Click here for this month's Web extras:
Masters of integration
Don't fear the audit
History made in a historical city
Top dogs
Click here for a list of 2010's Top AEC firms
Click here for the ADA corner
with Michelle S. Ohmes
Top AEC firms
Masters of integration
Preparing for life after build-out, a combined water/wastewater utility maximizes supply by piggy-backing on airport expansion.
Chandler, Ariz.'s Municipal Utilities Department does an excellent job of outlining, in plain English and with easy-to-understand graphics, plans for accommodating future water, wastewater, and reclaimed water needs in a September 2008 update to its master plan.
http://www.chandleraz.gov/Content/WaterMasterPlanUpdate_ExecutiveSummary.pdf
Chandler, Ariz., wants to extend one of its two airport runways so the same size and type of aircraft that uses the airport in cooler months can use the airport all year round. The first master plan came in 1998, followed by updates in 2006 and 2007.
http://www.chandleraz.gov/Content/AirportMasterPlanUpdate%2020070111_PH2.pdf
Top AEC firms
Don't fear the audit
A small town uses Washington's focus on sustainability to access almost half a million in stimulus funding.
With the help of AEC firm Beaudin Ganze Consulting Engineers Inc., Jackson, Wyo., identified more than 26 energy-saving measures to upgrade public facilities and streetlights. The town received $451,000 in Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants to implement most of the measures:
Public Works ? new shop
Replace two old gas furnaces serving officesAdd large low-speed ceiling fans to maintenance shop areaReplace old windows and reseal doorsReplace parking-lot lightingReplace incandescent lighting in storage baysAdd lighting occupancy controls in offices
Public Works ? old shop
Retrofit T-12 lighting with T-8 lightingWrap existing water heaters with insulation.Replace old gas-fired unit heaters with new more efficient unit heatersReplace uninsulated garage doors with insulated garage doorsAdd large low-speed ceiling fans to maintenance shop areaTown Hall
Replace old air-handling unit with a new, more efficient unit with heat-recovery capabilities. Replace and seal old window glazingAdd lighting occupancy controls in offices and storage areasReplace old entry lighting and upgrade outdoor lighting controls Streetlights
Retrofit all 160 HPS street lamps with new energy-efficient LED conversion kitsAdd or repair photocell controlsClick here for a list of 2010's Top AEC firms
APWA PlannerHistory made in a historical cityHistory's made in a historical city as two of the profession's largest associations convene simultaneously.Two trade shows for the price of one!
American Public Works Association Congress & Exposition online brochure:
http://sites.apwa.net/congress/2010/fullschedule.asp
Solid Waste Association of North American's 2010 WASTECON Conference and Exhibition brochure
Or visit:
http://wastecon.swana.org/EventInformation/Schedule/tabid/539/Default.aspx
Out of the OrdinaryTop dogsWorking canines battle pestilence in public spaces.Are you interested in using goose dog services? Here's a list of goose-control companies we found around the country:
Dog & Whistle Goose Control ? Sacramento, Calif.
www.dogandwhistlegoosecontrol.com
Geese Off! ? Patterson, N.Y.
www.geeseoff.com
Gooseworks ? South Lyon, Mich.
www.thegooseman.com
Geese Police of VA ? Leesburg, Va.
www.geesepoliceloudoun.com
UPDATE: Last year we reported that the Maryland State Highway Administration had deployed sheep and goats instead of mowers to avoid harming a threatened species of turtle (July 2009, "Zero-emissions turf control," page 40).
This year, elementary school students helped name the herd of grazing animals, "The Bypass Babies," and gave each individual animal a name, Charlie, Cupcake, Winston, and Simba are just a few of the 40-member herd. Click here for the full list of animals.