February 2008
Cover Story
Seeing Green
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Beck Ireland, Staff Writer
Although concern for the environment and awareness of green technologies are at an all-time high, results from an online survey of 1,000 respondents conducted...
Other Features
Optimizing Energy Conservation in Today's Plants
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Dave Bovankovich, E-Mon, LLC
With the industrial sector consuming more than one-third of all the energy used in the United States, it's easy to see why facility managers are constantly...
Under Contract
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Beck Ireland, Staff Writer
In 2005, Kentucky procured a statewide LED traffic signal retrofit. Not only did this project make it the second state after Delaware to use LED modules...
The Art and Science of Color Coding
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By David Herres, Master Electrician
On any given project, choosing the appropriate colors for conductors during installation facilitates maintenance and enhances troubleshooting efforts...
Managing Non-Financial Performance Metrics
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Bradley Dawson, LTV Dynamics
There's one thing about financial statements many people forget: Historic relics of your business past, these documents tell you what has already happened,...
National Electrical Code
Transformer Secondary Conductors
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant
Similar to feeder taps, covered in the last issue, transformer secondary conductors can be every bit as confusing. Let's take a closer look at 240.21(C)...
Illustrated Catastrophes
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Joe Tedesco, NEC Columnist
As usual, never consider the following commentary associated with these photos as a formal interpretation of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Without...
What's Wrong Here?
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Joe Tedesco, NEC Columnist
How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight...
Stumped by the Code?
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant
All questions and answers are based on the 2008 NEC. Q. What are the rules on spacing receptacles in a dwelling unit? A. A receptacle outlet must be installed...
Industry Viewpoint
Convincing Clients to Go Green
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Michael Eby, Editor-in-Chief
I don't know about you, but I'm beginning to see the color green in almost everything I look at whether it's a piece of lumber in the hardware store,...
Letters to the Editor
Case of the Misleading Meter Draws Comments
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
After reading the Forensic Casebook article in the December 2007 issue, I believe the author, Mr. Palmer, is incorrect on several statements. NFPA 70E...
Market Watch
OSHA Announces New National Emphasis Program on Silica
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Each year, approximately 2 million American employees are exposed to crystalline silica, a hazardous form of dust. According to the Center to Protect...
Americans Embrace CFLs in Record Numbers
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
When it comes to fighting climate change, many Americans are not only talking the talk, they're actually walking the walk. Case in point: the Environmental...
Publication Offers Energy-Efficiency Guidelines for K-12 Schools
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
A recent publication from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), headquartered in Atlanta, educates architects,...
Billings at Architecture Firms Hold Steady
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Washington, D.C., says billings at architecture firms remained steady in December, ending the year with the...
Product of the Month
Solid-State Lighting Solution Shines Bright
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Stefanie Kure, Senior Associate Editor
The energy efficiency of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is expected to equal the most efficient white light sources by 2010, according to the U.S. Department...
Motor Facts
Motor Selection for Adjustable-Speed Drives
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Alexander Kusko, Sc.D., P.E., Exponent Failure Analysis Associates, and Jean Y. Ayoub, M.S.E.E.,
Prior to the advent of the adjustable-speed drive (ASD), the polyphase induction motor operated as a constant-speed motor. Figure 1 shows the well-known...
Safety and Security
Power Quality Considerations for Security Systems
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Jay Adams, Transtector, A Smiths Business
Reliable operation of security systems is obviously essential to protect company assets and ensure human safety. However, episodic equipment malfunctions...
Inside PQ
UPS Testing for Reliable Backup Power
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Joseph Ong, Fluke Corp.
No electricity provider in the world can guarantee an electrical supply that is free from voltage and frequency variations. The possibility of faults...
Construction Watch
Utilities Join Forces to Offer Unified Electric Line Specialist Training
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
When it comes to training, Midwest ENERGY Association (MEA), Eagan, Minn., believes in the old saying two heads are better than one try 14 heads to be...
Nonresidential Construction Shows Vigor Despite Housing Slump
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Nonresidential construction employment eked out a small gain in January, implying that the spending rise of 2007 will continue, said Ken Simonson, chief...
Massachusetts Leads New England in New Plant Start-Ups
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Boasting plans for 56 new plants to begin operation this year, Massachusetts remains the region's leader for new plant start-ups planned for 2008, according...
New Products
Product Spotlight
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
PLC relay This 10A, high-current terminal block relay with larger contacts can be used to extend service intervals up to two to three times the standard...
Product News
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Double-conversion UPS The Digital Energy LP-33U Series double-conversion UPS with true online voltage and frequency-independent operation provides 97%...
Product News
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Cold storage luminaires Offered with T5HO and T8 lamps, the MJF14, MJF164, and MJF24 cold storage luminaires are designed for use over a temperature range...
Product News
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Plenum-rated products Chicago plenum-rated downlights have been designed with the City of Chicago's Electrical Code in mind. Product features include...
Project Spotlight
Warehouse Retrofit Saves More Than Electricity
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Stefanie Kure, Senior Associate Editor
With a student population of approximately 25,000, Colorado State University (CSU), Fort Collins, Colo., is dedicated to reducing its impact on the environment....
Short Circuits
Everyone makes mistakes. Some are just funnier than others
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Spooling the Day Away While still in school studying to obtain my electrical engineering degree, I took a summer internship with an information technology...
Learn how HRG technology can mitigate and reduce the arc flash hazard; design considerations to remember when specifying and installing an HRG system. 
