Construction Informer

Training New Talent: San Diego recently opened a charter public school that uses hands-on as a way to teach not only the typical high school curriculum but also skills in AEC. Students actually assembled portions of their classroom and discovered why math and scientific principles are important. Construction, engineering, architecture and interior design are the core of this learning experience. Early on in the curriculum the students created blue prints of the classroom complete with the necessary measurements, electrical fixtures, and openings. As one proponent says: “Some kids can’t just sit and listen to a teacher… At this school they’re applying what they’re learning immediately…”

All Things Grand Under One Big Green Roof: The California Academy of Sciences reopened its doors this past weekend at a new facility that houses a four-story rainforest, planetarium and natural history museum under one huge living roof. The roof incorporates a solar power grid along its edges referred to as a solar “halo” by the supplier’s press release. SunPower Corp. says the halo incorporates 60,000 solar cells encased in 720 custom-built glass panels. The system is expected to generate 10 percent of the building’s power. SunPower claims its photovoltaics generate 50 percent more power than traditional technology and that they are two or three times more efficient than thin films.

 Trade Leader Gathering: Beginning today and running through Wednesday the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO will celebrate 100 years of union activities. Concurrent to the celebration is the organization’s National Legislative Conference. Both Senators Clinton and Obama are expected to address the gathering at the Washington DC Hilton and Towers. The organization claims to represent 2.5 million building trades workers.

Follow the Sun: From May 3-8  San Diego will host the 37th annual SOLAR conference that is expected to highlight 8.5 million green-collar jobs. Presented by the American Solar Energy Society the event expects more than 150 businesses and vendors and will feature hands-on workshops, a renewable energy film festival, solar demonstrations and a green-collar job fair. Public Events are being offered May 3 and 4 while the more technical content is featured through May 8.

New Roto-Hammer Announced: This 18 inch monster, weighing 17.75 pounds is Metabo Corporation’s new model called KHE SDS-Max. The company says it delivers 796 inch-pounds of rotational torque and takes solid bit sizes up to 1-3/4", and 6 inch core bits. There are large switches on the machine so you can operate them while wearing gloves and included is a reduction switch letting you reduce impact energy by 30 percent when working in brittle materials. This feature also helps to prevent spalling.

When To Tank: Rheem Water Heating claims it is the only US manufacturer of both tankless and tank-type water heaters and therefore is a credible resource on choosing between the two systems. Everyone can learn something at the new website set up by the company but pros can also pickup up white papers and subscribe to a bi-monthly newsletter. Some of the differences Rheem highlights include:

• Tankless costs about double;
• Tankless cost about half to operate;
• Replacing a tank-type heater with a tankless can cost up to $3,000.