coppertalk

By Andy Kireta, Jr., Copper Development Association Vice President of Building & Construction

When Habitat for Humanity St. Louis (HFHSL) decided to build new homes that were not only energy efficient, but also safe for their new tenants, they looked to copper as the best material for their sprinkler systems. Read more…

By David Brender, CDA National Program Manager

A history-making 800 IT professionals attended Data Center World in Las Vegas to collaborate on issues concerning  cybercrime, security, cloud computing, collocation, power ,cooling, change management, data center redesign, mobile devices and their role in data centers.  I represented the Copper Development Association and promoted our role in the support of data center infrastructure.  It’s our goal to help keep them online all the time. Read more…

By David Brender, CDA National Program Manager

The NAB Show brought together  broadcasting professionals from the cable, online, mobile, enterprise, telecom, and Hollywood industries looking for the latest video and audio solutions.  The event is the largest of its kind and brought to Las Vegas  15,000-20,000 exhibitors and approximately 150,000 attendees. Read more…

By David Brender, CDA National Program Manager

David Brender, CDA National Program Manager, attended the Electric West 2011 conference Feb. 22-24 at the Long Beach Convention Center. More than 3,000 contractors, consultants, engineers, plant managers and other electrical professionals attended the trade show. The CDA was one of more than 200 exhibitors showcasing their latest electrical products and services.
Read more…

Adam Estelle, guest blogger

By Adam Estelle, CDA Project Engineer

Adam Estelle, CDA Project Engineer, attended the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Conference and Indoor Air Expo 2011 in San Antonio, Feb. 15-17. ACCA is a non-profit association serving more than 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses in the HVACR community. The group works together to promote professional contracting, energy efficiency, and healthy indoor living.

Microbial growth in heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems is a growing concern for those who care about improving air quality and efficiency. Earlier this month, the CDA attended the Air Conditioning Contractors of American (ACCA) Conference to provide information on the energy and antimicrobial benefits of copper HVAC components. Read more…

The Copper Rotor Motor – A Sustainable Choice for Energy Efficiency

By Richard deFay, CDA Project Manager and Electrical Applications Specialist 

Our goal for the AHR expo was to share the concept of energy efficient motor management by talking about the innovations offered by the copper rotor motor. We took the opportunity to educate engineers, motor end users and others interested in motor technology.

Although the technology has been around for about seven years, the application had lagged. The difficult economy, the fact that from a manufacturing perspective it would require a significant capital investment, and the increasing price of copper all have contributed to this. But I’m encouraged that the momentum is turning. Electric motors account for nearly 23% of total U.S. energy use and two-thirds of energy use in industrial settings. If we had more copper rotor motors in use, we would save in kilowatt-hours and in dollars for both individual users and the U.S. as a whole.

Richard deFay and Harold Moret at the AHR booth

I also emphasize the life cycle cost vs. the first cost and the need for early replacement of older, less efficient motors when I talk to people about copper rotor motors. The initial cost of purchasing a motor represents only 2% of the total cost of ownership. Energy costs, maintenance and other variables make up the other 98% of the cost over the lifetime of the motor.

I urge anyone who purchases motors commercially to compare options. Have a look at the MotorMaster+, a software tool developed by Washington State University and sponsored by the Department of Energy, that gives companies and organizations helpful data on whether it’s more cost effective to repair or replace a motor. And for more information on the benefits of a copper rotor motor, go to the CDA website. Or you can email me at rdefay@cda.copper.org.