Cars, cars and more cars

by Candace Roulo January 17th, 2012

From Jan. 14 – Jan. 22, thousands of people will attend the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to see the latest the automakers have to offer. Journalists are buzzing about the latest and greatest concept cars and people have a chance to check out their dream cars in person. Besides exotic cars and cool concept vehicles, the North American International Auto Show also showcases fleet vehicles.

One of the more popular fleet vehicles being showcased at the North American Auto Show is the Ford Transit Connect. This van has mixed reviews from contractors I’ve interviewed. Some contractors seems to really like the vehicle, but others tend to shy away from it, noting that it’s too small and won’t be able to carry all their tools and equipment. Of course these are all opinions, and at first I tended to side with the idea that the vehicle just wouldn’t cut it for the contractor community. However, I was swayed to believe that this van is very beneficial to contractors if they know what type of job it is most beneficial for. All a contractor needs to do is a little research to figure out how to use this vehicle to their benefit.

For example, certain technicians at Murphy & Miller Inc., Chicago, drive the Transit Connect based on criteria of the type of work they do or geographic locations to the jobsites.

“Our supervisors support the service technicians in the field and can do a lot of driving from jobsite to jobsite,” said Dan O’Halloran, vice president of service administration at Murphy & Miller Inc. “Since the supervisors were the first to have the Transit Connects we were able to see the fuel savings after a full year of operation. The supervisors’ Transit Connects are averaging about 22-mpg compared to their old E-150 vans of 12-mpg.”

O’Halloran also said that distance comes into play considering the fuel savings, so it’s necessary to look into what technicians travel the greatest miles and the type of work they perform at the jobsite.

“If it is feasible that the technician can fulfill the customer’s service needs with the smaller truck stock available in the Transit Connect, then they are a candidate for this type of vehicle.”

To read more about how contractors are utilizing the Ford Transit Connect for their businesses read Contractors take the plunge.

Now back to the North American International Show … Nissan is showcasing the e-NV200 concept, which does have a look that somewhat resembles the Ford Transit Connect. According to Motor Authority, the vehicle is already undergoing real-world testing at the Japan Post Service in Yokohama, as well as FedEx in London. Maybe one day this concept car will be put into production and it will be an alternative fuel vehicle option for contractors. If that happens I’m sure it will be a main competitor of the Ford Transit Connect.

Also, a line of extended-range electric fleet vehicles produced by Via Motors was introduced a few days ago at the show. These vehicles have a range between 40 to 50 miles before its gas engine kicks in.

“This new breed of full size utility vehicles can deliver the power and performance of a V8, with better fuel economy than many smaller cars, by driving on electricity for about $2 a day,” said Alan Perriton, chief operations officer for VIA Motors and former GM senior executive. “It actually costs less to own and operate a clean VIA electrified truck or SUV than a gas truck.”

In addition to the full size Pickup Truck, VIA will introduced two new eREV vehicles at the North American International Auto Show: a full size, four wheel drive SUV, and a three-quarter-ton, full-size Cargo Van. Like VIA’s eREV truck, all three vehicles can drive 30 to 40 miles on advanced, non-flammable, lithium ion batteries, then up to 400 miles using the onboard generator, averaging up to 100 mpg.

So, as you can see there are exciting things happening in the auto world that can benefit contractors. Contractors just need to be open minded and stay up-to-date on alternative fuel vehicles since technology continues to advance and there are always new vehicles in the pipeline.

Click here for information on the International Detroit Auto Show.

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Finding new niches

by Candace Roulo October 10th, 2011

The past few weeks have been eye-opening. I attended Connect 2011, WaterSmart Innovations, and interviewed Doug Dougherty of The Geothermal Exchange Organization. What do these three events have in common? Finding a new niche is necessary to grow your business and expand your knowledge. The two go hand-in-hand.

At Connect 2011 positivity and finding new niches were themes of the conference. Even though economic woes can bring anyone down, it is important to remain positive and look for hidden opportunities. You may have to dig deep to find them, but they are out there.

