, computers, televisions, air conditioners, digital equipment and dishwashers. Surge protectors, while helpful, are not designed to control a surge of large proportions. Shutting off systems is the best way to protect them. Power can be restored more quickly with a lower drain on the overall system. When your power does return, go though your home and restore these items one at a time. Too much of a power drain can overload the grid and knock out power again.

Harmon Electric has served fine companies in Arizona for over 34 years. We care about Arizona and we care about you.

Joe
Vice President of Construction

LED’s are on the cutting edge of Green Technologies. It seems that every manufacturer of lamps has a new line of LED lamps (light bulbs) and LED Luminaries (light fixtures). The marketing of these products is geared toward the fact that these lamps use a fraction of the power that even fluorescent lamps use, and the lamp life is extraordinary. However, these technologies are still fairly new, and standards are still being worked on. Before you go out and spend a small fortune to replace all or your existing lamps with an LED equivalent, you need to educate yourself about the issues that you can face.

Although the LED itself has an incredible life expectancy, the drivers that power them may not last as long, especially if they are going to be used outside in the extreme heat of Phoenix. It is very important to employ the services of a designer that is aware of not only the advantages, but also the disadvantages of LED’s. Harmon Electric and Harmon Solar have recently partnered with a company who is very knowledgeable about LED’s and is very willing to do a site visit and discuss ALL of the options available in LED technology, and whether or not LED is the way to go, or if there is another option that will be better.

Jason
Estimator

President Barack Obama and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven
Chu announced on June 29 aggressive actions to promote
energy efficiency and save U.S. consumers billions of dollars
per year.

Back injuries account for hundreds and hundreds of work place accidents, and over the years I have been one of them. The majority of all back injuries are caused by improper lifting and improper carrying. If too serious in nature, back injuries may require physical therapy and even surgery to correct the problem. Learning proper techniques for lifting and carrying materials will help to reduce the risk of back injuries.

Here is a simple hint to help you avoid a back injury, think through each lifting task before wrestling with something too heavy and/or awkward to handle. Think about how the material can best be handled and don’t be shy about asking someone to help, or wait on equipment such as a dolly or forklift to assist you in your task. Use your legs properly to save your back. Back injuries can be prevented with a little planning.

We all have only one back, let’s try to keep it in well condition.

Len
Safety Director

Despite a constant projected growth in electricity use over the
next decade, the peak power demand in the United States
could be held essentially steady, according to a new report
from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Achieving
that feat would involve the widespread use of “smart” meters
and utility rates that go up with increasing demand.

Have you looked at doing a lighting retrofit for your building in the past, and decided not to proceed because the rebates were not large enough? It’s time to take a second look. Because of new legislation there are more incentives available for lighting retrofits. In some cases, the owner of a building can receive a Personal Tax Deduction if the energy savings are enough.

I recently had a customer ask us about taking a second look at doing a retrofit on their building. Originally we just looked at replacing the existing lamps and ballasts (most of which were T-12 magnetic ballasts) with high efficiency T-8 Lamps and Ballasts. Now we are looking at replacing entire fixtures with new technologies that were not as readily available, and more expensive two years ago.

The last time that I looked at the project, I had to “go it alone”, looking for all of the information about what it took to get a rebate, and then where I could get all of the proper parts. It took a lot of time and energy to do this. Now, because there is such a demand for lighting retrofits, there are electrical contracting companies that are willing to help you do this initial work up. We have enlisted the help of a lighting supplier that deals with these types of jobs all the time. They are willing to go out to the jobsite with us, and the owner, and discuss the options. One of the greatest parts about it is that they are willing to provide 2 to 4 new fixtures that can be installed so that the customer can see the difference that these new technologies make.

Now is the time to take action. If you have already looked at lighting retrofits, but were unhappy with the bottom line, it’s time to take a second look with a Phoenix electrical contractor that has enlisted the help of a leader in the lighting retrofit industry.

