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GovFacility eNews
Volume 2, #2, February 2008
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In this issue:
1. Welcome to GovFacility eNews
2. News
3. Events
Welcome to GovFacility eNews!
Welcome to the February 2008 issue of GovFacility eNews. This is a monthly e-newsletter providing news, events, and other information for public sector facility managers responsible for the management, maintenance, and security of buildings occupied by government employees and used by citizens. We realize facilities management is a tremendous responsibility, more so than ever in the wake of 9/11, often with little or no increase in funding, while you are often called to do more with the same or less. We hope to offer information that helps you make decisions, and we hope that you will share information with us regarding news and stories, best practices, products and services, events -– anything germane to your needs as facility management professionals. The www.GovFacility.com web site contains information we think you will find helpful. Let us know how we are doing and what other sorts of information you require.
If you have news or any other information you would like to share, please email either:
Juli Maltagliati at juli@govfacility.com
Mark Amtower at amtower@erols.com
Thank you.
NEWS
New Study Raises Major Questions on Biofuels. MINNEAPOLIS. February 7, 2008 — A new study by The Nature Conservancy and the University of Minnesota finds that converting land for biofuel crops results in major carbon emissions, actually worsening the problem of global warming instead of mitigating it. The first-of-its-kind study will be published in Science later this month and was posted online today.
“This research examines the conversion of land for biofuels and asks the question ‘Is it worth it?’ Does the carbon you lose by converting forests, grasslands, and peatlands outweigh the carbon you ‘save’ by using biofuels instead of fossil fuels? And surprisingly, the answer is no,” said lead author Joe Fargione, a scientist for The Nature Conservancy who is based in Minneapolis. “These natural areas store a lot of carbon, so converting them to croplands results in tons of carbon emitted into the atmosphere.”
Full story: http://www.nature.org/
Nanosolar produces new solar power technology, claims it may be cheaper than coal. February 15, 2008 — A start-up company in Silicon Valley has produced its first commercial quantities of a new solar power technology that may revolutionize the industry, especially if the claim that it's cheaper than coal is proven true.
The new technology is radically different from other solar panels. In place of large, heavy panels lined with silicon, it prints a thin solar film directly on a metal foil, says founder Martin Roscheisen, making it flexible, easy to install, and very cheap to produce.
Nanosolar, based in San Jose, developed a proprietary ink that is based on nanoparticles of a material called copper indium gallium selenide (CIGR), which can be printed on a metal foil that is not only 20 times more conductive than stainless steel, but cheaper.
Learn more: http://www.nanosolar.com/
New organization, BuildCleanTM, to focus on healthy and safe buildings.
February 2008 -- BuildCleanTM, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was formed in late 2007 to provide education about environment-friendly choices that are safe and healthy. "Just because building products are labeled 'natural' may not mean they're safe and healthy," says Sara Speer Selber, president of BuildCleanTM.
The organization was formed initially in response to new scientific studies indicating that indoor use of some natural stones, such as certain granite countertops, may emit radon at levels well in excess of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-recommended limits. BuildClean intends to support research, collaborate with existing organizations and agencies and, ultimately, to help provide information and possibly standards for healthy, safe indoor building materials. There is currently no other organization addressing this need.
For more information: http://www.buildclean.org/?id=1
Corporations Go Public with Eco-Friendly Patents in portfolio dubbed “Eco-Patent Commons.” GENEVA, SWITZERLAND & ARMONK, NY. January 14, 2008.
Leading members of the corporate community have come together in a first-of-its-kind effort to help the environment, unleashing dozens of innovative, environmentally responsible patents to the public domain.
Availability of these patents will encourage researchers, entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes in any industry to create, apply and further develop their consumer or industrial products, processes and services in a way that will help to protect and respect the environment.
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and IBM -- named today by IFI Claims as the leading earner of US patents for the 15th consecutive year -- are initiating this effort in partnership with Nokia, Pitney Bowes and Sony. The pledged portfolio, dubbed the "Eco-Patent Commons", is available on a dedicated, public website hosted by the WBCSD.
Patents pledged to the Eco-Patent Commons -- originally proposed at IBM's Global Innovation Outlook conference -- feature innovations focused on environmental matters and innovations in manufacturing or business processes where the solution provides an environmental benefit. For example, a company may pledge a patent for a manufacturing process that reduces hazardous waste generation, or energy or water consumption. A pledged patent covering a procurement or logistics solution may reduce fuel consumption.