Kirk Alter, president of Fast Management Inc., associate professor at Purdue University’s department of building construction management and program director for the PHCC Educational Foundation management courses, told attendees that even in a bad economy contractors can have a heyday if they take advantage of their opportunities.

The key to finding opportunities is to look for trends, and expand businesses based on those trends, such as sealing building envelopes, offering energy and water audits, etc. And it is also important to know what others are doing. The U.S. Military is already using energy and water efficient technologies, which contractors can learn from. NASA is also employing technologies contractors would find interesting.

Check out the articles Energy use is reduced by 30% at new U.S. Army barracks and NASA Sustainability Base uses state-of-the art technology for mechanical systems. These are just two impressive projects by the U.S. Military and NASA.

Another way to expand the business while staying in the HVAC arena is to offer geothermal. Doug Dougherty is a big believer in geothermal technology. However, he said that it’s tough to change the mindset of mechanical engineers since they often have a hard time doing a 180-degree change. Click here to read more from Dougherty in the October feature about geothermal technology.

“They are comfortable designing chillers and boilers and using natural gas and electric in a traditional way,” says Dougherty. “When you say what about geothermal heat pumps they think that they now need to deal with drillers, pipes in the ground, finding someone to size the units and accurately design the loop field. Often they don’t think they can make that transition, and decide just to keep doing what they have been doing.”

It’s easy to keep doing what we have been doing, but no one can have that mindset any longer. If we do, we will not grow as individuals and our businesses will not grow either.

So, going back to what Alter said in his presentation at Connect 2011, educate yourself and stay current by attending workshops and learning about conservation technologies. By looking to the opportunities that present themselves today and thinking outside of the box, you can create a niche and grow your business.

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‘Plunging Into Green’ is a must read

by Candace Roulo August 4th, 2011

For the August issue of CONTRACTOR, I wrote an article about a variety of educational programs contractors can take to learn about cutting-edge technologies and gain skills applicable to their profession. Click here to read the article “Be a Cutting-edge Contractor.”

In the process of conducting interviews for the article, I spoke to John Smith, owner of Big John the Toilet Guy, Tucson, Ariz.  John took a series of Green Plumbers USA courses to become a Green Plumber and also took a series of classes to become an instructor, so he could teach his staff about water conservation, products and systems. At the end of my interview with John, he offered to send me a book he wrote about his experience with Green Plumbers USA.

I just finished reading his book, “Plunging Into Green,” which is a true testament to how learning about water conservation changed his business and personal life. By taking Green Plumbers USA courses and being open to learning about conservation, John’s business started to grow. He attributes this growth, along with his own personal change, to Green Plumbers USA. If he never took the first step, going to Las Vegas to take  Green Plumbers USA courses, he would not be an advocate of water conservation and his company, now known for its water-conservation philosophy and business practices, would not be a main staple in the community.

Here are some points John makes in his book that resonate with me:

-The best way to accomplish goals is to take things one step at a time.

-Conservation involves a balance between business and believing that it’s the right thing to do. Sustainable practices may require a certain amount of financial sustainability as well.  

-Surround yourself with like-minded people. They can be inspiring, giving fresh insights.

-Don’t be afraid to ask questions and admit that you do not fully understand a concept, product, system, etc. When in doubt, ask an expert and they will usually be happy to answer questions, so you can learn something new.

-Remember that it is impossible to save every drop of water. If you have realistic expectations of others and yourself, you will be more productive in the long run.

Anyone interested in water or energy conservation should read this book. It’s an easy read, and a great example of the benefits, both personally and professionally, of being open minded to learning something new.

