Seattle Becomes ASPE’s 61^st Chapter
At its January meeting, the ASPE board unanimously voted to approve Seattle as the Society’s 61st chapter. The ASPE president and possibly the executive director will attend the chapter chartering (TBD). 

More News from the January Board Meeting

1. Bill O’Donnell was officially sworn in as an appointed member of the board as the Region 1 director. He will remain until Paul Silvestre can return from his recent surgery.

2. Patrick Gootee of the New Orleans Chapter was elected to Life membership.

3. RM Cotton and Siegel, Rutherford, Bradford, and Ridgeway were named to the ASPE Honor Roll of Employers.

4. In accordance with the ASPE Research Foundation bylaws, the ASPE board has taken positive action steps to begin restructuring the RF.

5. To be eligible for the delegate chapter allowance for the 2010 Convention, each chapter must submit the official chapter delegate form no later than July 15. After that date, travel allowances for each chapter delegate cannot be guaranteed. 

6. The board approved the official acceptance and release of ASPE Design Standard 63: Rainwater Catchment Systems.

How Fast Can It Go?

At the 2010 Convention, ASPE once again will be holding the How Fast Can It Go? car races. Chapters: Start conceptualizing your car now! Materials and rules will be available later this year.

An Event to Rival the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Reception at the 2004 Convention

Another Convention highlight is the Sunday evening reception, which will be held in the National Constitution Center. The Center will be reserved only for ASPE Convention attendees, who will be free to explore the permanent exhibit “The Story of We the People” as well as watch the award-winning theatrical performance “Freedom Rising.”

Help Influence ASPE’s Future

All members are encouraged to help shape the future of their Society. How? The Nominating Committee is looking for candidates for the 2010–2012 board of directors. For more information on how to run, e-mail gpienta@aspe.org. Also, at the 2010 Convention, the delegates will be debating and voting on proposed modifications to the ASPE Bylaws. Send proposed modifications to ASPEEXDIR@aol.com by June.

Thanks to Those Who Attended ASPE’s Open House 

On January 22, ASPE President Julius Ballanco officially opened the new ASPE headquarters with the unveiling of the Chapter Building Foundation Plaque. In addition to the plaque, a touchscreen monitor is displayed in the lobby to permanently and continuously honor those who have donated to the ASPE Building Fund.

ASPE Grassroots Budget Meeting Will Be Held March 13

The ASPE Grassroots Budget Meeting will be held at 10 a.m. CST at the ASPE office. All chapter officers and members are welcome to attend either in person or online via webcast. Registration will open in February.

Help Teach Teens about Plumbing Engineering

ASPE is offering an educational package for plumbing engineers to use at local high schools and community colleges during National Engineering Week (Feb. 14–20). The kit includes a PowerPoint presentation and a hands-on waterless urinal demonstration. Contact Donna Novickas for more information.

BIM Part 2: ASPE’s Next Webinar Is Feb. 24

Register now for BIM Part 2: Hands-on Instruction on How to Use Revit MEP 2010. Instructor Marvin Titlow will teach participants how to design a fire pump layout using Revit MEP 2010 via a step-by-step demonstration, as well as how to cut sections and apply them to sheets. Attendees should have prior knowledge and use of Revit MEP 2010.

Want to Present a Session at the ASPE Convention?

ASPE is soliciting presentation proposals for the 2010 Convention. Click here for more information or to submit a proposal online.

Full ASPE Members Are Automatically Approved to Sit for the 2010 CPD Exam

The exam will be held at 200 testing sites throughout the U.S. and Canada on April 16 or 17 (date of exam depends on testing site). ASPE will be holding a special webinar series at the end of March to help participants prepare for the exam. The deadline to register is March 19. Click here for more information.

Last Chance to Apply for the Alfred Steele Scholarship

This scholarship is for ASPE members and their immediate families who are enrolled in an engineering program. The deadline to apply is this Sunday. Click here for more information.

ASPE College of Fellows Application Deadline Extended to March 31

The nomination forms and more information about the College can be found here.

ASPE Archived Webinars Offer CEUs

ASPE archived webinars allow you to view and listen to previously recorded events at a time that is most convenient for you. Pay a small fee to earn quick CEUs.

EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

February 6: Central Florida Paintball Battle

ASPE’s Central Florida Chapter is holding this all-day event at Full-Throttle Paintball in Lake Helen, Florida. Anyone over the age of 10 is invited. Cost is $40. RSVP to Chris Farr.

February 9: Charlotte Solar Seminar

ASPE’s Charlotte Chapter is holding an all-day Solar Hot Water Systems Design Seminar at Charlotte Pipe in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cost is $25 for ASPE members and $35 for nonmembers (includes lunch). Contact Laura Pelchat for a reservation form.