Jason
Estimator

The importance of bonding and grounding in commercial, industrial, and solar installations cannot be overstated. The grounded circuits of all machines need to have an effective return path from the equipment to the power source in order to function properly. In addition, non-current-carrying metallic components in a facility, such as equipment cabinets, enclosures, and structural steel, need to be electrically interconnected so voltage potential cannot exist between them. Proper grounding is essential for the safety of all who come in contact with any type of energized equipment. It is up to the electrical contractor to insure that their electricians are up to date on the proper installation and code requirements governing the area.

Joe
Vice President of Construction

It is fact that most of all head injuries are caused by FALLING and/or FLYING OBJECTS, and also by BUMPING your head against objects (i.e.; piping, conduit, low head room, ect.).

Head protection (i.e.; helmets and/or hard hats) must meet all specifications contained in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI for short), Z89.1-1969, and for those exposed to high voltage electrical shock, the hard hat must meet the specifications of ANSI, Z89.2-1971.

Here at Harmon Electric Inc. and Harmon Solar, it is required by all our installers, to wear at all times while on the job site, a class ‘E’ hard hat – class ‘E’ hard hats are designated as utility service, high voltage hard hats, and are intended not only to protect from falling and flying objects, but also to protect from high voltage shock and burn. This class of hard hat is also required to be worn by all Harmon Electric Inc. electricians, be it they are working on Solar installations, or on our commercial projects.

Len
Safety Director

DOE is awarding up to $22 million in Recovery Act funds to 24
projects that will aim to cut the costs of solar cells and
modules. The agency will also offer up to $27 million to
develop the nation’s infrastructure for solar installation
training, with $5 million coming from the Recovery Act.

Here at Harmon Electric in the Estimating department we get to see a lot of different projects that are out for bid, from typical T.I. remodels in strip malls to Medical/Dental facilities with Exam rooms & Patient care areas to Linear Accelerators & CT Scan machines. With this wide array of facilities I have noticed that the specs are calling out for more stringent requirements, from 3/4 “ minimum sized conduit specified, to dedicated neutrals required for all circuits. These requirements can add quite a bit of cost to an otherwise standard project.

When the economy is down like it is now, there is more and more competition for the same projects than ever before. The margins for being the competitive bidder are smaller than ever too. So how do we compete in such a market? To start with we need to be aware of all of those “Spec Requirements” that can really bring the cost of a job up. For example, when the specs state that “current carrying conductors cannot share a neutral with any other current carrying conductor” the implication is that instead of being able to share a neutral for three different phased current carrying conductors, which requires 5 wires in the conduit for 3 circuits, now you have to provide 7 wires, for the same circuits, not only is there more wire to be included in the bid, but the labor to install that wire as well. This adds up quickly. When ¾” minimum size conduit is required, that brings the cost up even more.

So how can we minimize the impact that that has on the cost of our bid? One, if we call the engineer, and ask, sometimes we find out that it is OK to run ½” conduit. Sometimes it’s not OK, in this case it’s a good idea to let the general contractor know that you are bidding it this way. It might seem silly to tell them that you are bidding it the way that the spec call out for, but it may make them aware that if our bid is higher, it may be because someone did not cover the spec, and bid it with ½” conduit instead of ¾” as specified. With the economy the way that it is a lot of contractor will cut corners “just to get the job”. When they do get the job, it can really be a mess for the general contractor.

If we do our job right we can make sure that everyone is on the same page, comparing apples to apples. This will help to ensure that the customers get what they are paying for, and the job is getting done properly. This in turn will be seen as a contractor that cares about the integrity of their work, and therefore is a contractor that can be relied upon; as we say here at Harmon Electric… “Uncompromising Quality and Integrity since 1975”!

Jason
Estimator

Safety at work is not something any one should take lightly. In years past, employers have had to deal with not only having employee’s getting hurt from unsafe work conditions – but they also dealt with employee’s losing their lives from unsafe working conditions.

