Net-Zero-Energy Buildings Target of Consortium

Ten organizations have formed a consortium in response to a request from the U.S. Department of Energy for advice on high-performance building issues.

The partnership is part of the formation of the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative to develop a strategy based on research, development and deployment to achieve net-zero-energy commercial buildings.

The consortium, called the High Performance Commercial Green Building Partnership, brings together leading organizations from the building community to provide guidance and technical expertise on key sustainability issues to the DOE’s Building Technologies Program.

Members include the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute; the Alliance to Save Energy; the American Institute of Architects; American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers; the Building Owners and Managers Association; the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America; the International Code Council; the National Association of State Energy Officials; the National Electrical Manufacturers Association; and the U.S. Green Building Council.

“As solution providers, our members who manufacture residential and commercial heating and cooling and commercial refrigeration systems can provide critical technical guidance to DOE on developing high-performance buildings that help achieve the nation's energy and environmental goals,” says Stephen Yurek, AHRI president.

For more information, visit www.hpcgbp.org.

AEM Announces Agreement on China

The Milwaukee-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers, which owns the CONEXPO Asia exhibition, has announced a strategic agreement with the Beijing International Construction Machinery Exhibition and Seminar for a construction machinery exhibition in China.

The BICES-AEM partnership will bring together manufacturers, customers and industry organizations.

BICES 2009 will be held Nov. 3 to 6 in Beijing at the Jiuhua International Exhibition Center.

New Course on Aluminum Announced

The Schaumburg-based American Architectural Manufacturers Association has announced a new classroom educational course on aluminum.

The course, entitled The Aluminum Advantage,is accredited through the American Institute of Architects. It covers impact resistance, design flexibility and sustainability.

The course also features case studies, including buildings that use aluminum to gain LEED certification.

The course is available through the Continuing Education page of the AAMA Web site: http://www.aamanet.org/general.asp?sect=2&id=123.

Les Cheney Elected Chair of Will, Gundy Contractors

Les Cheney, president of Elwood, Ill.-based L&M Concrete, was elected chair of the Contractors Association of Will and Grundy Counties, which are in the northeast part of the state.

Elected vice chair was Becky Fallin, who is president of Joliet-based RHL Insulation & Firestopping.

Three directors were newly elected, Tom Grotovsky, Barry Narvick and Bart Singletary.

Grotovsky is operations manager of Lockport-based R. Berti Building Solutions; Narvick is the owner of Morris-based Narvick Bros.; and Singletary is controller of Joliet-based C.R. Leonard Plumbing & Heating. They join the existing staff.