Fill Out Your Nomination Forms TODAY!

On Feb. 14, 2013, SPFA will sponsor the Industry Excellence Awards Luncheon. This lunch will be part of the 2013 Spray Foam Conference. There will be awards in several categories for projects that demonstrate excellence in our industry. A panel of industry experts will adjudicate the selection process. This will be a blind judging process. Judges will not know to whom each of the entries belong, therefore the judging will be solely based on the merit of the project according to awards guidelines.

To be eligible for an award, projects must follow the following criteria:

1. Nominations can be made by any SPFA member. Contractor nominees must be SPFA members to be entered into the contest.
2. The project must have been completed between Jan. 1, 2012 and Dec. 1, 2012.
3. Nominations must be received by December 8, 2012.
4. Pictures (preferably digital) are required. 
    a. Note all photographs must show OSHA Compliant Work Environments.
    b. A signed release must be faxed to Lisa Smith (703) 222-5816 for all photographs submitted.
5. The awards will be presented for the following categories:
  • Residential wall SPF: 1st and 2nd place
  • Commercial wall SPF: 1st and 2nd place
  • Roof SPF< 40,000 ft sq: 1st and 2nd place
  • Roof SPF> 40,000 ft sq: 1st and 2nd place
  • Specialty Applications*: 1st and 2nd place
    * (formerly Tanks & Vessels and Other)

SPFA reserves the right to change the category to which a project has been submitted if the SPFA determines that there is a category that more closely represents the nature of the project.

Online nomination forms are available at www.awards.diligence.biz/nominate.php.

For questions regarding submission of the online nomination, contact David Bradshaw at dbradshaw@diligence.biz.

Solar Decathlon 2013 Teams to Use United States National CAD Standard®

Student teams competing in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon 2013 will be able to ensure their documentation is professional and easily understood now that the publishing partners of the nation's leading computer-aided design (CAD) standard have given the teams complimentary licenses to the United States National CAD Standard®.

The American Institute of Architects, the Construction Specifications Institute and the National Institute of Building Sciences — publishing partners of the NCS — agreed to provide all 20 teams and the two Solar Decathlon 2013 organizers with complimentary licenses to use NCS Version 5 online. Read more here.

Visitors tour the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 in Washington, D.C. At the 2013 event, to be held at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif., the teams will use the United States National CAD Standard®. (Photo credit: Stefano Paltera, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.)

New Members This Quarter
Bovio Advanced Comfort & Energy Solutions; Coatings Application & Waterproofing of Illinois; Coatings Application & Waterproofing of Indiana; Distinctive Roofing, LLC; Guardian Building Products; Installed Building Products; Installtec, Inc. dba; Foam-Rite Insulation; Minnick’s; North East Spray Foam; PermaDri, Inc.; Raders Insulation Express, LLC; SES Foam, Inc.; Thermaseal/Lakeside Insulation; Next Generation Power; The Spray Market

Lost Members This Quarter
Anderson Insulation, Inc.; Conservation Services Group; DAS Products, Inc.; Evergreen Insulation Inc.; Flame Control Coatings, LLC; GDA Consulting, LLC; Homeway Homes; Seward Sales Corp.; Urethane Foam Operations; Wilserv

For additional membership updates, click here.

For details on member benefits or joining, click here.

RESNET Adopts Amendment to National Home Energy Rating Standards Defining “Shall”

The issue of whether the term "shall" or "should" be used in RESNET standards has come up in a number of proposed amendments to the RESNET Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards. Standard and regulation protocol requires the term "shall" but others argue that the term is too vague. The RESNET Standards Development Organization has resolved this issue in the proposed ANSI standard PDS 301-01. A standard amendment was proposed that takes the definition for the proposed ANSI standard and incorporates it into the RESNET national home energy rating standards.
After a public review and comment process the RESNET Board of Directors adopted the proposed amendment on October 8, 2012.

The new amendment will go into effect on November 8, 2012.

To view the amendment go to RESNET Amendment to Define “Shall”

Climate Change Not Discussed During Second Presidential Debate
 
Despite both President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney spending a great deal of the October 16 debate discussing energy policy, neither candidate mentioned climate change. After the debate, the moderator, CNN’s chief political correspondent Candy Crowley, said that she had a question prepared about climate change but ran out of time before she could ask it. Adam Fetcher, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, defended the President’s decision not to discuss climate change, saying, “Whether it’s on the stump or at the White House, President Obama has long focused on ways to develop clean energy as a core economic pillar. By advocating for the growth of renewable energy, as he did in Tuesday’s debate, President Obama has continually called for action that will address the sources of climate change.”

Recent polls – including a Pew Research Center study released October 15, a University of Texas study released October 16 and a George Mason and Yale University study released October 18 – show that an increasing majority of Americans accept climate change (see October 1 and October 8 issues). The Pew study found that 67 percent of Americans say that there is solid evidence that the Earth’s average temperature is warming, a 10 percentage point increase from a similar study performed in 2009. The University of Texas study found that 73 percent of respondents accept climate change, an eight point increase from March 2012. The George Mason and Yale University study found that 70 percent of Americans accept global warming, an increase of 13 percentage points from January 2010.

For additional information see: The Hill – 1, The Hill – 2, Pew Study, University of Texas Study, George Mason & Yale University Study

What Is an Energy Efficiency Job?

ACEEE has just released a series of six profiles of real world experiences in energy efficiency job creation. The paper, entitled Energy Efficiency Job Creation: Real World Experiences, describes programs, policies, investments, partnerships, and business models that have catalyzed regional increases in employment. While previous ACEEE work has provided an analytic framework for how jobs are created through efficiency, this paper focuses on the jobs themselves.

