China Hopes Restorations Spur Domestic Tourism

In the recent past, China embarked on a construction spree with an architecture style that was anything but traditional. Its buildings imitated Rome, Paris and skyscraper cities such as Hong Kong. Last year, it wowed the world with the Bird's Nest stadium and other contemporary architecture for the Beijing Olympics. Now, China is returning to its architectural roots and hopes to pump up domestic tourism. More     More

Facilities Engineering Journal Now Online

The electronic edition of Facilities Engineering Journal, Nov/Dec 2009, is now available! This issue focuses on the financial impact of equipment inventories; reasons for renting equipment over buying; averting common causes of generator failure; a first-person perspective from an AFE Member, and much more.      Low-carbon Fuel Rules from Technology Review Come Jan. 1, fuel suppliers across California will have to abide by the state's Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The standard aims to reduce the "lifecycle carbon intensity" of fuels consumed by cars, trucks and other vehicles by 10 percent over the coming decade and, in the process, even the playing field for low-carbon alternatives. MoreMore

Istanbul Opens World's Largest Earthquake-safe Building

The world's largest seismically isolated building, the new international terminal at Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen Airport, is now complete and open for business. Stretching across more than 2 million square feet, the terminal doesn't sit directly on the soil but rather on more than 300 isolators, bearings that can move side-to-side during an earthquake. The whole building moves as a single unit, which prevents damage from uneven forces acting on the structure. More

Certified Plant Engineer (CPE) Online and Classroom Review Classes Now Scheduled!

Online CPE Review: Join instructor Jim Taylor of Machinery Management Solutions for an extended review of the CPE Review Pack. This online class is double the instruction time of the traditional week-long review to allow working professionals to dedicate the appropriate time to prepare. Classes will be held from 12-2 EST. Traditional Classroom Review: To be held Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, 2009 in Eastern Massachusetts. For the schedule, pricing and registration, please click here. or contact Carol Lawrence at (571) 203-7238 or CLawrence@AFE.org.More

South Carolina: Money for Study of Wind Energy

Clemson University is getting nearly US$100 million in federal stimulus money to study wind energy. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the university had been chosen for a facility that will test new wind turbine technology. MoreMore

The Height of Hairsplitting: Does the Freedom Tower Still Stack Up to 1776 Feet?

Is the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center still going to be 1,776 feet tall? And does it matter if it isn't? When architect Daniel Libeskind won the "innovative design study" for rebuilding the 16 acres at ground zero, one of the hallmarks of his plan was the rather kitschy notion of making the site's tallest skyscraper 1,776 feet high—a literal reference to the year of America's independence. MoreMore