>> The Overtime Rule
Source: dol.gov
On November 22, 2016, U.S. District Court Judge Amos Mazzant granted an Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction and thereby enjoined the Department of Labor from implementing and enforcing the Overtime Final Rule on December 1, 2016. The case was heard in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division (State of Nevada ET AL v. United States Department of Labor ET AL No: 4:16-CV-00731). The rule updated the standard salary level and provided a method to keep the salary level current to better effectuate Congress’s intent to exempt bona fide white collar workers from overtime protections.
>> ASHRAE Announces 2017 Winter Conference from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1.
Source: thomasnet.com
In keeping with Montreal Protocol to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) globally, 2017 ASHRAE Winter Conference takes place from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 at Caesars Palace with co-sponsored AHR Expo being held from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which will host industry experts to offer guidance on how to incorporate low global warming potential refrigerants.
>> U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and American Chemistry Council Partner To Promote Sustainable Materials Management
Source: americanchemistry.com
The American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division (ACC) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aimed at promoting sustainable materials management (SMM) for plastics. SMM offers a systematic approach to more efficiently using and reusing materials throughout their life cycles to reduce environmental impacts and waste.
Honeywell, a technology and manufacturing leader, has announced the availability of next-generation solutions for thermal insulation that can help Middle Eastern countries meet energy efficiency requirements.
ANSI, ASHRAE and IES have published Standard 90.1-2016, which is the "Energy Efficiency Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings." ASHRAE says that the document contains 125 addenda published since the 2013 standard. The document serves as the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes.