Big Ass Fans gets some gold by going green
Big Ass Fans' new Research and Testing Center has been awarded Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGB). USGB is a national trade organization with specific guidelines to rate how "green" a new or remodeled building can be measured.
The 46,000-square-foot Research and Testing Center earned 43 LEED points (39 are required to attain GOLD LEED status.) Lexington's Gray Construction provided conceptual design services and helped manage the LEED certification process. WS Construction, a Gray subsidiary, managed the project and served as LEED Accredited Professional.
The new facility was specifically designed for testing and developing the company's large fans, which range from six to 24 feet in diameter. It's large enough for engineers and technicians to conduct fan performance testing, including air velocity profiles and fatigue testing of assemblies and components. Designers have plenty of room to build prototypes of new fans and try out structural innovations.
This performance testing area measures 42,000 square feet and has ceilings that are 60 feet high. Large, heavy curtains allow the space to be divided into four quadrants. These curtains can be pulled back to create a single space with enough room to test the largest of the fans. The building can also be reconfigured to simulate various applications for current or potential customers. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) mapping can also be done there to determine the performance of fans within a space.
Christian Taber, LEED AP, HBDP, CEM, serves as applications engineer at Big Ass Fans. Taber said that the new building's most impressive LEED feature is the "innovative air distribution system (that) was utilized in the office and shop areas of the building."
He explained that "the HVAC unit's fan moves the air through the HVAC unit and a very minimal amount of ductwork. The supply air is fed into two 12-foot Big Ass Fans, which ensure proper air distribution throughout the space."
Thus, Big Ass Fans used its own products to earn LEED points and lower energy costs in its own building. Obviously, it helps to be in the business, but using this configuration is another way to demonstrate to customers how well the fans work.
Implementing this design, Taber said, "lowered the static pressure experienced by the HVAC unit's supply fan, increased the efficiency of the air distribution system, and lowered the ventilation requirements for the spaces."
Using its own fans resulted in another cost-saving benefit for the company. Cooling costs will be lower because the increased movement of air means that the thermostat setpoint can be set higher, yet employees will still be comfortable while working.
Taber said that while the designers wanted to use energy-efficient lighting, the most energy efficient contains mercury. But by applying LEED for Existing Buildings, Materials and Resources Credit 6 (as an Innovation in Design Credit), mercury content of the lighting fixtures was kept to a minimum.
The lighting in the building is primarily high efficiency T8 fluorescent bulbs.
Other green features that earned LEED points include a reflective metal roof, natural daylighting, ultra low-flow plumbing fixtures, occupancy sensors, and low VOC floor coating and paints. Recycled construction materials were used whenever possible, including 98 percent of the steel used.
The new Research and Testing Center at Big Ass Fans uses 35 percent less energy and 58 percent less water than a conventional building of this type would use. Applying LEED guidelines to its construction meant that nine percent less material was used to build it and 51 percent less waste material was sent to the landfill. -- Margaret Buranen
Marketing funds offered to small Kentucky food businesses
Financial assistance is available to Kentucky food businesses interested in marketing their products internationally.
"The Market Access Program Branded offers matching funds to small companies to help them promote their products and increase sales in potentially lucrative foreign markets," noted Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer in a statement. MAP Branded provides reimbursement for half the cost of many promotional activities in markets around the globe, including television commercials, in-store promotions, required package and label changes and other marketing efforts. The Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) is accepting applications for the 2010 Branded program. Firms based in Kentucky, 14 other southern states and Puerto Rico may apply for funding through SUSTA.
SUSTA provided MAP Branded funding to more than 70 small companies in 2008, with participants reporting $118 million in sales as a result of their promotions.
To be eligible for the Branded program, companies must be considered small according to U.S. Small Business Administration standards, have yearly sales of at least $100,000 and promote a brand-name product that is at least 50 percent U.S. agricultural origin.
Economic Summit to address minority issues and concerns
There will be an opportunity on August 27 to affect public policy on a variety of minority issues facing Kentucky.
The Governor's Office of Minority Empowerment, along with the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center, is sponsoring a comprehensive summit on the link between minority academic success and economic empowerment and how embracing diversity leads to success in the global economy.
The summit will be held Thursday, August 27, at the Lexington Convention Center from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will include breakout sessions covering education, leadership and economic development.
The day-long summit will conclude with a panel discussion hosted by Kentucky Educational Television.
Registration for the event is $40. To register or learn more information about the summit, visit http://kltprc.net/events/2009_summit/2009_summit.htm.
Gov's office positions to receive federal e-health info funds
With President Barack Obama's administration making a national priority of implementing health information technology (HIT), Governor Steve Beshear has established the Governor's Office of Electronic Health Information within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS).
The Obama administration is calling for universal adoption of electronic health records by 2014. To access stimulus funds to support HIT, states are required to have the technology and other infrastructure in place to support electronic health records (EHR) and HIT. The Governor's Office of Electronic Health Information will serve as the single point of contact with federal and state agencies involved with HIT.
Professional dance to lure business to downtown Lexington
"Dance should be everywhere," says Luis Dominguez, artistic director of the Lexington Ballet, of his vision for dance in Lexington. With a new crop of professional dancers, a diverse season of programming and an expanded outreach program, he may have all he needs to make Lexington a community of dance.
Mayor Jim Newberry and LexArts President and CEO Jim Clark were in attendance as The Lexington Ballet welcomed the new dancers to the company. These eight young women have journeyed to Lexington from as near as Indiana and as far as Japan. For many of them, this is their first company job, but they are eager to dance. When asked what these new dancers make possible for the company, Dominguez responded simply "productivity." With the help of state and local funding, he now has talent, space and time.
Artistically, this increased productivity means the audience can expect more refined performances. Look forward to a season tackling a range of works that dive into the energy of Hard Rock Ballet and roam through the open musical landscape of Keith Jarret's Kˆln Concert. Fabric of Dance opens the season with a full ream of contemporary dance. For lovers of J.S. Bach, a program highlight will be a world premiere featuring the choreography of Dominquez set to a live, on-stage performance of the Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major: a rare treat for dancers and musicians.
The freshly charged company stands to bring more consumers to the downtown area. In their somewhat nomadic way, The Lexington Ballet will divide their performances among the Opera House, the Downtown Arts Center and the Guignol Theater at UK. It will be up to local businesses in the area to tweak their marketing efforts to attract this audience with the understanding that the patrons of dance are often as versatile as the dancers.
Ben Sollee
"Doers" video contest to highlight businesses and organizations
What interesting or innovative things are people doing in a neighborhood near you? If you have an idea, the Lexington Film League wants you to pick up a camera, film it and tell the story.
The League is inviting all filmmakers and those interested in making films to go out and create a five-minute (or less) video about what's going on in their community. Find a group or do it yourself; the idea is to just go out and make it.
All submissions must be received by January 15, 2010, and will be reviewed by a team of judges. The winner(s) of the best video will receive a cash prize, half of which will be donated to the non-profit organization of their choice.
The winner(s) will be announced during a special event held in
February 2010, and all submissions will be posted on YouTube.
For more information, contact Kiley Lane at kiley_lane@yahoo.com.
Business community invited to forum on Spotlight Lexington Festival
Area businesses are invited to attend an educational forum on the 17-day Spotlight Lexington festival, scheduled to take place during the World Equestrian Games.
There will be information on how to participate - from displaying signage to beautification packages.
The forum is scheduled for 10 a.m. on September 15 at the Downtown Arts Center.