Flashings

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U.S. reduces energy consumption by half

A recent report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), "The Size of the U.S. Energy Efficiency Market: Generating a More Complete Picture," predicts that by the end of this year, the U.S.'s energy consumption will be reduced to half of what it was in 1970. The report also indicates the U.S. could reduce its energy consumption 25 to 30 percent more during the next 20 to 25 years if more resources are invested in energy-efficient technologies.

ACEEE's report estimates investments in energy-efficient technologies currently support 1.6 million U.S. jobs. During 2004, $300 billion was invested in energy efficiency, which is three times the amount invested in traditional energy infrastructure during that year. According to the report, energy efficiency has met about 75 percent of the demand for new energy-related services since 1970.

The report shows the buildings sector invested the most resources in energy efficiency. In this sector, such investments totaled about $178 billion, which is nearly 60 percent of the total energy-efficiency investments made during 2004. Of these investments, 49 percent were made in appliances and electronics; 29 percent were made in commercial buildings; and 22 percent were made in residential buildings. The buildings sector also provided the largest share of energy efficiency-related jobs.

ACEEE's complete report can be downloaded for free at aceee.org.

Chicago leads in green roof systems

Chicago has ranked highest on Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' (GRHC's) Third Annual Green Roof Market Industry Survey, which ranks North American cities based on how many square feet of green roof systems they implemented during 2007. Chicago, which implemented about 500,000 square feet of new green roof systems during 2007, has topped the list for four consecutive years.

Wilmington, Del., is second on the list with nearly 196,000 square feet of new green roof systems, and Baltimore is third with about 122,000 square feet.

GRHC's survey also indicates the North American green roof industry's overall growth was 30 percent during 2007 compared with 2006. The survey shows more than 2 million square feet of new green roof systems were reported for 2007.

FM Global offers free guidelines

FM Global's Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets are now available for free at www.fmglobaldatasheets.com. Users who download the content also will receive automatic e-mail notifications when data sheets are updated.

FM Global's Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets are designed to help maintain business continuity and prevent property damage caused by fire, weather conditions, and medical or electrical equipment failure. The engineering guidelines include information about such topics as construction, fire-extinguishing equipment, heating equipment, human factors and storage.

Details

Mark Moran

What is your position within your company?
I'm vice president of Knickerbocker Roofing & Paving Co. Inc., Harvey, Ill.

What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
We installed more than 30,000 linear feet of Eterna-Bond® on the standing and transverse seams of a standing-seam barrel roof system. We had to try several processes for installing the product before we found the most efficient process.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
After spending more than 10 years at a large corporation, I decided joining the family business would be more conducive to my long-term goals.

What was your first roofing experience?
After high school, I spent a summer doing coal-tar-pitch tear-off jobs.

If you weren't a roofing contractor, what would you be?
I likely would be working for a large corporation, trying to find my way through all the bureaucracy.

What do you consider your most rewarding experience?
Providing opportunities for the men and women who work for our company so they may have long and successful careers in our industry.

List three words that best describe you.
Methodical, reasonable and analytical.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
There are many places I want to visit, but mostly I would like to travel around Ireland where I spent a semester during college.

What three items are always in your fridge?
Mustard, pickles and Italian dressing.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
Apathy.

What quality do you most like in a person?
Trust.

If you could invite any three people to dinner (dead or alive), whom would you invite and why?
My paternal grandfather, Raymond Moran, whom I never had a chance to meet; my great-great-grandfather, Bernard Kelly, who founded Knickerbocker Roofing & Paving; and Abraham Lincoln, who played such a pivotal role in our country's development.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Efficiently managing relationships on projects that have many stakeholders.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I serve on NRCA's board of directors. I also serve on the Chicago Roofing Council's marketing committee.

People would be surprised to know…
Although I have lived on a golf course for more than two years, I have played the course only once.

Dow Building Solutions purchases Stevens® Roofing Systems

Midland, Mich.-based Dow Building Solutions, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, announced June 11 that it has signed an agreement to acquire Stevens Roofing Systems and Geo-membrane Systems, business units of JPS Industries Inc., Holyoke, Mass.

Dow Building Solutions representatives say the businesses offer significant growth potential that aligns well with Dow Building Solutions' energy-efficient building expertise.

Pending the transaction's close, Stevens Roofing Systems will be known as Dow Roofing Systems LLC. Financial terms have not been disclosed. Regulatory approval is not required, and the transaction is expected to close within 30 days of its announcement.

Prices rise at BASF

Florham Park, N.J.-based BASF Corp. has increased its prices 5 cents per wet pound in Canada and the U.S. for its Acronal® and Acronal Optive® all-acrylic latex products, Acronal styrene-acrylic latex products and Basonal® multimonomer latex products used in adhesives, fiber bonding, architectural coatings, paper and construction. The price increases went into effect June 6.

BASF cites rising costs of raw materials, freight and energy as reasons for the price increases.

Sleep deprivation increases workplace risks

According to the National Sleep Foundation's (NSF's) Sleep in America poll, U.S. workers are spending an average of 9 1/2 hours per day at work and an additional 4 1/2 hours per week doing additional work at home. This extra time spent working is causing many people to sleep less, resulting in daytime sleepiness that can be hazardous or distracting in the workplace.

The poll shows 29 percent of respondents admitted to falling asleep or becoming "very sleepy" at work within the past month. Thirty-six percent of respondents claim to have fallen asleep while driving; 32 percent claim to drive while drowsy at least one to two times per month; and 32 percent report driving while drowsy during the workday.

Workday sleepiness also can affect productivity. NSF's poll shows 27 percent of respondents found it difficult to concentrate at work, and 20 percent acknowledged their productivity often was lower than they expected.

NSF's poll also found 63 percent of respondents are likely to accept their sleepiness and keep going throughout their workdays. Thirty-two percent of respondents state they are likely to use caffeinated beverages to help keep them awake during workdays, and 54 percent claim to be at least somewhat likely to use their weekends to catch up on sleep.

NSF suggests several things you can do to help ensure a better night's sleep. Regular exercise can help improve sleep as long as exercise routines are completed at least three hours before bedtime. Avoiding caffeinated foods and drinks a few hours before going to bed also can help. Additionally, removing your television, work materials and computers from your bedroom can help strengthen your association between your bedroom and sleep, which may help you fall asleep more quickly and sleep more soundly.