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Does U.S. need building efficiency regulations?

by Candace Roulo June 28th, 2011

Last Friday I had the pleasure to meet with Don McLean, founder and managing director of Integrated Environmental Solutions, based in Glasgow, Scotland, providers of design solutions for low-energy high-performance buildings, offering a range of building performance analysis products and services. Besides giving me a thorough overview of the company offerings, such as software, training and consulting, we chatted about the different attitudes and mindsets of European countries and the U.S., regarding energy-efficient buildings and sustainability in general. Don brought up the following points:

- For some time now, there have been regulations in Europe, mandating that buildings are energy efficient. Here in the U.S. there are not many regulations, so building energy-efficient buildings is taking a while to catch on. However, thanks to LEED, there are more energy-efficient buildings in the U.S. now. Years from now it may be commonplace in the U.S. that all buildings, including renovations, are built to energy conserving standards, but it will take a while to get there. 

- Government officials need to focus on energy policies. In the U.S. there are no mandatory federal building efficiency policies for the private sector, such as there are in Europe. Therefore, many industry professionals do not want to change the way they are constructing and renovating buildings. Since many industry professional are in their comfort zone, they continue to design and build as they have been for the past 10 to 15 years. They are not going above and beyond what needs to be done in order to design and build low-energy buildings. What needs to change is the country’s attitude regarding conserving energy and building energy-efficient buildings, and since many are not changing their old ways, regulations are a necessary step towards creating an energy-efficient mindset across the board.

California has mandated efficiency standards for new construction, and there are federal regulations requiring federal buildings to comply with efficiency standards. And some states have updated their energy efficiency codes. However, there is no federal program mandating efficient building practices for the private sector. So like Don, I believe that more needs to be done regarding building efficiency regulations in the country. Some states are slowly warming up to more efficiency standards, which shows we are headed in the right direction, but it would be helpful if regulations were put into place for the private sector. If regulations are already requiring federal buildings to comply with efficiency standards, then it’s just going to take some time until these regulations are applied to the private sector.

What you can do

HVAC technicians and plumbing installers, mechanical engineers, architects, designers, all these professionals have the opportunity to voice their opinion regarding policies to ensure buildings are constructed to be energy efficient.

Last month I saw, first hand, a number of trade professionals lobbying on federal policies in Washington D.C. at the PHCC – NA legislative conference. This was a refreshing and exciting experience, to walk the halls of Congress where policies are created and debated and watch a group of trade professionals come together to lobby on issues affecting their livelihoods. Click here to read more about the legislative conference.

Also in the July issue, I report on Phoenix’s Green Construction Code that is going into effect July 1. Even though this code is voluntary, it is a step in the right direction with changing attitudes about energy efficiency and sustainable building. In August 2010, the code development process began with a number of public meetings during the code adoption process in which proposed code amendments from interested parties and the public were accepted and reviewed. Click here to read more about this green construction code.

These are just two examples in which citizens are making a difference by becoming involved in policy issues whether it’s on a local or federal level. So, if you are so inclined to agree with Don, and believe there needs to be more done regarding building efficiency regulations in the U.S., write your congressperson, become involved in grassroots lobbying efforts, etc. The main thing is to get involved because it does and will make a difference in the long run.

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Everyone has a vested interest, what’s yours?

by Candace Roulo June 9th, 2011

If you haven’t already heard, Pa. H.B. 377 was signed, repealing the fire sprinkler mandate that I reported on back in March. Click here to read the article.

As this has always been a controversial issue, many fire sprinkler advocates are disappointed with the passage of this Pennsylvania bill. Click here to read my article on the recent repeal.

When talking with John A. Viniello, president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association, he mentioned that Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana vetoed similar legislation.

“Unfortunately, Gov. Corbett lacked the political will to do the right thing to safeguard the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Viniello. “Placing political expediency before life safety will cause life loss in newly constructed homes … it’s not a question of ‘if’ this will happen only a question of ‘when.’ Gov. Schweitzer of Montana vetoed similar legislation.”

Schweitzer vetoed H.B. 307 by Republican Rep. Tom Burnett that would have prohibited state building codes from requiring fire sprinklers in some residential buildings.

