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Energy efficiency opportunities in the manufacturing sector
Alan Kelsky ManufacturingOne third of the energy consumed in the United States is by the manufacturing sector. Ninety percent of the manufacturing sector are small- and medium-sized businesses that use about half of the energy consumed in manufacturing.
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More regulations for cooling industry to accommodate
Andrew GavedReaders outside of Europe may be forgiven for thinking that the European policymakers have got something against the cooling industry. Just look at all the legislation and standards-setting underway that are directed squarely at refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps.
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Why implement a sustainability initiative?
Ryan Moosman Facilities & GroundsA growing ecological awareness is beginning to emerge as we find that conventional methods of interacting with the environment and using natural resources has consequences that threaten our quality of life and the well-being of future generations. We realize that we cannot use the Earth as we have in the past.
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Research: New coating lubricates, prevents corrosion without grease
Barbara L. Baird EngineeringIn a June 10 release, researchers from the Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM) announced the development of a coating that provides lubrication without grease and also reduces corrosion.
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New efforts ramp up building’s response to disasters
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsWorld leaders may be waffling on what to do about climate change, but the building industry is marshaling its resources to tackle the problem head on. Builders, their professional associations and trade media are joining forces with state and local governments to address ways to make buildings more resilient and resistant to catastrophic loss due to natural disasters.
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Don’t underestimate the impact of the transition away from HFCs
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingThe phasedown of HFCs — mandated in Europe by the F-gas regulation — will require a fundamental change in culture for the cooling industry. It is the biggest change in a generation for sure, but perhaps the biggest change the industry has ever seen.
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How to implement a 5S system at your facility
Jeannea Jones Facilities & Grounds5S was established in Japan as five pillars of progress to create a lean methodology for inventory management: seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu, shitsuke. These Japanese pillars have been identified as one of the techniques that enabled "just in time" manufacturing, and they have been translated into several American versions with various "S" themes.
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Pressure mounts for global HFC phasedown after F-gas approval
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingWith publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, the European F-gas regulations have passed officially into law. Now eyes have started to turn toward the rest of the world and what other countries can do to move to a lower-GWP future.
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Prepare your trees for summer storm season
Jeannea Jones Facilities & GroundsPreparing for summer storms is not always easy as the weather can be unpredictable. Cleanup from summer storms can also equate to increased overtime, so it is important that grounds professionals be as proactive as possible when it comes to weather changes and preparation.
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Necessary improvement through process management
Jeannea Jones Facilities & GroundsMuch of today's workforce is much less "connected," and our work environments are often decentralized to an even greater degree. In these settings, the technician must be able to work responsibly with autonomy.
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