That was years ago, now we have the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a part of the United States Department of Labor. OSHA was developed to force employers to provide a much healthier and safer work environment for all employees. If you are an employer, you must follow the regulation’s found in the 29CFR Part 1910. This is the general industry standards and it covers all employers from manufacturing toothpicks to building the space shuttle. Some employers are under the impression that if they are in the construction industry, they only need to follow the regulations found in the 29CFR Part 1926 book of regulations. This is not true, every employer must follow the regulations found in the 29CFR Part 1910. If you are in the construction industry, you must also follow the regulations found in 29CFR Part 1926 – this covers any type of construction, from building new homes, to remodeling an old tenant improvement, to service work, to installing solar power to both commercial and residential properties.

I know that many people really don’t think that safety is that important, but when it comes down to your health and your life – I think that safety should be priority one.

Len
Safety Director

According to the nightly news, the recession seems to have taken a break for the summer.  Not completely surprising, Arizona is one of the states hit hardest by the recent trends in our economy.  You may think that this is a time where you should be cautious with your money and let the markets calm down.  Let me suggest an alternative.  In this economy, the buyer is in a better position than in many years past.  Any investment dollar you might spend can go much farther than only two years ago. 

Industries are hungry for your business and you will find many more bargains that are available to you.  You do need to remember that even though the industries want your business, you need to take care of your investment.  By investigating companies that offer you special pricing, you may be sure you are getting the best value for your dollar. 

At Harmon Electric, we have provided quality service to individuals and businesses for over 30 years.  We are willing to work with you to get the best for your investment and the quality that you deserve.  We enjoy taking that extra time to be sure not only is our relationship positive, but that the highest standards can be met. 

Remember, your investment is your dream of the future.  Be sure you are completely secure with a company that wants your dollars will make your investment that much more sound and something you can rely on for years to come.

Joe
Vice President of Construction

DOE will hold the 2009 Solar Decathlon from October 9-18 on
the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Solar Decathlon is a
biennial competition where 20 teams
of university students develop fully-functional houses that
draw all their energy from the sun.

Alternative energy sources are growing. In 2008, for the first time, worldwide investment in alternative energy sources drew more investors than fossil fuels, netting $155 billion in net capital inflows against $110 billion of new investment in oil, natural gas and coal. This is helping to drive the price down for alternative energy systems.

Wind power has traditionally been the largest driving force in alternative energy in the United States. Systems can be constructed quickly, but are notoriously expensive. Solar on the other hand is getting cheaper. Some analysts are predicting solar photovoltaic prices could fall as much as 43 percent this year.

As more and more homeowners, commercial property owners, and Power Companies add Solar technologies, prices will continue to fall, and the technology will get even better.

Jason
Estimator

Want to save some money on your monthly electric bill? Change out your standard incandescent light bulbs with more efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps (known industry wide as CFL’s). It’s a simple and quick way to reduce your lighting costs, but is it “Greener”?

CFL’s are more efficient, and therefore use less power than a standard incandescent light bulb, and they also last a lot longer. On the surface of the issue you would think that reducing power used is definitely “Greener”, but what do you do with the CFL’s when they do finally burn out? If you just throw them away like a standard incandescent lamp, you are not helping the environment at all.

When fluorescent lamps (not just CFL’s but also linear fluorescent lamps) are manufactured a small drop of mercury is put into the lamp, and is vaporized into a gas when the light is turned on. Most of the gasses in these lamps are inert and do no damage to the environment; however mercury is VERY bad for the environment. It seeps into the ground, and can enter the water table. This can lead to mercury in the water we drink, and the food we eat.

So what are we to do? Fortunately it is becoming easier and easier to dispose of these lamps properly. Building Material Retailers like Home Depot and Lowes sell a box that you can put your old CFL’s in and ship them to a company that will do this for a very reasonable charge the (shipping is covered in the cost of the box).

Commercial business owners, discuss these issues with the contractor who replaces your lamps. Documentation of proper disposal is available, and may actually be in the case of a lighting retrofit project in order to receive rebates and compensation.

The more people learn about “Green Technologies” the better off our environment will be, just make sure that you don’t help in one way (saving energy), and hurt in another (polluting).

