Associations - Page 107

Want to know what incentives are available for putting a reflective coating on a roof? There’s an easy place to start. The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) recently made its Reflective Roof Rebates Database available to the general public.

The Reflective Roof Rebates Database includes a comprehensive list of rebates, loans, grants, and tax credits pertaining to reflective roof coatings applied to low slope and steep slope roofs. The database covers all of the United States, including state, local, and utility company rebate programs and uses a customized search tool to find the most up-to-date listings available for installing reflective roofs. The search tool also offers filtered results by energy rebates, reflective roof rebates, or all available rebates within a specific state or ZIP code.

The Reflective Roof Rebates Database was enhanced in 2014 with increased functionality for searching available reflective roof incentives across the country. The information in the database for Missouri and Illinois is updated every three months.

Additional information is available within the database, which includes detailed information on each of the available incentive programs including eligibility, links to supporting documents, key program contacts, and online applications to apply for rebates. There is also a view print option that allows users to easily review the available information in a ready-to-share format.

The RCMA Reflective Roof Rebates Database is available at:http://www.roofcoatings.org/reflective-roof-rebates-database/

Presented by Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA) Safety & Crime Prevention Committee and Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program (SICAP).

Scholarship is for $1500. Initial requirements listed below. There are additional requirements to be fulfilled upon being chosen as a recipient. Previous recipients are eligible to re-apply.

In order to be eligible for these scholarships, students must:

• Write a short (1-2 page) paper on construction safety and submit to SIBA Safety and Crime Prevention Committee
• Have a minimum of a 2.5 / 4.0 grade point average (GPA) when applying for scholarship
• Have a full-time student status
• Be enrolled in a Construction Management program at Southwestern Illinois College, John A. Logan College, or Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Please contact SIBA at safetydept@siba-agc.org for more information if interested. Deadline to submit a paper is 4 p.m. on March 15 to the above listed email. All entries should be submitted in adobe pdf format in the following nomenclature (last name, first name-school name).

The St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers (SLCCC) will honor award winners for construction industry best practices and for diversity and inclusion at a Gala Reception and Dinner on Monday, March 7 at Bissingers in St. Louis.  The organization will also celebrate the 45^th anniversary of the organization.

The Best Practice awards recognize successful implementation of Best Practices validated by the Construction Industry Institute (CII).   The CII has validated 17 Best Practices that successfully contribute to improve cost, schedule and quality for construction projects.  They require adopting a culture and disciplined implementation of critical elements to achieve project success.  Awards will be presented to teams for projects in the Missouri region.

Diversity awards recognize advocacy for inclusion in design and construction.  Organization winners will be recognized for programs that increase the capacity and capability of woman and minority owned firms or that grow the use of women and minorities working in construction.  The SLCCC will also recognize individuals as Inclusion Champions for their efforts to promote the use of women or minority owned businesses on projects or who have created opportunities for women and minorities to work in design and construction.

The SLCCC is the Owner advocate organization for achievement of best value in project delivery.  It serves as the regional leader that champions promotion of project delivery best practices through exceptional educational programs, information dissemination and collaboration.  The Council represents major Owners who are buyers of construction services in the commercial, institutional, industrial, utility and public sectors.  Associate members provide the contracting, design professional and other services used by construction consumers.

More information & Registration

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a change to the refresher training for renovators currently required under the Lead: Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP).  Specifically, EPA will allow renovators to take a refresher course without  “hands-on” training, such as an online course, once every other recertification instead of requiring hands-on training every time.

Under the revised rule, once a renovator takes the refresher course without the hands-on training, their next refresher training must include hands-on training. The certification from the refresher course without hands-on training will last for 3 years. Taking the course without hands-on training is optional but once a renovator takes the course, their next refresher course must include hands-on training and be taken within 3 years of their previous certification. The certification from taking a course with hands-on training will last for 5 years.

Certified renovators who were grandfathered under EPA lead-based paint courses, or any offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) before the 2010 adoption of the RRP Rule, are required to attend a refresher course with a hands-on component.

To view a copy of the pre-publication revised rule, click here.

Another study points to the key role electricians can play in the economic, lifestyle, and climate future of America.

According to a study released Wednesday by The Brattle Group, the nation’s 50 million residential electric water heaters collectively represent a significant – and vastly underutilized – energy storage resource capable of leveraging substantial environmental and economic benefits.