Energy efficiency catalyzes employment opportunities that draw upon the broad range of Americans' skills. Moreover, as companies' investments in energy efficiency improve their bottom lines, they experience increased competitiveness, which is a potential contributing factor in bringing jobs back to American soil. Each profile serves as an independent portrait of the various driving forces behind energy efficiency job creation, illustrates the diversity of energy efficiency jobs, and demonstrates the extent to which they draw upon Americans' existing skills and competencies.

To read the paper, click here.

To read the blog post summarizing the report click here.

About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications and conferences, visit www.aceee.org.

Preventing Subcontractor Default: Prequalify and Mitigate to Survive

After years of extreme financial stress, subcontractor default rates have recently spiked. It is critically important for General Contractors to take proactive steps during the underwriting and job performance phases to protect the bottom line. Learn best practices to prequalify your subcontractors and suppliers, and the early warning signs of default. Understand the balance between getting the best prices in today’s extremely competitive environment and mitigating risk and quality control. Register for this webinar and you will learn:

• Why subcontractor and suppliers go out of business and recent trends
• The ramifications of subcontractor default and mitigation steps to take
• Best practices to prequalify subcontractors and how ConsensusDocs prequalification forms can be a resource
• To identify the early warning signs of possible contractor bankruptcy
• To manage potential problems earlier on, and communicate accordingly.

Cost
$99 - Members
$129 - Non-Members

Speakers
• Donald F. Naber
Sr. Vice President - Director of Risk Management
Gilbane Building Company

• Gabriel Valls
Senior Account Executive
Zurich North America - Construction

Moderator
• Brian Perlberg
Senior Counsel for Construction Law
AGC of America

To register, click here.

VersaFlex Announces Fall 2012 Polyurea Training Schedule

VersaFlex Inc.'s 2012 Polyurea Training Series will continue this fall with the first three levels of the program scheduled from November 5-9. The courses will be held at VersaFlex's facility in Houston, Texas, and headed by Dudley Primeaux, VersaFlex's Director of Education and Development.

The Level 3 class on Polyurea Products, will take place on November 5, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The course will focus on VersaFlex's vast palette of coating, lining and concrete repair products. Attendees will learn about product usage from real world project profiles. Level 3 is free to attend.

Level 1, Fundamentals of Polyurea, will take place on November 6, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The class will cover on the basics of polyurea processing technology, including a spray demonstration included. Attendees will get a better understanding of polyurea's advantages and benefits, case histories, application techniques, and end used requirements. The one day course is excellent for engineers, architects, specifiers, sales representatives, purchasing agents, applicators and owners. Level 1 is $200 to attend.

Level 2, Spray Applicator Training, will take place from November 7-9, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on September 14, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The comprehensive polyurea technology course gives a more in-depth overview of polyurea issues on a variety of topics ranging from equipment and troubleshooting, to repair and maintenance, to substrate preparation and priming, among other topics. The course is ideal for those who would like to understand polyurea technology and its place in the variety of coating options available today. Level 2 is only available to those who have taken the Level 1 course and costs $900 to attend.

The classes also include printed training materials, plus a light breakfast and lunch daily. As always, a dress code of long pants and close-toed shoes applies. Class sizes are limited to 15 participants, so don't hesitate to register.

For details, contact Sharon Garcia, VersaFlex Incorporated, 686 South Adams Street, Kansas City, KS 66105; 913-321-9000; sharon@polyvers.com.

Click here to register online.

Roofing School from December 3-7 in LaGrange, Ohio

Where:
The Polyurethane Roof Training Center
315 Commerce Drive East
LaGrange, OH 44050

When:
Monday, December 3, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. EST to Friday, December 7, 2012 at 5 p.m. EST

Cost:
$1,750 per person

Space is limited, so register today to secure your seat.

For questions or details, click here or contact Debi M. at Spray Foam Nation: debi@sprayfoamnation.com or (203) 934-7792 x101.

The National High Performance Building Conference

High performance building & energy efficiency take center stage at Ecobuild America in Washington, D.C., on December 3-7, 2012, which includes The National High Performance Building Conference (NHPB).

The National High Performance Building Conference presents the latest in high performance building technology and products and blends industry experts, associations and organizations to offer sessions that educate, promote best practice and highlight new technologies. The conference includes executive level meetings, and seminars covering the following subjects: Sustainability, Accessibility, Aesthetics, Cost-effectiveness, Function and Operation, Historic Preservation, Productivity, and Safety and Security.

Below is a sample of sessions, seminars and symposiums offered at the NHPB Conference. For a full listing, click here.

What’s Next in Green: Profiting from Green Trends in a Recovering Economy
Rapid Energy Analysis with Revit models – Reality or Dream?
Energy Master Plans – The Path to Financial success and Energy Independence
Assuring High Performance, Zero Energy Buildings and Facilities
Sustainable Design for Mission Critical Facilities
Driving Deeper Savings in Existing Buildings: Tools, Techniques, and Talent
High Performance Reconstructed Buildings: The 99% Solution
BIM for Existing Facilities
Building Envelope Commissioning
BIM-based Building Performance Analysis
Essential Water Management in Wall & Roof Components/Leak-proof Commercial
High Performance in Building Envelopes
Insulation Systems for HPBs

Click here to register early and save. For questions, call (800) 996-3863.

"Introduction to Air Barriers" provides an overview of the performance requirements of air barrier materials, assemblies, and systems, and includes a discussion on relevant building code requirements. This course AIA and state credits and qualifies for HSW. Please check course specifications for all available credit and details: www.aecdaily.com/sponsor/abaa