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The View from Europe: End of the road?
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingIs it the end of the road for the automotive refrigerant rebels? Well, after the better part of 18 months of claim and counter-claim between those who believe the HFO refrigerant R1234yf is inherently unsafe and those who don't, we have as close to a definitive decision on the subject as we are probably going to get.
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Automotive plastics lightweighting and environmental trend drivers
Don Rosato EngineeringAuto-makers choose plastic parts for a multiplicity of performance features. Important characteristics include durability, chemical resistance, mechanical toughness, coloring and finishing ease, elasticity and light weight. Plastics have appreciably reduced the weight of the average passenger car, saving millions of gallons of gas yearly.
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Understanding new regulations for energy‑efficient buildings
Bambi Majumdar Facilities & GroundsEnergy efficiency is a journey, and we cannot take our foot off the gas pedal, lest we drive into major power wastage. The latest energy efficiency legislation — The Energy Efficiency Improvement Act, H.R. 2126 — that has just been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives is a significant step forward.
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Building behemoths: Supersize and megatall
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsWhat once seemed impossible is now not only possible, but also imminent. Around the world, building projects of enormous size and dizzying heights are transforming urban landscapes into the stuff of science fiction.
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The US Navy’s role in corrosion prevention
Heather Rhoades EngineeringThe military often has to work in areas with harsh conditions where the levels of humidity, heat and salt can reduce different kinds of equipment into scattered, corroded parts. While such corrosion can be detected and treated, it is both a difficult and costly affair.
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Innovations in improving indoor air quality
Michael J. Berens ManufacturingEfforts to improve indoor air quality have encountered some limitations as builders and engineers have had to balance them with other demands, such as improving building performance and reducing energy consumption. A number of industry organizations, research institutions and universities throughout the world are engaged in finding solutions that will satisfy both IAQ and energy requirements. Some recent developments show promise of helping to breaking the gridlock.
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Innovative solar energy applications point the way forward
Don Rosato EngineeringMost people no longer ask whether solar energy will be a success, the question is rather which forms of photovoltaic (PV) technology and system types will be successful.
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Big data and big oil — a perfect marriage?
Stefanie Heerwig Natural ResourcesBig oil and gas companies are finding new ways to extract data streams, combine them, merge them and gain insights that can optimize their businesses, increase profits and save the environment. We're talking about big oil meeting big data.
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The View from Europe: Supermarkets showing a natural confidence
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingThe supermarket sector in Europe has long been viewed as a driver of change in the world of refrigeration. European supermarkets are often large companies or co-operatives, which provides a naturally dominant position to all their supply chains. But arguably more than any other large companies, food retailers are constantly face-to-face with their customers, as well as their shareholders.
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Facility management: Proactive vs. reactive
Jeannea Jones Facilities & GroundsAs with most things in life, an offensive position yields better results than a defensive one. The same holds true in facility management. Plant operations and maintenance personnel encounter reactive situations on a daily basis, but the wise FM professional who approaches service from a proactive position will be able to avert many equipment failures and down time.
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