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Fryer customers focus on flexibility, adaptability, energy efficiency

Other priorities include frying more than one product concurrently, handling both older and newer snack and bakery formulations.




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Improving snack and bakery facility efficiency for increased profit

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, the domestic baking industry consumes an estimated $800 million worth of purchased fuels and electricity per year, as noted in its guide, "Energy Efficiency Improvement and Cost Saving Opportunities for the Baking Industry" (Nov. 2016 update, available on www.energystar.gov).




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Thomas Crapper: Myth and Reality

The debate over who Thomas Crapper was - or even if there was a Thomas Crapper at all - continues.




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CallRail and ServiceTitan join forces to help contractors drive high-quality lead conversions

The integration will allow mutual customers to access valuable information about their prospects and customers. The integration will ensure that the complete customer journey, from lead to job, is all captured within the ServiceTitan dashboard.




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Cogeneration puts New York college on the leading edge of sustainability

Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) has served upstate New York for more than 50 years. 




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First net zero energy education and research facility in Victoria

The training facility, designed for the plumbing industry, will generate all energy required to support the operation of the building on site through the incorporation of several renewable energy technologies.




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Propane and solar energy: How using both can improve sustainability and comfort

Hybrid systems that run on propane and solar can be tailored to a project’s unique needs, providing lower first costs and reduced ongoing energy costs and emissions.




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DOE invests $6M in geothermal heating and cooling technologies at federal facilities

New technical assistance capacity will help the federal government lead by example in demonstrating benefits and potential of decarbonizing buildings with geothermal energy.




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Water-to-water heat pumps meet stringent efficiency requirements for new school facility

A North Vancouver school chose WaterFurnace for its reliability and energy efficiency. The manufacturer's rep mentioned that the equipment aligned with decarbonization efforts. Finances were a concern, as is usual with building projects.




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Flowing forward: commercial pumps embrace sustainability for a greener future

With the world's focus on sustainability growing, plumbing engineers play a crucial role in adopting eco-friendly solutions. A major trend in commercial pump technology is the drive for efficiency and energy conservation. Find out how manufacturers are addressing environmental concerns and high energy costs.




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4 reasons hydronic radiant heating promotes sustainability and indoor environmental quality

With remote work becoming the standard for many employees across the U.S. and homeowners spending even more time indoors as a result of the pandemic, a new focus is emerging on the need for sustainability and indoor environmental quality in homes. 




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Australia training facility chooses geothermal

In order to achieve a more environmentally friendly footprint for its new education and research campus in Narre Warren, Australia, IAPMO and the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC) chose one technology rooted quite literally in the earth.




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The Glitch & The Fix: Share, and share alike

An installer is asked to pipe up two larger commercial air handlers supplied by a dual boiler setup. 




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The Glitch & The Fix: Busy backup

A heating designer is asked to create a three zone radiant floor heating system using a 5-ton (60,000 Btu/h) geothermal heat pump as the primary heat source, and a mod/con boiler as the auxiliary heat source. 




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The Glitch & The Fix: Inadvertent flows

An installer recently read about the benefits of piping a buffer tank in a “2-pipe” configuration.  




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The Glitch & The Fix: Heat, heat everywhere

Figure 1 shows the piping layout for an actual installation. It uses two boilers, fired in stages, to supply three areas of a building. 




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The Glitch & The Fix: Mixed results

An installer is asked to connect a single speed geothermal water-to-water heat pump to a highly-zoned low temperature hydronic distribution system.




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Circulator pump reliability in extreme conditions

On a military base in east-central Alaska — where the average winter temperature is 16° F with lows that fall well below minus 50° at times — dependable, low-maintenance winter heating systems are critical for the active-duty military families and Department of Defense civilians who live on the military post.




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Hydronic retrofit brings utility and style together

The age-old question of function versus form has confounded experts in every field for countless decades.

Jeff Sweenor, president and CEO of Sweenor Builders in Wakefield, Rhode Island, looks at it differently. He asks, why not both? Function certainly comes first, but when the dust settles, his projects look as good as they work.




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The Glitch & The Fix: Combining geothermal heat pumps and radiant




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IAPMO commends Washington State Legislature’s passage of bill requiring testing water for lead in schools and daycare facilities

Lead contamination in drinking water poses serious health risks, and even low levels of lead exposure can cause permanent cognitive, academic and behavioral difficulties in children.




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EPA adds new PFAS to its Drinking Water Treatability Database

The Drinking Water Treatability Database presents an overview of different contaminants and possible treatment processes to remove them from drinking water.  




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Ongoing water quality issues present opportunities for plumbers

When you talk about water scarcity and the lack of clean drinking water, most people think about third-world countries. They don’t realize that there’s a growing threat to clean water right here at home in the United States. Look at the February train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, where a fire forced the controlled release and burn of toxic chemicals to avoid an explosion. The resulting contamination killed thousands of fish in nearby streams and ignited concerns over soil and water quality.




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A. O. Smith upgrades Pro-Size Tool for improved specifying capabilities

The improved ease of sizing these units makes it easier for customers to adopt commercial heat pump technology and allows them to take advantage of local HPWH rebates.




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Truck of the Month: CEC Facilities Group

This month, CEC Facilities Group celebrates 12 years in business. 




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Truck of the Month: A little retro representation

What do logging and plumbing have in common? Jon Hatch for one. After a friend told him about a plumbing apprenticeship opening 15 years ago, Jon Hatch made the jump to the plumbing industry. 