Even in regions heavily reliant on coal and natural gas to generate electricity, the Brattle research shows that consumers have options for saving money on their electric bills and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with their water heating. Consumers can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 30 percent using their water heater as a thermal battery. Consumers can reduce their CO2 emissions by more than 50 percent using heat pump water heaters. Further, the emission reductions of water-heater storage will compound as more consumers participate and the electricity sector transitions to cleaner fuels and generation technologies.

Who stands at the center water-heater storage, more commonly called “community storage”? Electricians.

The Brattle research examined the economic and grid benefits of controlling three different types of water heaters (80-gallon electric resistance, 50-gallon electric resistance, and heat pump water heaters) for peak shaving, thermal storage, and real-time fast response to supply fluctuations. Researchers modeled these program designs using 2014 data from the PJM and MISO markets.

The Brattle researchers also modeled these programs using projected prices and energy resources in MISO in 2028 to determine the economic and environmental potential of electric water heaters to provide energy services to the grid in the future. The report NRECA-NRDC-PLMA report, “The Hidden Battery: Opportunities in Electric Water Heating,” is authored by Brattle Principals Ryan Hledik and Judy Chang, and Associate Roger Lueken. It was commissioned byNational Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Peak Load Management Alliance (PLMA) and Great River Energy (GRE).

Generation and transmission cooperative Great River Energy, based in Minnesota, has been able to store a gigawatt of energy each night by controlling the electric resistance water heaters of 65,000 end-use members.

“At Great River Energy, we believe there’s a battery hidden in basements all across our service territory,” said Gary Connett, director of member services at Great River Energy. “When the wind is blowing or the sun is shining, large capacity water heaters can be enabled to make immediate use of that energy to heat water to high temperatures. The water heaters can be shut down when renewables are scarce and wholesale costs are high.”

“Co-ops have been controlling large water heaters for decades in order to reduce demand at peak times, which also reduces members’ electric bills. A community storage program using advanced water heaters allows us to do even more: we can store energy, we can optimize the power grid by shaping demand and we can integrate more renewable resources,” said Keith Dennis, NRECA’s senior principal for end-use solutions and standards.

“Given that water heating represents more than 15 percent of household energy use, this is a great opportunity to cut energy waste and also the emissions from electricity generation,” said Robin Roy, director of building energy efficiency and clean energy strategy at the NRDC.

Mark Militzer, chairman of the Glow Ball Tournament, and Tony Diebold recently presented a check for $2,275 to Building Futures. Building Futures is a group of design professionals from St. Louis striving to inspire the youth of the city through design build workshops and led by Frank Lorberbaum and Gay Lorberbaum.

In October of 2015, the Construction Leadership Council’s annual Glow Ball Tournament attracted 68 golfers. “We had a fun time playing golf and raising money for this cause,” Militzer said.  “The CLC chose Building Futures as the recipients of the proceeds, because this group teaches children about construction, what skills are needed, and how to use their creative minds.”

The CLC’s check is in recognition that workforce development is a critical issue facing the industry. In addition to Militzer, the Glow Ball Golf Committee included Lee Frea, Richard Vaughan, Steve McFarlane and Brandon Leetch.

St. Louis remodeling firm launches job and training initiative to increase the construction industry’s skilled talent recruitment.

How can America keep growing if there are not enough people to build it? The construction and remodeling industry continually seek answers to the skilled talent shortage. There is an urgent need for more trade professionals but not enough people to fill the positions and increasing labor shortages create less time and resources to devote to on-the-job training for new recruits.

With an eye toward a solution for this employment problem, St. Louis remodeling firm Mosby Building Arts is launching #TRADESWORK, an initiative to encourage work in skilled trade positions such as carpenters, electricians, roofers and plumbers.

#TRADESWORK emphasizes awareness, education and participation in skilled building trades with job postings and training opportunities in the Metro St. Louis area.

Awareness: Through the website trades-work.com, TV spots and social outreach, the program seeks to engage 18 – 25 year olds who want to train faster to get to work faster in good paying jobs with security and the ability to work anywhere in the world.

Education: The #TRADESWORK website shares information about the duties and typical pay of skilled trades, and aims to partner with schools and other resources to highlight their trade programs.