Jason
Estimator

I would like to go on the record with my belief that electricians are the “gentlemen” of the construction industry. It is the electrician that is the first on the jobsite and the last to leave. In my opinion, electricians have the most pride in workmanship and the utter professionalism necessary to understand and deal with every aspect of the construction process. Those qualities make electricians the most elite of the trade.

I want to extend my complete gratitude to all electricians in the industry and for our employees at Harmon Electric for their outstanding abilities. It is through our industry that all growth is made possible. I have spent not only 20 years in the field; I now estimate and manage many projects to a successful completion.

I would like to express my pride in working for Harmon Electric as a previous Foreman in the field under Mr. Dick Harmon. It is also through my previous position of Project Manager that I have had the privilege to work with many general contractors and property owners as Arizona grows and prospers.

Arizona is a great state with a great future. It is my wish to see that prosperity continues as Vice President of Construction. This is a great company that is involved with the state’s growth and is on the cutting-edge of green technology.

Joe
Vice President of Construction

“Go Green!” That is the mantra that is heard all over these days. We would all love to do our part to help the environment, but in these tight economic times we all seem to have less money in our budgets and “going green” can seem to cost a lot. So what are we to do?

Lighting loads are one of the most efficient and cost effective systems that we can “upgrade” to greener technologies in order to save on the electric bill. There are many different ways that this can be done with varying costs.

Think about how many lights are left on in your office building whenever someone goes to lunch, or for a smoke break, let alone overnight. Installing motion sensors will eliminate wasted energy from lights being left on, and it’s easy to retrofit these to existing systems with minimal cost. Typically all you have to do is replace the existing wall switches with occupancy sensors.

A lot of commercial buildings in use today were designed and built a long time before energy efficiency standards were put in place. Consequently many buildings are still utilizing old lighting technologies that are not only inefficient, but also annoying (old fluorescent fixtures utilize T-12 magnetic ballasts that “hum” constantly). Replacing these old ballasts with new T-8 or even newer T-5 ballasts and lamps can dramatically save energy, and improve noisy working conditions, which will help to improve productivity.

Replacing entire fixtures can seem cost prohibitive, but lighting retrofits have the quickest payback in the savings created by less energy consumption and higher productivity. Noisy, and many times unflattering color rending, “high bay” light fixtures can be replaced with High Output (HO) T-5 2X4 fixtures that are much brighter, quieter, and use a lot less energy.

In these tough times we all want to spend our money wisely. So the next time you have to have your lighting system looked at, consider discussing how you can reduce your monthly power bill by replacing outdated technologies with newer, Greener technologies.

Jason
Estimator

A former naval base on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay and a planned green community in central Florida will be two of the initial sites for the Climate Positive Development Program. The new international effort will develop large-scale urban projects with negative greenhouse gas emissions.

Tragedies like fatal falls can happen even from a ten foot ladder. But you can prevent and avoid falls that can lead to injuries and death by choosing ladders carefully, inspecting ladders, using them properly, and keeping them in good condition.

Ladders are normally called one of two types; fixed (cannot be moved), or portable (movable). When choosing a portable ladder, consider type (step, straight, or extension), length, strength, and last, material (wood is nonconductive, heavy, hard to move and rots; metal is light, weather resistant, but conducts electricity; and fiberglass is light, long-lasting, and non-conductive). It is a good idea to inspect ladders before use, and they should be thoroughly inspected at least once a year. Don’t use a ladder that is damaged – repair or replace the ladder. Do not use other means to reach higher places (i.e., chairs, benches, boxes, ect.). If the job calls for a ladder, take the time to find the one that meets your needs.

Use ladders safely as follows:

• Don’t place ladder in a horizontal postion.
• Place ladder on sure footing (not boxes or blocks), securing when possible. Place ladder so that for every four feet up, the ladder’s base is one foot out.
• While using an extension ladder, raise extension ladder so upper section overlaps and rests on bottom section, and your extension ladder also should extend 3’ above the roof line.
• Keep metal ladders away from power lines.
• While climbing up or down a ladder you should always face the ladder, use both hands, and only one person at a time on a portable ladder. Hoist tools and materials up after reaching the top.

Remember, only you can prevent a ladder accident.

