Monday, September 8, 2008
Engineers Week Activities are Picking Up!
Anyway, the organizing team for the 5K road race has been very busy. There have been a few practice runs of the last few Saturdays (in between the rains). The interest in the event is great too. The last time I looked at the Facebook group, there are 80 persons confirmed to participate, and another 109 maybes. Check the link.
To make the process of signing up easier, we have included an online registration link. Those of you who prefer the traditional way of signing up, you can download a form here as well. Remember, the Run is on Sunday, September 21st, at the Hope Gardens. Start time is 6 a.m., so get your rest the night before.
Plans for the Expo and Presentation series are also advanced as well. So far, we have confirmed exhibitors from the USA as well as locally. The slate of presentations is almost ready, and we will share it with you as soon as we have finalized the details.
Remember, the official opening ceremony is Wednesday September 24th, and the Expo starts on the same day, and runs until Thursday, September 25th. Again, for details, visit the Engineers Week page on our website.
Looking forward to seeing you at as many of the events as possible.
Monday, July 28, 2008
China Olympics
Visit this slideshow on Yahoo, and see the marvels of engineering and architecture that will be on display. Click here
Friday, July 25, 2008
NHT to give $1m solar panel loan
Richard Morais, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
AS PART of its thrust to play an integral role in com-munity development, the National Housing Trust (NHT) has introduced a $1 million solar panel loan, which will allow home-owners to use sun-energised electricity power supplies.
"As a developing nation with a fragile ecosystem, Jamaica has increasingly incorporated, within its overall sustainable development strategy, sustainable energy policy," NHT regional manager, Norris Rainford, said. "As such, we have acknowledged the integral role which solar and renewable energy sources must play in fuelling development."
Rainford was speaking at a solar forum and exhibition, under the theme 'Alternative Energy the Way Forward', hosted by the agency's St James and Trelawny branches in Montego Bay on Wednesday.
15-year repayment
The maximum loan amount is $1.2 million, which is about the cost of the plant, repayable over 15 years. Persons who access the maximum amount will access the funds at interest rates of two and eight per cent.
The solar panel systems are said to have a 25-year warranty and require virtually no maintenance with a minimum battery life of seven years. It is built to withstand 125 mile per hour wind and will start losing power after about three days of total overcast conditions.
According to one of the presenters, Louise Henriques of Automatic Control Engineering Limited, solar system energy conservation is paramount. She said that, with the current system of energy, all items using energy can be on while, with solar power, the more energy used is the less the system has available.
"Therefore, a highly conservative household can still have energy even after the three days of no sunlight."
The NHT will continue its solar water heater loan, as high as $100,000 repayable over five years at a three per cent interest rate.
Other presenters at the forum and exhibition included Pete Hylton of Hylton's Plumbing, Welding and Solar Heater and Glenbert Comrie of Solar Technologies Limited.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
“Towards a One-Stop Shop for Approvals in Jamaica” The New Building Code and The New Building act
- The Jamaica Developers Association (JDA).
- The Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE).
- The Jamaican Institute of Architects (JIA).
- The Jamaica Institute of Quantity Surveyors (JIQS).
- The Land Surveyors Association of Jamaica (LSAJ).
- The Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ).
- Incomplete plans will not be accepted.
- All plans will be submitted by registered professionals.
- All plans will be submitted based on our new building code.
- All plans will conform to properly establish planning, zoning and environmental guidelines.
- Developers of “large scale commercial and residential properties” will enter into pre consultation meetings with the relevant agencies.
- From pre consultation the need for Environment Impact Assessment studies should be established.
- Establishing a One-Stop Shop to manage the process.
- I submitted a simple addition and it took almost a year before I got approval.
- My project was approved and I discovered that after three months.
- Project was approved however letter was not done after two weeks.
- Project was approved letter was done we cannot locate the drawings.
- Letter was done but not signed yet.
- We are unable to locate your file and drawings.
- Subdivisions that took more than two years.
- I am still waiting on my sign to be approved after submitting it six months ago.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The JIE presents the final in a series of workshops designed to educate engineers and related professionals in the new Building Codes. The final session will be on International Code Council Electrical Code/ National Electrical Code and the Jamaica Application Document.
The seminar will be held July 21-25th, 2008 at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston. Contact the JIE for details
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Engineers Week Coming Up
Not only will we be having the usual presentations, but there will also be an Exposition of Engineering companies, a Road Race and more.
The schedule of activities will be as follows:
Thursday Sept 18th - JIE Supplement in the Gleaner
Saturday Sept 20th - Church Service, Meadowvale SDA Church, Meadowbrook Kingston (folowed by brunch at the President's home)
Sunday Sept 21st - Road Race in support of the Hope Gardens & Zoo.
Tuesday Sept 22nd - Launch of Expo and Presentations - Ja. Pegasus
Wednesday Sept 23rd - Expo & Presentations
Thursday - Forum on Green Building Designs
We will update you on the details of all the activities in the coming weeks.
MEET THE ENERTIA: an all-electric, plug-in motorcycle
As we strive to become green and reduce carbon footprints, alternatives to traditional modes of transport are becoming more available. We have heard of the Hybrid Toyota Prius and the new Honda FCX Hydrogen fuel vehicle, but here is something just as interesting.... By: Feel More Human | |
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The meaning of "electric bike" is about to get shaken up something fierce. Brammo Motorsports, an Oregon-based company, has designed one of the newest forms of guilt-free transportation: The Enertia.
The zero-emissions Enertia utilizes six powerful lithium-phosphate batteries and claims that riders give nothing up in performance or handling. In fact, it only weighs 275 pounds, making it the eco-vehicle of choice to maneuver around urban environments. "The opportunity to design a vehicle that people can feel good about using while at the same time love the way it looks and performs is extremely satisfying," says Brian Wismann, Director of Design at Brammo. But don't gas-powered motorcycles get almost double the fuel efficiency of average cars anyway? Why even design an electric bike? Better fuel economy does not always mean better emissions. According to Brammo, most modern bikes produce up to 15 times the emissions per mile as the average new car or light truck.
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