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In This Issue: Green Procedures Challenge Electrical Estimators D.C. Government Moves to Implement Pepco Smart Grid Dominion VA Power Sells Green Power Utility Solves Land Use Problem of Solar Power EarthCraft Homes Scores in Virginia For All the Latest, Visit www.ElectricTV.net Green Procedures Challenge Electrical Estimators 
Estimating traditional lighting, controls, wiring, and devices may not differ much on most jobs. However, LEED projects are somewhat different, and estimators may overlook the differences at your peril. LEED or green work may require additional labor for daily cleanup, recycling waste, dust control, materials purchasing, and protection of site flora and fauna. This means that general contractors must monitor and mandate more specifically how the project is to be built, how the site is managed, how the site is cleaned up, what happens to trash, what gets recycled, how much water is used, and many other things that estimators might overlook if they are not read carefully in the general specifications and scope of work documents. Estimators need to learn how to work with the four levels of LEED certifications; certified, silver, gold, and platinum and what labor factors to apply. But, if the LEED goals are not met, someone will be subject to legal damages, so let that not be the electrical contractor who did not estimate the job properly. [top] Source: Electrical Contractor magazine, July 2009 D.C. Government Moves to Implement Pepco Smart Grid
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) contains $4.5 billion for developing a U.S. smart grid. This funding will be available to utilities to cover up to 50% of their costs for constructing and deploying a smart grid in their service areas. The approval of AMI implementation and cost recovery on an emergency basis by the mayor and the council demonstrates the District’s jurisdictional support and enables Pepco to submit the strongest application possible to receive ARRA funding. The legislation allows Pepco to establish a "regulatory asset" for recovering costs associated with implementing AMI, less the amount of federal stimulus funds received, as well as earning a return on its investment. [top] Dominion VA Power Sells Green Power
Dominion Virginia Power offers a voluntary program that allows you to support renewable energy—giving you the power to choose your energy source. The utility says "by signing up your home or business for Dominion Green Power, you are ensuring that renewable energy is delivered to the electrical grid and you are helping to support new renewable energy facilities. Dominion will purchase renewable energy certificates in the amount specified by participating customers." There are several options to choose from. The additional cost for all Dominion Green Power options is 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. Additional charges for Dominion Green Power will appear as a separate line item on participating customer bills. "Dominion does not make a profit on your Green Power purchase," according to the customer services news. [top] Utility Solves Land Use Problem of Solar Power
Utility-grade solar power is limited by the amount of land needed for the collectors sufficient to generate megawatts of power. A New Jersey utility has met that issue by mounting solar collectors on all of its existing utility power poles. Metallic blue solar photovoltaic modules embedded with sophisticated power management and communications systems began rolling out of Petra Solar’s headquarters and manufacturing plant in South Plainfield, NJ this month. The plan requires Petra Solar EarthCraft Homes Scores in Virginia
Virginia’s EarthCraft team has trained more than 1,000 builders, architects, and construction professionals in their educational sessions. More than 250 single-family homes and more than 1,000 multifamily units were certified in 2008. Details are found at www.ecvirginia.org. [top] For All the Latest, Visit www.ElectricTV.net
Electrical contractors can get regular streaming video updates of smart and green building news from The National Labor Management Cooperation Committee (NLMCC)’s news service. A recent feature was a walk-through of the New York Times’s new headquarters in New York City. This 26-floor building features the latest in lighting energy automation. |
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to deliver approximately 200,000 
It consumes only 0.35 watts per square foot, or about one fourth as much as a typical building. From roof-top sensors that monitor daily sunlight patterns to the automatic window shades and lighting fixture controls, this is a state-of-the-art facility. Other features on  |
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