In the article Gov. Vetoes Sprinkler Bill by Andy Malby, editor of The Belgrade News, it is noted, “Schweitzer said ‘serious public safety concerns’ prompted him to reject the legislation after lawmakers rejected his proposed amendments, which Burnett said canceled out the intent behind the bill — to avoid having to install fire sprinklers, which he said could cost $3,000 and $15,000.”

“He [Schweitzer] gets it, Gov. Corbett doesn’t,” said Viniello. “When he reads these comments he will accuse us of having a vested interest. I’ll save him some time … of course we do … but unlike the homebuilders who also have a vested interest, the vested interest we represent protects property and save lives and has for more than 100 years…”

I agree with Viniello… Of course there is vested interest regardless of what side of the issue you are on.

As a citizen, my vested interest is safety. I don’t like living in a mid-rise apartment that has no fire sprinklers, and when I buy a condo or house, I rather purchase one that has a fire sprinkler system installed.

So, what’s your interest and why? Is it safety, housing costs, profit, intrusion on individual liberty? I’d like to hear from you regarding this. Please comment on my blog or comment on my recent article about the repeal of the Pennsylvania fire sprinkler mandate.

Side note: On May 26, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton vetoed HF460, a bill prohibiting the State Building Code, State Fire Code, or any jurisdiction from requiring fire sprinkler systems in single family homes.

In his veto letter to the Speaker of the House, Dayton wrote, “Evidence supports the use of sprinklers in promoting the safety of home residents and their property. Further, the concerns brought forward by fire safety professionals need to be addressed. They cite the fact that newly built homes burn more quickly and that more of their fire fighters are being injured when floors collapse during fires. With sprinkler systems in place, fires can be more easily contained, resulting in fewer injuries. I simply do not see how we can further jeopardize the lives of the individuals whose mission is to protect the public and who risk their lives on a daily basis. For these reasons, I have vetoed this bill.”

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Residential fire sprinklers: two sides of the coin

by Candace Roulo April 19th, 2011

There are definitely two sides to every issue, that’s for sure. The article I wrote concerning the Pennsylvania residential fire sprinkler mandate up for consideration got our readers talking, and many of them aired their opinions on Contractor’s website. Click here to read the article and comments.

It’s very interesting … the different perspectives on this issue. On one hand, safety seems to be most important when discussing fire sprinkler systems. On the other hand it seems there are concerns that sprinkler systems are too expensive and no one will be able to afford a new home with the added cost. Then there are the in-between perspectives, such as the sprinkler industry should be more concerned about older homes without sprinkler systems rather than focusing on new construction, that it should be up to the homeowner if they want a sprinkler system installed, that mandating fire sprinklers is a step closer to democracy being stripped from the U.S., etc.

Below are two of my favorite posts I read online about the issue:

Rob B, wrote, “Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, everyone will look back on this debate and wonder why it occurred in the first place. Because it was something new? Fire sprinkler technology has been available for a century or more. Because fire sprinklers were known to malfunction, causing unnecessary damage? The technology has been vastly improved, and malfunctions are rare. Because smoke detectors were considered sufficient protection? Smoke detectors do nothing to confine or extinguish a fire, and the early warning they provide sometimes isn’t enough to save lives. Because residential sprinkler systems are prohibitively expensive? Only when the price is deliberately inflated. Because it was a government mandate? Yep, that was probably the biggest reason. As a society, we haven’t grown up, and we just don’t like being told what to do, even when it’s in everyone’s best interest.”

Jeremy wrote, “When does it stop? Next freedom of speech may be infringed. It needs to be a choice. If we have to do everything the government thinks is ‘in our best interest,’ this country stops being a democracy and is no longer the land of the free.”

I can understand the argument that home sprinklers should be a personal choice and that the government has no right to tell people what they can or can’t do. This argument reminds me of the controversy around helmet laws. Many people are against helmet laws, most arguing they have the right not to wear a helmet if they don’t want to. A law like this only affects me since the only person it would hurt would be me if I decide not to wear a helmet on a bike or motorcycle. And I do wear a helmet when biking. Believe me, I learned my lesson years ago when I was hit by a car while I was riding my bike. After that happened I bought a bike helmet. To me, having the choice to wear a helmet comes down to survival of the fittest, or should I say smartest. If you don’t want to wear a helmet, that’s fine, but you won’t hurt anyone but yourself and if you are fine with the risks associated with not wearing a helmet then more power to you – go for it.

