Industry News

The University of Minnesota opened the $21.7 million Education Sciences Building in Minneapolis on Oct. 5, 2007. The renovated 69,808-sf facility formerly housed the Mineral Resources Research Center. Construction began on the project in spring of 2005. Housing laboratory, office, and meeting space for the College of Education and Human Development, the renovation included the addition of infill floors and replacement of all mechanical, electrical, circulation and infrastructure equipment.

An in-line fuel stabilization device exclusively represented by The Energy Group can cut operating costs in boilers by 10 to 30 percent or more. The "Fossil Fuel Stabilizer" has proven effective in both oil- and gas-fired boilers, including industrial boilers and furnaces. It is more efficient with boilers fueled by heating oil (which delivers 38 percent more BTU's per unit as natural gas). The device improves operating efficiency by dynamically delivering cleaner-burning "stabilized" fuel to the combustion chamber.

IBM is creating a sustainable business consultancy program called Green Sigma. Based on the Six Sigma management methodologies, the service will help companies reduce the carbon footprint of their business processes. Part of IBM's Big Green Innovations division, Green Sigma has formulated best practices guidelines that will be implemented in IBM’s internal pilot program and eventually by external clients. IBM is entering the carbon management services arena as part of an effort to become a green technologies and services provider.

Colorado State University celebrated the opening of its $30 million Regional Biocontainment Laboratory on October 2, 2007. Sited on the Foothills Campus in Fort Collins, the 38,000-sf aerosol challenge facility will house mice for infectious disease and potential bioterror agent research. The BSL-3 laboratory features a $600,000 mass spectrometer, autoclaves, seven-layer epoxy floors, and rigorous HEPA air filtration. The project was built by a joint venture of Heath Construction with Hensel Phelps Construction.

FM:Systems, a leading provider of integrated workplace management systems and computer-aided facility management systems, announced in October of 2007 that Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals is using FM:Interact to share workplace information enterprise-wide. Enabling real-time access to accurate information, the application allows Bayer to utilize a single system to manage all of their facility management processes including space allocations, occupancy and moves, and maintenance.