Industry News & Announcements

Demilec Secures Growth Investment

Source: demilecusa.com

On Oct. 2, Demilec announced a definitive agreement to secure a significant growth investment from an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a private equity firm that invests in market-leading companies that are managing rapid growth. Sun’s professionals help drive performance by leveraging substantial in-house operational resources and expertise. Sun Capital affiliates have invested in more than 325 companies worldwide with combined sales in excess of $45 billion since 1995.

The financial commitment of the investment will allow Demilec to expand organically and also through mergers and acquisitions. Demilec’s owners – Jacques Lariviere, Dave Lall and Daniel Clayton – will remain as members of the senior leadership team and as significant shareholders in the business.

As part of the transaction, our Canadian and U.S. businesses (including PFSI, Cornell and Premilec) will be combined into a single operating entity. Also, the Demilec’s legal name has changed to Demilec USA, Inc.

Alliance, Sen. Shaheen Honor Jim Rogers with Lifetime Achievement Award

Source: ase.org

The Alliance to Save Energy and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) honored Duke Energy chairman and former chief executive Jim Rogers with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Stars of Energy Efficiency awards dinner. The prestigious, black-tie event draws over 500 energy influencers from government, industry, and academia to showcase the year’s most impressive achievements in energy efficiency.

SFC Releases New SPF Inspection Guidance
Source: polyurethane.americanchemistry.com
A new Spray Foam Coalition guidance document, "Guidance on Sampling Techniques for the Inspection of Installed Spray Polyurethane Foam," was released recently. It is intended for inspectors who are familiar with spray polyurethane foam to provide general guidance and present techniques that can be used for the inspection and sampling of SPF insulation projects, with an emphasis on observation and physical sampling. Click here to see all recent SFC documents.

New 2012 Polyurethane End-Use Market Survey Now Available to Order
Source: americanchemistry.com
The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council today announced that the 2012 End-Use Market Survey on the Polyurethanes Industry in the United States, Canada and Mexico is now available to order. The 2012 End-Use Market Survey is available in electronic copy only.

Survey Says? Federal Government Agencies Agree Energy Efficiency Is "Most Effective" Tool

Source: ase.org
Is energy efficiency still "top of mind" for federal agency decision-makers? To answer this question, the Alliance to Save Energy and Schneider Electric have collaborated to release their second survey of over 200 federal government executives with purchasing decision-making authority, a follow-up to the insightful 2010 inaugural survey, shedding light on how this key demographic views energy efficiency at their agencies.

Three-quarters of respondents agree that energy efficiency is still one of the most effective ways to meet our energy needs while reducing costs and lowering emissions. However, nearly 40 percent cite a lack of funding as the biggest obstacle, indicating the federal government needs to invest more in energy efficiency so agencies can cut waste, become more productive, and save taxpayers money – something long advocated for by the Alliance and Schneider Electric.

The survey also asked participants to identify attitudes toward energy efficiency within the agency and obstacles to compliance, as well as rank the importance of energy efficiency at their agencies and grade the agencies’ ability to comply with federal energy efficiency mandates.

CPI and BPI Offer Free Sprayfoam Training Continuing Education

The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) and the Building Performance Institute, Inc., (BPI) added spray polyurethane foam (SPF) chemical health and safety training courses to BPI’s continuing education program. CPI’s training programs for High- and Low-pressure SPF Chemical Health and Safety are now eligible to contribute part of the requirements needed in earning a BPI credential. Each CPI course has been approved for 2-2.5 CEU by BPI.

ASHRAE/IES Publish First Standard Focused on Commissioning Process
Source: ashrae.org

A newly published standard focused on the commissioning process will help ensure a fully functional, fine-tuned facility. ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202, Commissioning Process for Buildings and Systems, identifies the minimum acceptable commissioning process for buildings and systems as described in ASHRAE’s Guideline 0-2005, The Commissioning Process. Standard 202 is ASHRAE’s first standard focused on the commissioning process. The commissioning process as detailed in Standard 202 applies to all construction projects and systems and is an industry consensus document. To purchase ($72), contact ASHRAE Customer Contact Center at 800-527-4723 or visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.

New Index Shows Housing Markets Back to Normal in 52 Metros

Source: nahb.org

Housing markets in 52 out of the approximately 350 metro areas nationwide have now returned to or exceeded their pre-recessionary levels of activity, according to the newly minted National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), released Oct. 7. The index’s nationwide score of .85 indicates that, based on current permits, prices and employment data, the nationwide housing market is running at 85 percent of normal activity.