Construction Informer

Duck Tape Continues to Amaze: As if we didn’t already have enough uses for duct tape the makers of Duck brand duct tape are having a contest to determine who can make the best Halloween costume out of the venerable sticky stuff. Not to be confused with its annual contest that encourages people to make their prom outfits from it, this one is in its third year and the winner will get $500. Called Stick or Treat this is sure to keep you up nights wondering just how you can best some of the previous winners. Of course I can see how people might get stuck on this subject, but I’ve already written enough about it.

Calls For Infrastructure Investment Continue To Well Up: With a D grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers you would think the nation’s infrastructure would be a top priority. Perhaps to stimulate just such an outcome a group of mayors got together to call on the federal government to partner with local governments to bring more investment to the nation’s infrastructure.

One particularly interesting report on water (one of those topics at the top of my list) claimed almost nine dollars are added to the national economy for every one dollar spent on public water and sewer projects. Other findings included this one: protecting two-and-a-half acres of wetlands to protect source water results in a $4,000 annual reduction in water treatment costs. The mayors were not kind to the politicians in DC with one participant saying “Washington has lost its values – lost its principles – lost its sense of purpose…”

Excited Polymers Offer Chilling Opportunities: In the near future refrigeration may depend upon polymer and heat exchangers instead of coils and compressors, at least that’s what researchers at Penn State have in mind. The process involves exciting the polymers with electricity, causing them to give off heat and become colder. Then, when electricity is removed the material collects heat again. The researchers so far can change the temperature of the material by 22.6 degrees F. The process looks promising also for heating, and by using these polymers in circuit boards the boards could be cooled thereby allowing closer packing of components and the miniaturization of devices. HVAC may be on the verge of some significant changes.

Forget About American Idol: We’ve all had about enough of the endless "become a star" shows and so it is refreshing to see something come around that requires some HVAC initiative and talent. Of course I’m talking about the Duck­® brand duct tape Stuck at Prom® Scholarship Contest. Apparently 130 student couples entered this scholarship contest this year and the judges have selected the 10 finalists who will move on based upon their "originality, workmanship, use of color, use of accessories, and amount of duct tape used to make their prom outfits." Notice they used the word duct, and not Duck. So, any duct tape qualifies. The competition moves now to online and word of mouth promotion and you can view and vote for your favorite couple, read and come to understand so much more about this amazing contest here.

Stop Drilling: Bosch has recalled almost 10,000 hammer drills so people should stop using them and contact the company for repair (877-472-0007). Apparently these drills will continue to operate even after the trigger has been released. The model number is 1191VSR and if it came with a case there will be a K at the end of that number. It only affects drills with a 7 as the first digit in the serial number.

Sizing Up The Commercial Sector: Standard and Poor’s wrote a report that says "new commercial starts will weaken further in 2008, but the carry-through from buildings that reached groundbreaking in 2007 should keep construction spending above that of 2007." The company’s crystal ball sees commercial construction and multi-family housing slowing the most with apartments hitting the skids but offices rising above it all. Overall S&P predicts a 16 percent drop in commercial construction starts in 2008 and a nine percent drop in 2009. Their severe recession prognostication envisions a 20 percent drop in both 2008 and 2009.