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Construction cost is only part of the church project budget
Robert C. Foreman Religious CommunityThe task of preparing to build a new church facility may seem overwhelming to the steering committee. There is much to do and much to plan. However, with experienced professional help, the task can be accomplished. In this article, we will briefly summarize the major items that make up a project budget. At the end of this article is a checklist to help with preparing such a budget.
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Ferric sulfate is a safe coagulant alternative to alum
Hilary Ferrand ManufacturingPublic water systems provide clear, clean water largely because of chemical treatments needed both to kill harmful microorganisms and to improve appearance, taste and smell. Unfortunately, some of these treatments have shown to react with organic and inorganic compounds naturally found in the water. Certain of these disinfection byproducts have been proven to cause health conditions, like stomach cancer and early miscarriage.
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The View from Europe: A new climate for cooling
Andrew Gaved Construction & Building MaterialsIt has been a remarkable, perhaps even historic, week in Europe for the refrigeration industry. In fact, some would argue, for the future of the planet, too. Representatives from the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in Brussels had been charged with finding a resolution to the somewhat stalled negotiations for the revised F-gas regulations. Late in the afternoon of Dec. 16 , they reached a deal of sorts.
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2014 resolution: Make more money and lose less
Scott Wolfe Jr. Construction & Building MaterialsIt's the time of the year for companies to step back from the daily grind and evaluate the prior year's successes and failures, and to plan for the year ahead. Through this process, it's inevitable that you'll pursue your accounts receivable aging report and feel your stomach churn about the money you earned but couldn't collect. The question is why, and perhaps more importantly, how do you correct it and avoid write offs in 2014?
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5 LEED tips for existing buildings
Becky Bicks Construction & Building MaterialsOver the past several years, the world has seen a shift toward green thinking. One change that has come with this new sense of environmental friendliness is the creation of structures that use fewer resources and dispel fewer emissions than previously constructed buildings. If you have an existing building that you’d like to see earn a LEED score, then check out this list of five important tips to help make your building more energy efficient and better for the Earth.
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Coatings: The skin of plastic matter
Adolfo Benedito ManufacturingIn a risky analogy, we might say that coatings in plastics play the role of human skin. The first bastion defending the material, coatings are an added value that aim to both protect from the outside and to provide the material with unique and exclusive functionalities. Plastics and their coatings belong, therefore, to a complex and unique system with significantly enhanced properties compared to the original material.
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The View from Europe: Heat recovery
Andrew Gaved Facilities & GroundsLast time we looked at how the subject of doors on chiller cabinets was vexing the supermarket refrigeration managers in Europe, because the way to undoubted energy savings was being blocked by concerns over the effect on merchandising. But if doors on fridges is a well-understood set of technologies remaining unexploited for nonengineering reasons, then the flip side of the coin is the whole realm of heat recovery.
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When does a church need a master site plan?
Robert C. Foreman Religious CommunityWith the purchase of a new site or planning for expansion on an existing site, every church planning to build should have a master site plan. Every phase of expansion should be preceded by updating the master site plan. The master site plan is a valuable tool in the planning process for a new facility because any church that wishes to provide for growth needs to know how much it will be able to grow on its currently available property.
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Titanium vs. tungsten: Which is the most resistant to corrosion?
Sasha Viasasha ManufacturingSteel has ruled the world for two centuries because it's relatively cheap and tough, but there are times when steel is just not tough enough. Recently, a full variety of custom-designed alloys has come to light — original ceramic composites and nanofabricated materials, like carbon nanotubes, that have been engineered to withstand specific pressures or environments. However, when engineers need to deploy the overall strongest metal to handle a wide range of stressors and corrosive threats, there are only two serious contenders: titanium and tungsten.
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Mechanics lien: Everything you ever wanted to know
Scott Wolfe Jr. Construction & Building MaterialsMaterial suppliers have unique credit challenges, and the mechanics lien instrument is available to meet these challenges. The problem is that the mechanics lien laws are fragmented across the country and extremely convoluted. Learning about all the nuances involved in this area of law is a tall order, but this post will break down the primary need-to-know information about preserving, filing and enforcing a mechanics lien claim.
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