| Electric cars face battery of hurdles
In the rush to deliver an electric car to the masses, General Motors Corp. is finding that the all-important battery might not be the only major hurdle. The heating and cooling systems, for example, are a challenge because they typically are built to run off a traditional fuel combustion engine. That means new types of air conditioning and heating systems must be built. GM, in a high-stakes race with Toyota Motor Corp. to turn out an affordable, effective battery-powered car, has found that while the lithium-ion batteries themselves are hitting all the marks on early road tests, a host of other issues are beginning to crop up. .
Bradley County Churches Get Extra Protection Due To Thefts
Sheriff Tim Gobble has placed rural Bradley County churches on "extra patrol" after recent thefts of outside heating/air conditioning units in the area.
The order means patrol deputies will make regular checks of those located in the patrol zone they are covering.
In recent weeks there have been thefts from at least six churches in Bradley and surrounding counties. Inside the units the thieves are able to extract copper tubing they can sell as scrap metal. Each theft brings a loss of at least $1,000, and in some cases the value of the unit is in the thousands of dollars.
Sheriff Gobble is asking the public to be on the lookout for suspicious activity and to not hesitate to call 9-1-1 if you see something out of the ordinary, especially on days and at times when services are not held.
American Standard finishes year with Trane ride
It has been anything but a standard year for American Standard. The Piscataway-based company completed the sale of its renowned bath and kitchen business and spun off its vehicle-control systems operation to focus solely on its more-profitable air-conditioning and heating systems. And Wednesday, it completed its three-way business split by announcing its name change to Trane, to identify with its popular HVAC brand. "Everyone has been clearly focused on the separation plan, and we're in the final stages," company spokesman Skip Colcord said. It was February when American Standard Chief Executive Officer Fred Poses announced that the company, which employs about 1,450 in New Jersey, would separate into three units in the hopes of creating greater shareholder value for its varied operations.
Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division Joins U.S. Green ...
Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division has become a manufacturer member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), marking the companys commitment to the effective use of energy through the development of environmentally responsible air-conditioning and heating products and technology. Joining the USGBC is a key step in advancing our mission to develop reliable, energy effective products, says Lorie Quillin-Bell, director of marketing, Mitsubishi Electric HVAC. With increasing energy costs and heightened concern regarding environmental impact, we are committed to making our Mr. Slim and CITY MULTI systems even more energy effective and cost efficient. Mitsubishi Electrics proprietary INVERTER-driven compressor is highly responsive and efficient.
Board approves service plan for HVAC system
The Forrest City School Board on Monday agreed to enter into a contract with a local company to try and ensure that the new HVAC system at the high school works properly. Following some discussion on the matter, the districts board agreed unanimously to a one-year maintenance contract with Store Services Inc., of Forrest City for a base price of $6,480. The contract requires SSI to perform quarterly maintenance on the system. Board member Ernestine Weaver was absent. The other bidder was Mohr Heating and Air Conditioning of Wynne. Architect Dave Hodges, who works with the school district on the HVAC system, explained to the board that a separate maintenance contract, in his opinion, would benefit the district. Basically, you would hire someone to get really familiar with the system and to check quarterly to make sure everything is working properly, said Hodges.
Zone Community Center want to raise about $45,000
Organizers of the Zone Community Center want to raise about $45,000, $10 at a time, to complete construction of a facility at the corner of Ann and Walnut streets in the village of Richfield Springs. The 3,200 square-foot building is framed and sided, but it needs plumbing, heating, air conditioning and interior work. "We've got about 60 percent of the building done, and we'd like to have it completed by late spring,'' Larry Kroon, president of the Richfield Springs Youth Ministry, said Tuesday. The ministry operates the Zone Youth Center, a supervised place for teenagers to gather on Friday and Saturday nights. In 1999, the Zone opened in the basement of the Church of Christ Uniting but soon outgrew the space. It relocated to 140 Main St., a building owned by local businessman Jay Bernhardt.
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