Read more: http://www.wbcsd.org/
EVENTS
FEBRUARY 2008
2008 Plant Engineering & Maintenance Expo. Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, WI. February 27-28, 2008. Sponsored by Plant & Facilities Management Maintenance Association. http://www.pfmainc.com/
RCI International Convention & Trade Show (RCI 2008). Phoenix, AZ. February 28 – March 4, 2008. Sponsored by RCI, Inc. (Formerly Roof Consultants Institute)
http://www.rci-online.org/international-convention.html
MARCH 2008
National Facilities Management & Technology Conference and Expo ( NFM&T). Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD. March 3-5, 2008.
NFMT 2008 is going to be bigger and better than ever. With the addition of Safe Buildings Expo, the event is now composed of four shows in one – all at no cost to attendees! Back by popular demand, Solutions Exchange is returning to NFMT. This round-robin-style speed-learning event allows attendees to interact, share thoughts and ideas on critical, timely topics affecting facility managers across the country. Solutions Exchange will take place Wednesday, March 5 from 9:00 am — 10:50 am. http://www.nfmt.com/
ISSA/INTERCLEAN Mexico 2008. Mexico City, DF, Mexico. March 5-7, 2008. Sponsored by ISSA, the “Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association”. http://www.issa.com/
National Issues Conference (NIC). Washington, DC. March 10-11, 2008. Sponsored by BOMA International. http://www.boma.org/Events/nic/
Security Buyers Forum. Atlanta, GA. March 10-11, 2008. Sponsored by Forum Networking Events (FNE). http://www.forumnetworkingevents.com
Applied Ergonomics Conference and Expo. Orlando, FL. March 10-13, 2008. Sponsored by Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE).http://www.iienet2.org/
Building Energy Conference and Trade Show (BuildingEnergy08). Boston, MA. March 11- 13, 2008. Sponsored by Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). http://www.buildingenergy.nesea.org/
DevelopGREEN. Glendale, AZ. March 12-13, 2008. Sponsored by National Association of Industrial Office Properties (NAIOP). http://www.naiop.org/
Property and Facilities Management. Bangkok, Thailand. March 12-13, 2008. Sponsored by Marcus Evans. http://www.pfmcongress.com/
Traditional Building Exhibition and Conference. Boston, MA. March 12-15, 2008, Conference; March 13-15, 2008, Exhibition. Sponsored by Restore Media. http://www.traditionalbuildingshow.com
Greenprints Conference and Tradeshow. Atlanta , GA. March 13-14, 2008. Sponsored by Southface; the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, Division of Energy Resources. http://www.southface.org/
Interiors. New Orleans, LA. March 13-16, 2008. Sponsored by ASID. http://www.asid.org/interiors08
BIFM Annual Conference. Oxford, England. March 18-19, 2008. Sponsored by British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM). http://www.bifmconference.com/
Globalcon 2008. Energy, Power, & Facility Management Strategies & Technologies. Austin Convention Center, Austin, TX. March 19-20, 2008. Sponsored by American Electrical Engineers (AEE). http://www.globalconevent.com/
Reliability Centered Maintenance Managers' Forum (RCM-2008). Las Vegas, NV. March 18-20, 2008. Sponsored by Reliabilityweb.com http://www.maintenanceconference.com/rcm/index.htm
APRIL 2008
Green Intelligent Buildings (GIB) Conference. Baltimore, MD. April 2-3, 2008, Sponsored by BNP Media; Engineered Systems (ES) magazine. http://www.bnpevents.com/es/bacs/
ASIS International 7th European Security Conference. Barcelona, Spain. April 13-16, 2008. Sponsored by ASIS International. http://www.asisonline.org/
Cost Efficient Sustainable Buildings Summit. Philadelphia, PA. April 14-15, 2008. Sponsored by American Business Conferences. http://www.architectureweek.com/
Maintenance and Reliability Technology Summit (MARTS). Rosemont, IL. April 14-17, 2008. Sponsored by Maintenance Technology and Lubrication Management & Technology magazines. http://www.martsconference.com/
The Total Facilities Management Show (The TFM Show). Chicago, IL. April 22-24, 2008. Sponsored by Today’s Facility Manager magazine. http://s36.a2zinc.net/clients/groupc/tfm2008/public/enter.aspx
GovFacility eNews is published by Amtower & Company. Free subscriptions are available at www.GovFacility.com
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