However, the residential fire sprinkler law is much more than survival of the smartest. When regarding fire sprinklers, usually more than one person is at risk. For example, many homeowners have families or more than one person is living in a house. Also, what happens when a home is up for sale? I know the argument is that older homes without sprinkler systems are for sale and people buy them without a sprinkler system in place. But personally, if I had to I would spend extra money to have a home with a sprinkler system, but that’s probably because for the past few years I have lived in an apartment that does not have sprinkler systems, which is an unsettling feature to me that I try not to think too much about. For me, I believe when I do purchase a home I will value piece of mind over costs.

With all that said, I believe that the general public needs to be more educated about sprinkler systems. When conducting an interview with NFSA President John Viniello for the article, he mentioned that approximately 3,000 people each year die from fire, and one of the problems is that the general public does not believe that fire is going to happen to them, and when people understand how fire sprinkler systems work, and understand it’s the toxic smoke that kills and sprinklers prevent that, they will understand and want sprinklers in the home.

The next big step is for associations to educate the public on this topic, so they understand how sprinklers operate, what they can do, and how they are life saving technologies. I’m pretty sure if more consumers understood the benefits of a sprinkler system, they would request fire sprinklers in new homes, and builders would be more than willing to install them.

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Greening the Chicago River: A St. Patrick’s Day tradition

by Candace Roulo March 14th, 2011

Butler's boat crew dyeing the Chicago River green.

Butler's boat crew dyeing the Chicago River green.

There is always a huge St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Chicago the weekend before March 17. This year I had the opportunity to see the Chicago River mysteriously turn emerald green. Since I’ve moved to Chicago, I have always been out of town when all the festivities happen, so this year I decided to make the most of it and go down by the river to partake in the celebration and also do some research on the role the trades, specifically plumbers, play during the dyeing of the river and the annual St. Patrick’s parade.  

A few year’s ago, my best friend’s dad, who happens to be a retired pipefitter and 100% Irish, told me that plumbers started the tradition of dyeing the river green, so I had to check this out for myself.

I spoke to Kevin Sherlock, organizer of the parade, who said the greening of the Chicago River all started with a plumber years ago, and that plumbers play a huge role in the parade and turning the river green today.

“Plumbers are making this happen,” said Kevin Sherlock, organizer of the parade. “They are doing it. They are sponsoring the dyeing of the river and are parade marshals and working the parade rounds to make sure it is running smoothly. We get tremendous support from everyone: contractors, plumbing councils, plumbing associations, etc.”

Some of the participants in the parade include the Irish American labor council; Local 17: Heat and Frost; Local 73: Sheet Metal Workers; Local 1: Iron Workers; Local 597: Pipefitters; Local 281: Sprinkler Fitters; Local 130: Journeymen Plumbers; Local 134: Electrical Workers; Local 150: Operating Engineers; Local 597: Pipefitters; Local 281: Sprinkler Fitters; Teamsters joint council; Teamsters Local 705; and Teamsters Local 102.

Dyeing of the river

So the story goes that in 1961, a plumber working at Marina City went to talk to Stephen M. Bailey, manager of Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 110, who had an open door policy — anyone could stop by and see him. The plumber stopping by his office that day was wearing white coveralls stained with orange and green dye. Bailey asked the plumber how the coveralls got that way.

According to the article, The Story Behind Dyeing The River Green, the plumber explained to Bailey that he was working at Marina City and the dye was used to detect if any waste materials were being emptied into the river. A plumber would pour green dye into different openings of the waste system, checking to see if green appeared in the river. After hearing the story, Bailey thought why not dye the river for St. Patrick’s Day. So that’s how it all began.  

