Rise of Smarter, Greener Buildings Boosts Efficiency, Reduces Cost - Now on ElectricTV.net

BETHESDA, Md., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- A close look at how building owners are applying the latest technologies to create smarter, greener buildings is among the features on the latest edition of ElectricTV.net. A joint production of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), ElectricTV.net is the only web TV program dedicated to reporting the latest developments in the electrical construction and information systems industries.

The vast majority of the more than four million commercial buildings in the United States are equipped with outdated mechanical system technology, relying heavily on manual processes, from adjusting thermostats to turning on lights. Yet, with the advent of a new generation of computer-based, networked systems, building owners at every level can now realize considerable savings in time and money through automation.

Lighting, heating and cooling, fire alarm, power systems and more can now be managed from a single computer interface. Plus, says Dave Ulrich, control manager for the Electric Company of Omaha, "With internet connectivity, you can control your systems from any location, both on- and off-site." Such global oversight allows problems to be quickly pinpointed and resolved. And the ability to automatically turn systems on and off, running only as needed, results in decreased operating costs and increased energy savings, benefiting both the owner and the environment.

Also on this edition of ElectricTV.net are a segment on a new learning program that's bringing an online dimension to electrical worker training; a feature on how the movement for creating a "smart grid" is working to maximize efficiency in electrical transmission; and a spotlight on how T5HO fluorescent lights are delivering significant savings in energy and costs to the lighting of high-bay buildings.

To view, visit www.electrictv.net/buildingautomation.aspx.

ABOUT NECA AND IBEW

Through their joint marketing organization -- the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee (NLMCC) of the organized electrical construction industry -- NECA and IBEW together work to:

-- Reach customers with accurate information about the industry; and
-- Achieve better internal communication between labor and management.

NECA has provided over a century of service to the $130 billion electrical construction industry that brings power, light and communication technology to buildings and communities across the United States. NECA's national office and 119 local chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research and standards development.

With 725,000 members who work in a wide variety of fields -- including construction, utilities, telecommunications and manufacturing -- IBEW is among the largest member unions in the AFL-CIO. IBEW was founded in 1891.

For more information, visit www.thequalityconnection.org.

Source: NLMCC

CONTACT: Mark Walston for NLMCC, +1-301-919-8755,
markwalston@comcast.net

Web Site: http://www.electrictv.net/

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Profile: labor-news