NEW! Raleigh Solar Design Seminar Being Held February 11

ASPE’s Raleigh Chapter is sponsoring the all-day seminar “Solar as It Should Be” at the Courtyard-Marriott in Morrisville, North Carolina. Cost is $30 for ASPE members and $40 for nonmembers, including lunch. Contact Scott Sansbury for a registration form.

NEW! Western Michigan Hockey Night Being Held February 19

Join ASPE’s Western Michigan Chapter at a Griffin’s game at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Contact Ashley Baker by tomorrow if you are interested in attending.

UPDATED! February 24: Kansas City Product Show with New Member Offer

The 2010 ASPE Kansas City Chapter Plumbing Product Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Overland Park West Holiday Inn in Overland Park, Kansas. Anyone who joins ASPE during the show will receive 25 percent off their first year’s dues. Click here for more information.

March 7: Philadelphia Hockey Night

Join ASPE’s Philadelphia Chapter as the Philadelphia Flyers take on the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sunday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25, and you must RSVP by February 5. Contact Dawn Bishop for more information.

NEW! Denver Tabletop Show Will Be Held March 10

ASPE’s Denver Chapter’s Tabletop Product Show will be held on March 10.  For more information, visit the chapter’s website.

March 11: Western Michigan Tradeshow

The Western Michigan Chapters of ASPE, ASHRAE, and PHCC are holding a free plumbing tradeshow from 3:30–7:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Contact Paul Sisovsky for more information.

NEW! Phoenix Golf Tournament Being Held March 19

ASPE’s Phoenix Chapter is holding its annual golf outing at the Starfire Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Registration deadline is March 9. Contact Travis Gepson (480-254-9505) for more information.

April 7: Houston Product Show

ASPE’s Houston Chapter’s Product Show will be held in the Pavilion Center of the Sam Houston Race Park from 4:00–8:30 p.m. Contact Jim Ivey (713-780-1600) for more information.

April 15: Chicago Product Show

ASPE’s Chicago Chapter will be holding its annual Product Show at the White Eagle in Niles, Illinois. To provide input or to get involved in the planning, contact Frank Sanchez.

April 30: Baltimore Golf Outing

ASPE’s Baltimore Chapter will hold its annual Golf Outing at the Timbers at Troy in Elkridge, Maryland. All proceeds go toward the Baltimore Chapter of ASPE Engineering Scholarship. Contact David Goodell for participation and/or sponsorship information.

May 11: Central Florida Product Show

ASPE’s Central Florida Chapter, in conjunction with ASHRAE, will be holding its annual Product Show at the Orange County Fairgrounds. More information will be available soon.

INDUSTRY NEWS

California Announces Statewide Green Building Standards Code

The California Building Standards Commission unanimously adopted the first-in-the-nation mandatory Green Building Standards Code (CALGREEN). Taking effect on January 1, 2011, this comprehensive set of regulations will achieve major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and water use. It will require every new building to reduce water consumption by 20 percent, divert 50 percent of construction waste from landfills, and install low pollutant-emitting materials. It also requires separate water meters for nonresidential buildings' indoor and outdoor water use, with a requirement for moisture-sensing irrigation systems for larger landscape projects, and mandatory inspections of energy systems.

Federal Energy Policies Likely to Stall Until 2012

In 2008, energy-efficiency tax credits for commercial buildings were introduced as part of the bailout bill; last year the U.S. House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, and President Obama issued an executive order on emissions reductions for federal facilities. Sounds like energy-efficiency is a top priority in Washington, right? Unfortunately, several experts believe little to nothing will be done on energy legislation this year. Read more here.

How Much Water Are You Wasting in the Shower?

Showers are typically the third-largest water user in homes, after toilets and clothes washers. However, according to the Alliance for Water Efficiency, using a low-flow showerhead for a short duration actually can be more water efficient than taking a bath in most cases. Click here to find a chart detailing the water usage for several different bathing methods, as well as a discussion on reducing water use in the shower.

Even Car Dealerships Can Be Green

Kendall Toyota of Eugene, Oregon, recently received LEED Platinum certification, making it the first Platinum-rated automotive dealership in the world. In addition to photovoltaic panels, which produce more than 30 percent of the building’s energy needs, the facility also features a rainwater collection system, on-site storm water treatment, high-performance HVAC, daylighting, recycled building materials, native landscaping, and efficient irrigation. To make the step from Gold to Platinum, the dealership enacted several new procedures, including purchasing green power and conducting annual life-cycle analyses on the building.

If You Thought Oil Was the Cause of Global Strife…

In Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization, journalist Steven Solomon describes a world in which access to fresh water has replaced oil as the primary cause of global conflicts that increasingly emanate from drought-ridden, overpopulated areas of the world. This narrative portrait covers the power struggles, personalities, and breakthroughs that have shaped humanity from antiquity's earliest civilizations through modern day. Read an excerpt here.