Then in 1962 a boat crew was formed to dye the river green for St. Patrick’s Day. The original crew consisted of Bill Barry, first deputy port director, Thomas Rowan, the head of the Chicago Marine Unit, and a Chicago fire chief.

According to Mike Butler, who has been involved with dyeing the river green for the past 36 years, it took the original crew a while to figure out the proper formula for the dye since no river was ever dyed like this before. But after a couple years, the correct amount of dye was figured out from trial and error the first couple times.

In 1975 when Barry was appointed to an assistant port director position, he asked Butler, then deputy of the Chicago Port Authority, if he would like to replace him in the boat crew. At that time Rowan was still on the boat crew along with his son, a Chicago policeman.

When Butler came on board, there were some concerns that dyeing the river green was not good for the environment. So Butler took samples of the dye to an environmental engineer and professor at John Hopkins University.

“We were getting inquires about polluting the river,” said Butler. “I got a test back stating that it’s completely safe for the water.”

Regarding the formula for the dye, it is unknown to the commoner, said Butler.

“It’s top secret, so top secret that 30 countries have requested that Butler and his crew dye their river green, but the crew has only dyed one other river besides the Chicago River — the Liffey River in Dublin, Ireland.

So for the past 36 years, Butler has been intimately involved in dyeing the river green, and when asked what his most memorable experiences on the boat crew have been, Butler said that it’s the crew that makes the experience.

“The crew is so great, and we all get along so well,” said Butler. “It’s such a family matter. It’s a great feeling.”

The boat crew is made up of Butler’s three son-in-laws, and two sons and a nephew of Tom Rowan Sr., an original crewman who died in 2003. Butler retired from the boat crew in 2007, but is still involved in coordinating the festivities of the day.

Mark Butler, Mike Butler’s son, was also part of the boat crew. Mark passed away in October 2010 from esophageal cancer. He was 45.

During this year’s festivities, the boat crew, family and friends all wore buttons with Mark’s picture on them to remember him. 

“Mark reminds all of us that life is unfair, short and uncertain, but worth fighting for,” said Butler. “Fate and drive drove Mark and are driving us.”

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Work Truck Show highlights sustainability, new vehicles

by Candace Roulo March 9th, 2011

It’s fitting that The Work Truck Show is highlighting fuel-efficient vehicles this year, especially since gas prices, once again, have been steadily creeping up at the pump. When contractors and business owners go green, they are not only helping their bottom line, but they are helping the environment too.

For starters, ROUSH CleanTech announced yesterday its newest liquid propane autogas product offering: The new 6.8-liter V10 propane autogas-powered Ford F-550 super duty chassis cab. A prototype of the vehicle is on display in the Ford Commercial Truck booth No. 3431.

The fuel system is currently in development and will be Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resource Board (CARB) certified at launch. The system will be available as a Ford ship-through option for installation on new vehicles, or as a retrofit option for vehicles already in service. The propane autogas fuel system will be available for 2012 and later models of the Ford F-450 and F-550 truck series. The system, equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission, will work on all cab and wheelbase configurations, as well as 4×2 or 4×4 vehicles.

“Going green is not just for light-duty vehicles anymore,” said Joe Thompson, president of ROUSH CleanTech. “This truck has massive capacity, exceptional maneuverability, and rugged construction. It’s a workhorse in the field and economical on paper. Based on today’s fuel prices, a propane autogas Ford F-450 or F-550 can save $30,000 over a 200,000 mile vehicle life, and can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by 120,000 pounds or more.”

Some of the benefits of propane autogas are that it burns cleaner than gasoline or diesel and has fewer particulate emissions when compared to gasoline. When compared to diesel fuel, the emissions reductions are even greater. Propane autogas offers up to 40% reduction in fuel costs when compared to gasoline.

In addition to a new product rollout, Brian Carney, ROUSH CleanTech’s director of marketing, spoke during the Alternative Gaseous Fuel Systems session. The Green Truck Summit’s educational sessions provide insight into funding green fleets, implementing programs, and achieving carbon footprint reduction.