Job Postings: #TRADESWORK will share job openings at Mosby and other St. Louis companies.

Training: Inspired by Mosby Building Arts’ owner Scott Mosby’s commitment to excellence, the Scott’s Scholars program will choose five applicants each year to participate in a paid, intensive on-the-job training program with MBA. Details of the training program and how to apply are available at trades-work.com/scotts-scholars/.

The #TRADESWORK career initiative was developed, in part, by Mosby’s Vice President of Production, Tyler Cluff. “During the recession, the construction trades lost a lot of good people, and it’s a nation-wide challenge to bring new skilled workers into the fold. The work is out there, but younger generations are too often bypassing the opportunities for good jobs with good pay and career security. #TRADESWORK aims to entice people back into the construction trades.”

See the #TRADESWORK spot airing on Metro St. Louis TV stations.

For information on how to participate in #TRADESWORK, or to learn more, visit trades-work.com/contact

Steve Ashe of E.T. Simonds Construction Co., based in Carbondale, IL, has been elected president of the Southern Illinois Builders Association.

Other officers for 2016 are: First Vice President Harvey Wolf, L. Wolf Construction, Granite City; Second Vice President Kent Kampwerth, River City Construction, L.L.C., Benton, IL; and Secretary/Treasurer Kent Richardson, Subsurface Constructors, Inc., St. Louis.

Three-year directors elected were: Mike Bevis, Bevis Construction, Inc., Mount Vernon; and Brian Koelling, Massman Construction Co., St. Louis.

Three-year affiliate director elected was: Roger Osterhage, NuWay Concrete Forms, Inc., St. Louis.

SIBA staff members are: Donna Richter, chief executive officer; Josh Schaufelberger, director of industry relations; Kristin McCaw, executive Aasistant; Shari Schutzenhofer, administrative assistant; John Holt, director of safety and education; Bill Burris, director of safety and education; Sarah Kaczmarowski, administrative assistant; Shelby Jestes, scan technician; and Carol Fischer, receptionist.

The Southern Illinois Builders Association is a trade association of contractors representing 500-plus commercial and industrial building, highway and utility construction contractors throughout Southern Illinois

On behalf of the Home Builders Charitable Foundation (HBCF), 2016 HBA President Kim Hibbs of Hibbs Homes (left) presented a $12,000 donation toCarla Monroe-Posey, executive director for St. Vincent Home for Children, and Mike Garavalia, director of development for St. Vincent.

The donation will be used to replace two entry doors to the gymnasium ensuring St. Vincent’s has a handicapped accessible entrance. St. Vincent Home for Children’s mission is to provide love, security and professional treatment for troubled children and their families through a full integrated program of services including individual and group counseling, anger management, coping skill development, after care counseling services and development of respect for one’s self and for others. All programs are provided at no cost to the families they serve.

The HBA is a local trade association of more than 500 member firms representing the residential construction industry. The Home Builders Charitable Foundation, the HBA’s charitable arm, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing assistance to people or organizations with special shelter needs.

Non-profit nominates Geotechnology President as recipient 

Kids In The Middle (KITM) recently announced Ed Alizadeh, President of Geotechnology, Inc., as its 2016 Champion of Kids honoree.  The Champion of Kids nominating committee selected Alizadeh for this prestigious award because of his considerable dedication to children in the community and his commitment to Kids In The Middle.

Alizadeh served on the KITM Board of Directors 2000-2008 and was President from 2005-2007.  He currently serves on the KITM Advisory Council. Because of his leadership and efforts, Ed has raised over $235,000, enough to provide group counseling to over 3,200 children.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the nominating committee’s choice for our agency’s most distinguished award,” said CEO Meredith Friedman.  “Ed has had a true impact by helping children “in the middle” of their parents’ divorce.”

KITM helps children and families transition to a new way of life before, during and after separation and divorce, for the sake of creating healthier futures for all involved.  Founded in 1977, KITM is a nationally accredited non-profit agency that provides comprehensive and confidential counseling, education and support services focused on the entire family.  KITM is a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis and is located at 2650 S. Hanley Rd. in St. Louis, Mo.  For more information, call (314) 909-9922 or visit their website at www.kidsinthemiddle.org.