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Some Buildings Not Living Up to Green Label
from The New York Times
 Builders covet LEED® certification—it stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—as a way to gain tax credits, attract tenants, charge premium rents and project an image of environmental responsibility. But the gap between design and construction, which LEED certifies, and how some buildings actually perform led the program last week to announce that it would begin collecting information about energy use from all the buildings it certifies. More 
Japan Plans US$21 Billion Solar Space Post to Power 294,000 Homes
from Inhabitat
The concept of space-based solar power was introduced way back in 1968, but it’s only recently that the world has latched on to the idea. Japan is definitely getting in on the action with its latest spacey plan—a US$21 billion solar-powered generator in the heavens to produce one gigawatt of energy, or enough to power 294,000 homes. The Japanese government announced the plan back in June, but there has been an important new development—Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and industrial design company IHI Corp. are now teaming up in the race to develop new technology within four years that can beam electricity back to Earth without the use of cables. More
With Generations Mixing it Up in Workplace, Managers Face Diversity Challenge
from The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Managing four generations at work has become a key topic in human resources, experts say. The interest has been fueled not only by the mix of worker ages, but also by the potential for intergenerational conflict as workplaces experience layoffs and other cutbacks during the recession. More
New York City Orders Concrete Retested in 82 Buildings
from AP via Forbes
New York City announced plans to more closely scrutinize companies that test concrete after indictments called into question the strength of the material at some of the city's biggest building projects, including ground zero.
The new measures include ordering the owners of 82 buildings to retest concrete in those structures, said Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri and Department of Design and Construction Commissioner David Burney.
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Deadline Extended: IFMA’s 2010 FM Resource Guide
A local guide with an international presence; IFMA’s 2010 FM Resource Guide
is the #1 facility management buying directory. If you are interested in being a part of it you can still secure your listing
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Don’t delay! Deadline extended to TODAY, Sept. 4, 2009. For more information or to place your order, contact Kim Coffey at kim.coffey@ifma.org, or call +1-713-623-4362, ext 181.
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Dubai's Vow of Silence Over Stalled Developments Seems to Be Working
from Telegraph.co.uk
Dubai's "build it and they'll come" philosophy is famously eye-popping. You have the symbols of excess: the palm-shaped villa compounds in the sea or the planet's tallest skyscraper. But those are nothing compared with plans that have yet to take shape. More
Meters for the Smart Grid
from Technology Review
In this year's economic stimulus package, the United States government allocated US$4.5 billion to developing technologies for the "smart grid," a revamped delivery system for electricity. Advocates envision a digital system that can make energy-saving adjustments to power flow. Several million networked meters have already been distributed in the United States. More
Different Types of Workplace Exercise Programs Yield Multiple Benefits
from the Workers Comp Forum
Employers who implement wellness programs may want to consider offering different types of exercise programs to achieve a variety of results. According to a recent study, these programs can have multiple benefits, including reduced neck and shoulder pain for employees who perform all-around exercise and lowered heart disease and stroke risk factors for those who do strength training.
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Canada's Energy Ministers Discuss a Sustainable Recovery
from SOA World Magazine
Energy ministers from across Canada concluded two days of discussions in St. John's at their annual conference hosted by the Honorable Kathy Dunderdale, minister of natural resources for Newfoundland and Labrador. The ministers discussed global economic developments, their impacts on the energy sector and how to best position the country and industry to capitalize on a sustainable economic recovery. More
Researchers to Light Workplace with Smarter Buildings
from The Salt Lake Tribune
Few inventions have lit the way to modern times more than Thomas Edison's 1879 discovery of electric illumination, created by running current through a carbon filament in a vacuum bulb. Edison's idea, which transformed the way we live and work, has been upgraded so many times, few ways remain to improve on the light bulb.
So engineer Paul Israelsen and his Utah State University colleagues are trying to improve illumination by making buildings "intuitive," that is, by enabling them to self-adjust lighting so it's tailored to what people are doing. They intend to go far beyond the motion sensors that turn on lights when people enter a room.
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An American Perspective: Skyscraper Architecture Goes Modular in the U.K.
from Building Design & Construction
The city of Wolverhampton, England, enters the architectural history books this month as residents move into Victoria Hall, their brand new high-rise modular apartment building. At 25 stories, Victoria Hall is the world’s tallest building built with off-site construction methods. More
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Product Showcase: LogiSon Acoustic Network
 More than 70 percent of employees say they would be more productive if their workplace was quieter. The LogiSon Acoustic Network increases speech privacy and reduces disruptions by introducing a masking sound that makes conversations and noises more difficult, or impossible, to hear. It’s a cost-effective method of improving overall acoustic comfort. More info
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Represent America as a Facility Manager
 U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Specialists serve America’s diplomatic efforts overseas, providing specialized skills and expertise. Facility Managers apply leadership and managerial skills to provide building-related services, oversee physical resources and direct asset management operations within a country. For qualifications and to apply, visit www.careers.state.gov/fm09.
U.S. citizenship is required. An equal opportunity employer.
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Extend the Life of your Investment
Highly trained technicians repair and refinish wood and systems furniture even reupholster seating and panels.
Find out more today.
Unique Supplier, Remanufacturer Office Parts
File Bars, Rails, Keys, Locks, Restroom Parts, Haworth, Herman Miller, Steelcase, Office Chairs, Custom Parts.
More info...
Factory-direct laboratory casework, fume hoods and accessories in 3
Weeks! Complete, on-time, guaranteed. More info...
Furniture Resource for Purchasing Managers
Spacify is an online furniture resource for purchasing managers, designers and architects.
www.spacify.com
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LogiSon Acoustic Network
