Hello,
I am interested in providing you with the 15 articles involving educational content. I have included two recent articles of mine below. The first one is of a more technical aspect that the local Electrical Association asked me to research and write an article for them. The second one is an article I did for a local newspaper regarding a construction project.
Light Fixtures Go Green
Conversion from the T-8 is Mandatory
T-8 light fixtures, ballasts and replacement lamps will no longer be manufactured or sold after July 1st, 2010 and yet 80% of warehouses and offices throughout the country continue to use these light fixtures. The federal government is rendering the T-8 obsolete due to its high energy consumption and relatively poor lighting quality. In many publications, the recommended replacement is the T-12 light fixture and lamp.
Since the conversion can be a costly project, many local utility companies are offering two programs to assist with the finances. The first program is a rebate which the utility company calculates based on the energy savings with the conversion and the upfront cost of the light fixture replacement. The rebate amount ranges from 14 to 35% of this initial cost.
The second program is a financing option. Once the total cost of replacing the light fixtures is calculated and the monthly utility savings determined using the more efficient T-12 lamps, the utility company will often offer to finance the upfront replacement costs. The monthly payment of this loan is added to your utility bill and is ideally less than your monthly bill prior to the conversion. The ultimate goal is a payback period of less than 3 years or 36 months.
Having a lighting specialist walk through the area that will undergo the conversion is highly recommended. The replacement of T-8 fixtures and lamps with the T-12 provides significantly more light. The required number of fixtures will be reduced and the quality of lighting will be noticeably better.
Consult with a licensed electrician for costs, programs within the area and the ideal lumens for the building’s needs. The electrician should have an established working relationship with the Utility Company’s T-8 conversion personnel and will assist in all required paperwork and material information submittals.
Breezy Point Ice Arena
Construction Begins on Monday
With a crowded City Council Meeting Room, on Tuesday the members met for a final discussion and vote on whether to proceed with the controversial Breezy Point Ice Arena. The Ice Arena would be privately owned by a local business man, but the City Council’s vote on whether to grant the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) money determined the project’s viability.
The members in the audience who have campaigned for the last six months to have the arena built believe the Ice Center will help the local economy. The projections show that with weekend hockey tournaments in the winter and camps in the summer, hotels would increase their occupancy rate by a minimum of 10%. This group also points out that gas stations, restaurants and local entertainment would benefit from having more tourists in the area.
The citizens who do not support granting the TIF money point out that the small town, already one of the poorest in the state, simply does not have the economic structure to support the financing. In addition, the increased current road system would not support such an increase in automobile traffic and local police, fire and ambulance staff would need to be supplemented at a cost to the local residents.
After hearing both sides of this issue, the seven member City Council voted 5-2 to grant the Breezy Point Ice Arena the TIF money. The owner of the Arena indicated construction would officially begin next Monday.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I hope we have the opportunity to work together.