» Ford Accelerates Electric Vehicle Battery Testing With Wireless Monitoring Systems
DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ford is using two proprietary wireless monitoring methods to improve lithium-ion battery capability and durability by collecting real-time performance data and making software updates on its battery systems in the lab and on vehicles in the field Re

» Product: Tesseract Service Management Software
Tesseract has been developing, supplying and supporting Service Management Systems for over 20 years, and today its Service Centre package is being used by over 350 companies to manage their service operations in more than 35 countries...

» Proposed Rebate Could Bring Up to $1 Billion to Nearly 2 Million Electricity Customers in Pennsylvania
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Direct Energy submitted a proposal today to Pennsylvania regulators to deliver on the original vision for electricity competition in the State and potentially return as much as $1 billion to electricity customers of First Energy Corporation and Allegheny Power in

» Bristol: Scroll Compressor
Bristol’s Benchmark scroll compressor is specifically designed for HVAC systems 3.5 tons and larger.

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The line of 4-in-1® multiple-hp motors has expanded to include 1/2-hp ratings. The line of condenser fan motors now includes three 1/2-hp ratings for the 4-in-1 HeatMaster® motor series for high ambient temperature applications. The motors replace hundreds of 1/2 - 1/5-hp, 208-230 and 460 V, 825 or 1,075 rpm motors.

» HVACR Instructors Advance Green Concepts
HVACR Instructors Advance Green Concepts

April 6, 2010 - The industry-supported 2010 HVACR & Plumbing Instructor Workshop, held March 24-26 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Virginia, continued a fifteenth straight year of strong attendance, diverse support from the entire HVACR and plumbing industries, and well-received educational and personal growth opportunities.

With an educational and informational focus on "Advancing Green Mechanical Concepts," numerous workshop sessions were offered on defining how educators are adapting to "the way green is changing the way future technicians are trained."

David Boyd from Appion led a session on Green System Evacuation & System Dehydration which highlighted the evolution of increased efficiencies (SEER) and the transition to non-chlorine based refrigerants. ACCA?s Wes Davis presented a workshop session on HVAC System performance testing which discussed the theory involved in measuring HVAC system performance, factors to consider, nationally-recognized standards and approved procedures.

Another ACCA technical specialist, Don Prather, delivered a presentation on HVAC Testing and Balancing where he addressed air testing and balancing and what technicians need to know. Other "green" presentations included The Myths, the Realities and What Techs Need to Know about Net Zero Homes; Integrating Green Building Systems into a Curriculum; The Green in Geothermal Heat Pumps; and Solar Water Heating.

The Opening General Session gave instructors an overview of the changes happening in secondary and postsecondary education. Keynote speaker Tom Applegate of the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) spoke on the challenges in building skills during a challenging and changing economy.

Following Dr. Applegate?s presentation, Bryan Albrecht, President of Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin; Kathy Oliver, Assistant State Superintendent at the Maryland State Department of Education; Paul Hallam, a plumbing apprentice instructor from Indiana and Kevin Couch, the President of CARE led a discussion on the importance of community and technical colleges. Topics included the mismatch between skills and available jobs, the importance of having what is often called "real world" experience as an instructor, motivating students to develop a career path, and what states are doing to support teachers in developing their own skills and measuring the outcomes of student achievement.

Finally, the panel discussed how to access information about federal or state financial resources.

In addition to education and skills enhancement, this workshop also provided ample opportunities for trainers and instructors to network with fellow instructors, industry associations, and manufacturers. More than 40 exhibitors provided attendees with practical information on a variety of topics and technology updates.

Developed from collaborative efforts and support of 11 organizations across the HVACR and plumbing industry spectrum, the HVACR & Plumbing Instructor Workshop continues to be the only event designed specifically by the industry for educators and administrators. The 2010 Workshop was jointly developed and sponsored by ACTE, ACCA, AHRI, CARE, HARDI, HRAI, NATE, NAOHSM, PHCC Educational Foundation, RSES and SkillsUSA.

For more than forty years, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America has served the educational, policy and technical interests of the small businesses that design, install, and maintain indoor environmental systems. ACCA is a non-profit organization with members in all 50 states and over 20 countries. Learn more at www.acca.org.

» Aug. 19, 2010: ASHRAE Announces 12 Online Educational Courses to be Offered This Fall
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» SCHOTT Solar, VE Group and Affordable Solar Unveil New Mexico's Largest Solar Array at The Bell Group Headquarters
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- SCHOTT Solar PV, Inc., VE Group LLC and Affordable Solar Group LLC today unveiled New Mexico's largest solar array (1.1MW) on The Bell Group's headquarters' parking structure in Albuquerque, NM. The project uses over 5,000 locally-made solar modules by SCHO