Sick Building Syndrome: Healing Health Facilities
from BusinessWeek
When we think of Sick Building Syndrome, the first context that comes to mind for most of us as the cause of the coughing, discomfort, and irritation usually associated with it is a hermetically sealed, over-air-conditioned high-rise office building. The last place you would expect to encounter it is in a building meant for healing. Yet hospital occupants, patients and staff included, are just as likely to fall victim to building-related illness as office workers. In fact, a recent study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shows that, outside of the manufacturing sector, work-related asthma rates are higher among those employed in the health care industry than in any other group of workers. More

Terry Wireman “Maintenance Strategy” Series Continues
from AFE
The “Maintenance Strategy” special series of webinars with Terry Wireman, CPMM, continues at 2 p.m. EST Friday, Nov. 7, with a discussion of predictive maintenance. Wireman has specialized in the improvement of maintenance and reliability for over three decades. He has assisted hundreds of clients in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim, written numerous books and conducted countless training sessions. This set of webinars for AFE is based on his new, 10-volume set of books published by Industrial Press. Other webinars for us will be Dec. 5 (financial optimization), Jan. 9 (total productive maintenance) and Feb. 6 (continuous improvement). To register, contact Carol Lawrence at CLawrence@AFE.org or (703) 234-4068.

How Energy Efficient Can Back Up Power Be?
from Today’s Facility Manager
As part of its work, the California Energy Commission operates a Research Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Division, which oversees the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program. The PIER program focuses on a number of energy areas, including Building Efficiency. This research aims to decrease building energy use by developing or improving energy-efficient technologies, strategies, tools, and building performance evaluation methods. More

Going 'Green' May Mean Fewer Colds This Season
from MarketWatch
One errant cough or unexpected sneeze and the workplace becomes a veritable breeding ground of illness and resulting absenteeism. As the flu season approaches, HR managers prepare to deal with the headache of decreasing productivity. The World Health Organization estimates that the cost of influenza to the U.S. economy in terms of health care costs and lost productivity can range from $71 billion to $167 billion a year. "Going green" may be all the rage in 2008, but in the form of cleaning, it has proven a significant means to ameliorate the negative effects of illness in the workplace. It is also an inexpensive, effective way to improve the overall health of a building. More

Energy Experts Present Wednesday’s Webinar
from AFE
In this week’s live, interactive webinar, learn about the ductless mini-split heat pump, how to plan for and install one, and where one can reduce heating and cooling costs. Our presenters are Gary Nordeen and Bill Kingrey, PE, of the Northwest Building Efficiency Center. Nordeen is the technical lead for the U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Information Center. Kingrey specializes in the design and implementation of sustainable energy technologies. This webinar is 2 p.m. ET Wednesday, Nov. 5. To register click here.

Five Projects in U.S., Canada Strike LEED® Gold
from GreenerBuildings
The Massachusetts Maritime Academy's Cadet Residence Hall, a vast mixed-use project on a former Canadian Forces Base, a key facility in a Savannah business park, a Rockwell Collins building and a clubhouse and pro shop at a Vail resort are among the projects to attain LEED Gold status recently. More

Germany leads Europe's Wind and Solar Energy Revolution
from Cafebabel
Europe leads the world in production of wind power, and Germany leads Europe. The 20,000 windmills that line the landscape generate 8 percent of Germany’s electricity, power 10 million German homes and save an estimated 42 million tons of carbon dioxide. The northern state of Schleswig-Holstein’s 2,600 wind turbines fill one third of its electricity needs by utilising just 1 percent of its land mass. Over 84,000 people nationwide have found employment within the wind industry. Germany plans to build an additional 30 offshore wind farms, with some 2,000 windmills in the North and Baltic Seas. More