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GF Building Flow Solutions reaches carbon neutrality in Minnesota and Germany

Key actions at the plant in Hutchinson included focusing on electricity consumption, energy efficiency and the use of green electricity since 2021. These measures have reduced the site’s emissions by about 94% as compared to the baseline year 2019. 




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Little Giant sump pumps

Franklin Electric’s Little Giant brand has expanded its sump pump lineup to better equip professional plumbers and installers.




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Franklin Electric announces Little Giant 16G Series heavy-duty, 1hp grinder pump

The Little Giant 16G Series 1 HP grinder pump is designed for tough wastewater applications. It has a silicon carbide mechanical seal for longer life and a 1 HP motor to prevent clogging.






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Commercial plumbing prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity

Over the past decade, society has been evolving. It is constantly rethinking discrimination, with growing social awareness of gender identity, differently-abled individuals and sensory sensitivity. The public restroom is one area that has come under fire during this social evolution.




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How innovation and sustainability are redefining plumbing solutions for tomorrow’s homes

Water scarcity and quality are widespread issues in the US. Embracing sustainability is crucial to the evolution of plumbing, with tried-and-true fixtures and new advances making a healthier, more water-efficient reality possible.




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Kohler’s Arizona manufacturing facility receives award from U.S. Department of Energy for decarbonization project

Selected as one of 33 projects in the U.S., the funding will be matched by Kohler investment to support the Electric Boiler & Microgrid project at its manufacturing site in Casa Grande, Arizona.




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DS Smith Expands Corrugated Facility in France

The investment has allowed the company to expand the size of the production space in La Chevrolière by 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet) and has been made in response to an increasing demand for sustainable corrugated cardboard by existing and potential DS Smith customers in the region.




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How specialty contractors can drive collaboration and project quality

No matter who you are, project management can be a challenge. 




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Uponor wins Minnesota Manufacturing Sustainability Award

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal recently announced Uponor North America is the 2020 Manufacturing Sustainability Award honoree recognizing the commitment to conserving water, reducing waste, improving energy efficiency and empowering labor.




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The push for greater sustainability

For years, environmental considerations and sustainability have influenced innovation in manufacturing, and in 2021, those factors became the driving force behind new product development.




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Contractors create in-house training facilities to home-grow plumbing, HVAC techs

Every industry in the United States is currently feeling the constraints of the labor shortage. Employers continue to struggle to bring in new workers and keep existing ones. Job openings far outnumber individuals looking for work — in March, there were 11.5 million jobs to fill, and not enough workers to fill them, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. 




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Loan accessibility, online retailers shaping homeowner spending

Amazon is doing well, though a volatile political climate threatens small businesses’ growth.




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Healthcare facilities gain expert help in meeting regulatory and accreditation requirements

Hospitals, clinics and related medical centers can now choose from four new onsite consulting services introduced by  J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.




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J. J. Keller to provide free safety & compliance event for healthcare facilities

Complimentary webcast on March 21 will cover the most pressing challenges in the Environment of Care and Life Safety.




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Focus on ASHRAE standards for dust collection and indoor air quality

Learn about two specific air filtration and dust collection standards set by ASHRAE to guide you in establishing air quality programs.




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Reducing toxic emissions: A holistic approach for industrial sustainability

While regulations exist to minimize dangers of toxic substances in industrial plants, there are additional methods that can be incorporated to effectively reduce air pollution in these facilities.




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New bipartisan bill aims to enhance EPA's oversight of indoor air quality

The proposed legislation would direct the EPA to establish a list of indoor contaminants and voluntary guidelines.




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How a Texas manufacturing facility solved a tricky situation and increased productivity

A manufacturing plant has been dealing with hot machinery and punishing Texas heat. The buildings are made of tin with little insulation. That means it gets really hot. They solved this issue with evaporative coolers.




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A+A 2021 draws to a successful close as safety and health at work continue to move into focus of politics and society

A+A 2021 – the leading International Trade Fair for Safety, Security and Health at Work – drew to a successful close after four days: 1,204 exhibitors from 56 nations and more than 25,000 trade visitors traveled to Düsseldorf, Germany to attend the sector’s most relevant trade fair.




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Podcast | Sustainability and digitalization trending at this year’s A+A

Lars Wismer, director of A+A, International Trade Fair for Safety, Security and Health at Work, talks to us about the world’s leading trade show for the occupational health and safety industry and what makes it stand apart from other events.





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Scrap metal management: More than quality assurance

Metal stamping manufacturing processes can quickly and cleanly create solid metal parts for a wide range of needs and industries. Small metal parts make up some of the most important pieces when creating larger scale items.




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FR fabrics that prioritize breathability are essential for warmer months

With the summer months right around the corner and temperatures warming up around the US, workers in a variety of industries are making adjustments to their personal protective apparel kit.




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A moral imperative: Preventing arc flash, and fatality and serious injury incidents

Electrical-related fatalities and serious injuries (FSI)* are among the noted FSIs. FSIs represent a safety and health challenge that has gained increasing visibility in the past decade as even organizations with elite environment, health and safety programs struggle to reduce FSI numbers.




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White Paper | High-Visibility Safety Apparel and the Updated ANSI/ISEA 107-2015

In 1998, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, 413 workers were struck and killed by vehicles. That was “the highest number in the 7-year period that the fatality census has been compiled.”1 Without a standard in place, the numbers were steadily rising.