The Lost Element of Original Freshness: Radioactivity?

After the discovery of radioactivity in the late 19th century, investors produced many questionable medical devices and treatments, among which was the Revigator, an earthenware vessel that, according to an advertisement, would infuse drinking water with “the lost element of original freshness—radioactivity.” With technical assistance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, researchers at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, discovered that the risk the Revigator posed came not from the radioactivity, but from the presence of toxic elements dissolved in the water. Read more here.

Prisoners Choose Sewage over Incarceration

According to the Latin American Herald Tribune, five prisoners at Brazil’s Public Prison at Salto escaped through the wastewater pipes leading from their cell by removing the toilet and using the plumbing system as a tunnel to the rear area of the jail. The journey was only two meters long.

ASSE Deactivates All 1016-1996 Listings

This month, the American Society of Sanitary Engineering removed all listings to the 1996 edition of ASSE 1016: Performance Requirements for Individual Thermostatic, Pressure Balancing, and Combination Pressure Balancing and Thermostatic Control Valves for Individual Fixture Fittings. This move was done because three new standards have been developed to clarify questions regarding the 1016 standard: ASSE 1016: Performance Requirements for Automatic Compensating Valves for Individual Showers and Tub/Shower Combinations, ASSE 1069: Performance Requirements for Automatic Temperature Control Mixing Valves, and ASSE 1070: Performance Requirements for Water Temperature Limiting Devices.

Results of First Canadian Drinking Water Survey Released

Survey of Drinking Water Plants, by Statistics Canada, surveyed drinking water plants serving communities of 300 or more people about the volumes of water drawn and treated, treatment type, financial aspects of the operation, and raw and treated water quality. Some results include the following: In 2007, Canadian drinking water plants processed 5,878 million cubic meters of raw water, the majority of which was surface water; a total of $885 million in capital expenditures was spent to add, expand, or upgrade drinking water plants; and 98 percent of plants treating either surface water or groundwater that reported monthly E. coli results never exceeded the federal guideline for drinking water.

2010 National Ground Water Awareness Week Is March 7–13

Sponsored by the National Ground Water Association, this week is held to recognize the importance of ground water and water well stewardship. It emphasizes a four-point stewardship message of ground water protection, proper water well construction, regular well maintenance, and regular water testing and treatment. Learn more here.

RESIDENTIALSPRINKLER UPDATES

U.S. Senate Considers Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act

On January 22nd, Senators Tom Carper and Susan Collins introduced the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act in the Senate. This bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to classify automatic fire sprinkler systems as five-year property for purposes of depreciation. The bill, S. 2947, was referred to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration. Both Senator Carper and Senator Collins are co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.  Last February, Congressman Jim Langevin introduced similar legislation, H.R. 1194, in the House of Representatives. The House version currently has 111 co-sponsors and was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. 

California Adopts Fire Sprinkler Requirement in New Homes

By unanimous vote, the California State Building Standards Commission adopted the 2009 International Residential Code, which includes fire sprinkler requirements in all new one- and two-family homes and townhomes. With this action, California becomes the third state to formally adopt the 2009 IRC.

Sprinklers Help Protect the Environment?

At the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, FM Global and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition revealed the results of a study called “Assessing the Environmental Impact of Fires,” which shows home fire sprinklers protect the environment. How? In the event of a home fire where sprinklers are present, the release of greenhouse gases is reduced by 99 percent, the amount of water usage to put out the fire is reduced by 50 percent, the amount of fire damage to the room is less than 3 percent, and the amount of materials burned sent to landfills as well as the amount of raw materials needed to rebuild are reduced.

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

WQA Aquatech USA 2010 Offers Special Deal for ASPE Members

This conference focusing on the water treatment industry will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, March 9–12. ASPE members can take advantage of a special day pass offer on Thursday, March 11, which includes educational sessions, three days of trade show attendance, and a reception. Register at www.wqa-aquatech.com and use code ASPE10.

Registration for ACE10 Is Now Open

Online registration is now open for the American Water Works Association's 2010 Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE10), June 20–24, in Chicago. ACE10 will feature 14 in-depth, interactive workshops and more than 100 professional sessions comprising more than 550 presentations.

SUPDET 2010 Will Be Held Feb. 16–19

Sponsored by the Fire Protection Resource Foundation, SUPDET 2010, the 14th annual Suppression and Detection Research and Applications Symposium, will be held in Orlando, Florida. It will feature an engineering workshop on innovative fire protection design concepts for high-challenge warehouses, as well as other suppression and detection sessions on this topic.

Rainwater Harvesting Workshops Being Held in San Jose and Honolulu

The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association has launched a series of workshops for those interested in learning more about rainwater harvesting in nonpotable applications. Click here for more information.