Also at the show, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc. unveiled the commercial van The Reach. The commercial van will achieve 35% better fuel economy than a traditional commercial van application while offering the functionality of a custom-built work truck along with the styling and ergonomics of a cargo van. Production is scheduled to begin this summer.

The Reach’s cab and cargo area were designed with focus on fuel efficiency through advanced aerodynamics, driver safety and productivity through applied ergonomics, utility, and durability and ease of repair.

The Ram Truck Brand also unveiled the new 2012 Ram Cargo Van. The Ram C/V features a new driver-selectable fuel economizer mode. Drivers can change the transaxle shift schedule with a flip of a switch to maximize their fuel economy.

Engineered to meet small business and commercial needs, the Ram Cargo Van features solid sliding door and rear quarter window and backlight privacy panels in place of clear glass windows. It’s a Class 1 commercial vehicle-leading 1,800-lb. cargo payload and category-exclusive towing capability, up to 3,600 lbs. A 20-gallon fuel tank and 25 mpg highway also deliver best-in-class fuel range. A rear spoiler and reduced brake caliper and rear bearing drag all contribute to Ram Cargo Van’s class-leading aerodynamics and excellent fuel economy.

If you are in Indianapolis, you still have time to attend the Work Truck Show. It runs March 8-10 at the Indiana Convention Center. Click here for more information.

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Tradesman 1500, 3500 HD debuts at Chicago Auto Show

by Candace Roulo February 16th, 2011

At the Chicago Auto Show RAM debuted two new trucks: the Tradesman 1500 and the RAM 3500 HD.

The RAM Tradesman 1500 is designed for commercial use and utilizes the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine, providing fuel efficiency at 20 mpg. The Tradesman can tow over 10,000 pounds and is available in short or long bed.

The RAM 3500 HD is equipped with a turbo diesel engine, emitting no diesel exhaust fluid, thus reducing cleaning time. It features the largest brakes in class, and its maximum trailer tow rating is 22,700 pounds.

Other pickup trucks showcased at the Chicago Auto Show are:

  • Chevrolet Avalanche
  • Chevrolet Colorado
  • Chevrolet Silverado
  • Chevrolet Silverado HD
  • Ford F-150
  • Ford F-Series Super Duty
  • GMC Canyon
  • GMC Sierra
  • GMC Sierra HD
  • GMC Terrain HD
  • Honda Ridgeline
  • Nissan Titan
  • Ram 3500 Heavy Duty
  • Ram 1500
  • Suzuki Equator
  • Toyota Tacoma
  • Toyota Tundra

Also showcased are electric and hybrid vehicles, including the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid, The 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid and the Ford Transit Connect Electric.

If you live in the Chicago area or are visiting, make sure to go the event and check out the new trucks and AFVs. The Chicago Auto Show is open through Sunday, Feb, 20.

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AHR Expo turn out is impressive

by Candace Roulo February 7th, 2011

The turn out for the AHR Expo last week was impressive. Whether an attendee or exhibitor, you couldn’t help but notice how packed the show floor aisles were.

It turns out that the expo set a new attendance record — more than 34,000 attendees saw all the latest products and innovations on display from 1,938 exhibiting companies, making this year’s event the largest show ever held outside of Chicago or New York. Included in the record-breaking number of exhibitors were more than 200 first-time exhibitors and nearly 400 international companies from 31 different countries.

Some of the products and technologies on display that caught my eye were:

Titus’ EOS, a solar-powered energy-harvesting diffuser, designed to improve comfort and save energy at the same time. The EOS uses a logic system, which monitors air temperature and adjusts the air discharge position using harvested power to complete the diffuser’s auto-changeover function to ensure the proper discharge position for heating and cooling. Titus is an EnOcean Alliance member. The EnOcean Alliance develops and promotes self-powered wireless monitoring and control systems for sustainable buildings by formalizing the interoperable wireless standard.

