In business, I subscribe to the theory that you
provide the best products and services and let the market dictate who wins or
loses. But it’s also wise to know your competition in order to articulate your
advantages to the market.
“Go West,” ASPE members were told this year - so
I did in late October, spending two days in Long Beach, CA, at the American
Society of Plumbing Engineers’ biennial Convention and Engineered Plumbing Exposition
(EPE).
When I took my first trip to California in 1982, the state’s
sunny skies, palm trees and ocean views entranced me. With the Mamas and the
Papas’ “California Dreaming” playing in my head, I understood why people were
moving there in droves.
For many in the construction trades, California has
indeed been a dream location.
Who wouldn’t love to discover hidden treasure? Personally, I dream of appearing on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow
with my grandfather’s coin collection and hearing the expert say: “Mr. Fausch,
this is a stunning collection, filled with the rarest pennies ever assembled.
It’s easily worth $5 million.”
It’s been fascinating watching the world turn
green, i.e. “environmentally sensitive.” Because BNP Media has published Environmental
Design + Construction magazine
since 1997, we’ve been able to watch the recent “green rush” from a position of
insight.
New Jersey recently turned
down a request to require the retrofit installation of fire sprinkler systems
in existing high-rise buildings. My concern is that in the
spirit of compromise, NJ is considering requiring the installation of
sprinklers in common areas, with one head in each apartment, as
an alternative to a completely sprinklered building. In
my humble opinion, one sprinkler head in an
apartment provides little, if any, help.
I just returned from Atlanta where a gas shortage is
creating havoc. At one point I became mired in a line of cars when I simply
attempted to turn into my hotel parking lot. My path was blocked by a horde of
aggressive, petrol-starved motorists, all emotionally invested in reaching the
corner gas station. From the perspective of someone from Michigan, where gas is
still plentiful, I found the shortage scary.
This past summer, PM Engineer magazine added a
bimonthly column on solar design, written by hydronics guru John Siegenthaler,
P.E. Response to the column, called “Solar Design Notebook,” has been very
favorable, which surprises neither Siggy nor anyone else on the staff of PME.
In fact, insights that I’ve gained from Siggy’s columns have
already proven very helpful to me on two occasions...
That eardrum shattering noise you’ve been hearing is the construction industry
grinding to a halt. Will the gears that run our economy unclench?If so,
when? A few days ago, the House of Representatives joined Congress in
passing the financial “Bail Out Bill.” President Bush quickly signed the measure
so taxpayers like you and me can throw $700 billion at the problem.
When my wife and I travel for pleasure, we prefer to stay at
small boutique hotels. Their charm is quite
unique. The wallpaper or floor covering in one room might well be different
from another room on the same floor. And then we get to the plumbing...