Len
Safety Director

DOE is preparing to offer nearly $4 billion in Recovery Act
funds for Smart Grid projects and has significantly raised the
maximum awards for Smart Grid demonstration projects.
DOE and the U.S. Department of Commerce have also
announced the first set of proposed Smart Grid standards.

Some computer servers will soon carry the Energy Star label,
and on average they’ll be 30% more energy efficient than
standard servers. But that raises a question: do
semiconductors and their use in electronic gadgets help or
hinder energy efficiency? Two new reports take opposing
views.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a part of the U.S.
Department of the Interior, will invest $41 million in Recovery
Act funds to reduce its backlog of applications for renewable
energy projects. The Interior Department is also establishing
four new Renewable Energy Coordination Offices to help cut
through the red tape.

Drawing in part on Recovery Act funds, DOE plans to invest
$777 million to support 46 new Energy Frontier Research
Centers for the next five years. The new centers will study
top energy challenges such as solar energy, biofuels,
solid-state lighting, hydrogen storage, and electrical energy
storage.

Clean energy is good for human health, so it makes sense for
healthcare leaders to want to use clean energy in their
hospitals. The new Hospital Energy Alliance will promote the
use of energy efficiency and renewable energy in hospitals by
bringing together national healthcare leaders and DOE.

In an update to the ,
DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that
the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act will provide a
near-term jump in renewable power generation and a
long-term reduction in residential and commercial energy use.

This year’s top ten examples of sustainable architecture and
green building design are located in six U.S. states, plus
Victoria, British Columbia, and Beirut, Lebanon. The buildings
combine energy-saving strategies with onsite energy
sources, including solar, wind, and biomass energy.

DOE launched the Commercial Real Estate Energy Alliance, a
partnership of commercial real estate owners and operators
that have volunteered to work with DOE to drastically reduce
the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of
commercial buildings.

By 2013, New York City’s Empire State Building should be
consuming 38% less energy while shaving its peak electrical
demand by 3.5 megawatts. But the real achievement of the
massive energy retrofit is the process used to devise it, a
process that can now be applied to other existing buildings.

Sometimes we take home electrical safety for granted, we forget how easy it is to practice electrical safety. Remember that electricity always takes the shortest path to ground. It will travel through wire, metal, wet objects, or even you. It’s invisible, but very, very real, so remember to treat it with respect.

Electrical wires run through and over our homes. Each year hundreds are electrocuted in their homes and thousands are injured in electrical related accidents – accidents that could have been prevented with just a little foresight and some common sense.

With summertime upon us, and with enjoying our back yards and pools, it’s extremely important to remember outdoor electrical safety. When using small appliances and electronics outdoors, make sure that the power outlet you are using is on a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) protected circuit, and always keep your small appliances and electronics away from water. Lets don’t forget the most important outdoor safety tip—WATCH YOUR KIDS AROUND WATER

Len
Safety Director

NERC report: Upgraded grid will handle national RPS

Italian firm opens 65MW geothermal plants in Nevada

Ohio PUC sets rules for 25% RPS

Indiana catches up with neighbors, approves 15% RPS

FERC OKs incentive for $10 billion Midwest wind transmission line

Following on to Monday’s story about the rising fortunes of thin-film PV relative to silicon, today’s Wall Street Journal reports that FirstSolar will sell 48 MW of PV modules to Sempra Generation, of San Diego, for installation at a solar farm in southern Nevada. Sempra doesn’t have a customer for the power yet, but the company is confident it will sell to one of the many utility companies scrambling to meet an RPS goal.

Sempra already has 10 MW of FirstSolar panels at the site, [...]

Schuco Designs a Cooler Module

Schuco has redesigned its photovoltaic modules to help them stay cool. As they heat up in the sun, today’s silicon PV cells lose about one half percent of their power for every degree Celsius. Schuco engineers used the Flomerics FloVENT computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to model energy absorption and reflection, and to simulate heat flow out to the aluminum frame and surrounding air. By optimizing heat flow, Schuco gets a cooler, more powerf [...]