The new Thermo Seeker Infrared Thermometer/Scanner from General Tools & Instruments is a precision point-and-shoot, non-contact, infrared thermometer which offers an easy and safe method for scanning and measuring surface temperatures of equipment or surfaces. It allows the user to designate a set point and determine whether subsequent temperature readings are within or outside of any of three selectable ranges from that set point. A star burst laser aiming and measuring system lets the user easily determine the “spot” area being measured. With the Thermo Seeker, a set-point reference temperature is first acquired and stored and then one of the three reference ranges is selected. As subsequent scanning measurements are taken, the user is provided with audible and visual indications to determine whether scanned temperatures are within or outside of the selected range: green for within, red for above and blue for below. Different audible alarms also sound for readings exceeding the upper and lower range limits.

The Trace300 by nuvoTrace is a new tester designed to use a safe, non-toxic tracer gas mix of 5% hydrogen with 95% nitrogen (or any gas mixture with hydrogen) to determine leak tightness. The product allows contractors to change the probe to conduct different testing, i.e. one probe dedicated to refrigerant and three probes for hydrogen leak detection or any combination they desire. The Trace300 also offers the ability to detect refrigerants such as R-22, R-134a and R-410a.  

Uponor is now offering its Ecoflex pre-insulated pipe in 1″, 1¼” and 1½” ASTM sizes. ASTM Ecoflex features Uponor’s hePEX plus barrier tubing surrounded by closed-cell, PEX-foam insulation and covered by a waterproof, corrugated HDPE jacket. It is available in continuous lengths up to 600 feet, and uses either Uponor’s durable ProPEX fittings or the new WIPEX dezincification-resistant (DZR) brass compression fittings for a watertight, leak-resistant system. Ecoflex is available in single and twin configurations which feature one or two hePEX plus service pipes, respectively.

Mitsubishi Electric Cooling and Heating Solutions (Mitsubishi Electric), announced at a press conference that it will incorporate Honeywell’s RedLINK wireless HVAC protocol into Mitsubishi Electric’s line of split-ductless and ducted heat pumps. The RedLINK-enabled split-ductless system is designed to maximize comfort and reduce energy costs. With this technology, a wall-mounted wireless remote controller communicates through radio frequency, meaning that the wireless controller(s) can be placed in a different room than the indoor units and that no wires need to be run through the walls. The wall-mounted controller(s) look almost identical to traditional wall-mounted thermostats to which customers in the U.S. market are accustomed, with easy-to-read backlit displays and intuitive operational functions. The Portable Central Controller (PCC) allows users the freedom of climate control of up to 16 zones from anywhere in the home such as the bedroom, den or wherever they happen to be. The control system will also operate all of the control functions traditionally available in Mitsubishi Electric cooling and heating systems, including complete zone control, adjustable fan speed, vane positioning and more.

Emerson Climate Technologies Inc. launched its new compressor electronics platform, CoreSense technology. This advances Emerson’s “smart compressor” strategy using the compressor as a sensor, which includes on-board modules for select new compressor lines. Found in Copeland compressors, this electronics platform enhances compressor and system performance by sensing and interpreting information found inside the compressor, providing new levels of diagnostics, protection and communication. In developing CoreSense compressor technology, Emerson sought to identify pain points throughout the distribution channel and drive technology that would extend system and compressor life, drive down maintenance costs, reduce system failures, and decrease warranty claims. This technology gives contractors access to information inside the compressor so they can identify performance issues quickly and accurately. When adverse operating conditions are detected, CoreSense shuts down the compressor to help avoid system damage, saving contractors, homeowners and businesses alike, valuable time and money.

These are just a handful of innovative products that were at the show. There are so many more products to tell you about, so stay tuned for our AHR Expo review, which will be featured in Contractor’s March issue.

If you were at the AHR Expo last week, let us know what products caught your eye. To let us know what products stood out to you, you can comment on my blog, or you can become a fan of Contractor’s Facebook fan page. Or, you can e-mail me at candace.roulo@penton.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

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