Its central hall is big enough to fit a Boeing 747—that says a lot about Beijing South. In many ways it is more like an airport terminal. Merely pointing out it is the largest railway station in Asia does not begin to do justice to this behemoth. The statistics are as breathtaking as the experience: a roof area equal to 24 football pitches; waiting areas capable of holding 10,000 people at a time, half of them seated; a structure larger than the Bird's Nest; and a capacity to spew forth 30,000 passengers per hour, to name a few. More
New Jersey Building Produces Its Own Electricity
from Courier News
With 1,276 solar panels, a new building in Branchburg, N.J., is the first commercial building in the U.S. to produce all of the electricity it needs on its premises. The building, which is home to Ferreira Construction, also has high-performance rooftop units for cooling as well as a solar-powered hot-water heater. The building is applying for LEED® certification and has a perfect ENERGY STAR® rating. More
U.K. Work Time Opt-out Under Threat
from BBC
Britain has moved a step closer to being forced to limit the working week to 48 hours for all employees. Euro MPs have voted in favor of ending Britain's opt-out from the EU working time directive. Britain is determined to keep the opt-out and will now start talks with EU ministers in an effort to keep it.
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New Green Roof Graces Department of the Interior Building
from Environment News Service
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne cut the ribbon opening a new green roof that has been planted on the third wing of the Main Interior Building in Washington, D.C. "What more suitable place for a green roof than the headquarters of America's conservation department in Washington, D.C.?" Secretary Kempthorne asked. "With more than half of Washington, D.C. covered with paved or constructed surfaces that do not allow water to infiltrate the ground, 75 percent of rainfall becomes runoff," he said. The vegetation and soil on the green roof will absorb rainwater and curb runoff. More
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Product Showcase: LogiSon Acoustic Network
 More than 70 percent of employees say they would be more productive if their workplace was quieter. The LogiSon Acoustic Network increases speech privacy and reduces disruptions by introducing a masking sound that makes conversations and noises more difficult, or impossible, to hear. It’s a cost-effective method of improving overall acoustic comfort. More info
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Holiday Security: While Employees Are Away, Don't Let Crooks Play
from bMighty.com
As the holidays approach, so do opportunities to tighten security in the workplace—or have lax habits turn into disasters. Even in better times, holiday seasons offered plenty of opportunity for unattended computers to be compromised while the employees responsible for them are taking some time off. These days, with many employers extending holiday "leaves," the risks are multiplied.
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Largest Single Modular Building in Europe
from Construction & Maintenance
Single modular buildings represent the fastest, easiest way to acquire new premises, with buildings simply delivered by truck and craned into place. But what if you need to accommodate a large number of people or want to divide your workspace into separate functional areas? Not a problem with the Portakabin Titan building. The Titan range includes the largest single modular building in Europe, with a floor area of 67m². Its generous proportions will comfortably accommodate up to 18 people, while the completely flexible, spacious interior can be divided into open-plan areas, offices, meeting rooms, reception areas, kitchens and toilets. More
 MANAGE YOUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND REDUCE COSTS, NOW EnerGXpert, an IFMA CSP, has been helping over 500 organizations such as Coors, Pepsi Center and Children’s Hospital’s for over 7 years. Learn how you can manage your energy consumption and identify cost savings opportunities through our simple web based tools. TO RECEIVE A FREE SAMPLE INTERACTIVE REPORT or for a product demo, e-mail gene@energxpert.com or call (800)303-9890 x710. Visit our Web site at www.energxpert.com
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Smart Energy Solutions: 'Free' Money for Taking Charge of Your Power
from Greener Buildings
Operating energy-efficient buildings and generating power using alternative, low-emission or clean technology may be highly desirable, but in the wide world of building construction, they still represent a niche. An expensive niche, at that. But there are a number of ways that businesses can lower their facilities' energy footprints while also saving money. Here's an overview on how.
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Corporations Consider Cloud Computing for Business Software
from The Boston Globe
Companies increasingly are turning to the cloud for software needs, as exemplified by Genentech's recent decision to lease business software from Google. "You don't want to get caught clinging to the past," said Todd Pierce, Genentech's chief information officer. "I feel like we are surfing in front of the wave instead of the back of it." Cloud computing has grown to an estimated US$36 billion market this year. More
China Plans to Establish Social Security Number System
from Xinhua
China announced plans Monday to establish a social security number system for the welfare of its citizens. The draft of the social insurance law was discussed by the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, on Monday. The draft said China would establish a standard social security number system across the nation by using each citizen's current identification card number. The social insurance fund will be categorized into endowment insurance, medical insurance, insurance against injury at work, unemployment insurance and childbirth insurance, the draft said. More
 Bradley’s NEW AerixTM hand dryers are the only adjustable speed hand dryer in the USA. Turn the speed up for fast drying at the sports center, school or water park. Turn down for quiet operation at the library or museum. Aerix hand dryers suit all applications. Call 800.BRADLEY for information or visit – www.bradleycorp.com/aerix
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Grid Upgrades Play Key Role in Expanding Renewable Energy
from Technology Review Online
Push through a bulletproof revolving door in a nondescript building in a dreary patch of the former East Berlin and you enter the control center for Vattenfall Europe Transmission, the company that controls northeastern Germany's electrical grid. A monitor displaying a diagram of that grid takes up most of one wall. A series of smaller screens show the real-time output of regional wind turbines and the output that had been predicted the previous day. Germany is the world's largest user of wind energy, with enough turbines to produce 22,250 megawatts of electricity. That's roughly the equivalent of the output from 22 coal plants--enough to meet about 6 percent of Germany's needs. And because Vattenfall's service area produces 41 percent of German wind energy, the control room is a critical proving ground for the grid's ability to handle renewable power. More
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Development, Architectural-planning, budgeting, General Contracting. Even lease negotiations. From start to finish, a little or a lot. When we plan a job we're in it for the long haul. 714-245-1600
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Its central hall is big enough to fit a Boeing 747—that says a lot about Beijing South. In many ways it is more like an airport terminal. Merely pointing out it is the largest railway station in Asia does not begin to do justice to this behemoth. The statistics are as breathtaking as the experience: a roof area equal to 24 football pitches; waiting areas capable of holding 10,000 people at a time, half of them seated; a structure larger than the Bird's Nest; and a capacity to spew forth 30,000 passengers per hour, to name a few. More
