Auto Dealership Doubls Light Output, Saves Energy & Money
Pre retro-fit lighting consisted of 12-1,000 watt metal halide units on 4 poles (4 lights on 1 portable generator), plus 1-175 watt metal halide building mounted unit, for a total load of 17,715 watts. Lighting results were poor, and increasing loads without complete re-wiring or new panels added was not possible with metal halide. Pre retro-fit photos below:
The solution to lowering wattage, and providing improved lighting quality, was to incorporate Magnaray’s NEW “ARRAY” units. They come with 2,3, or 4 stacked units (W4PL5096 usually) for a wide variety of applications from military security, large area, tennis court, and other sports applications.
At 848 watts per 4 fixture array, using 4 arrays (eliminated the portable generator), and 3 building mounted #W4PL5096 fixtures, the result in increased lighting, both perceived and measured, without rewiring. Color, distribution, and glare control added to the sale-ability of the cars, according to the sales manager. Results after retro-fit are shown below: 78% energy savings, no color shift, and double light!
Leviton’s Acenti® Collection Wins Building Products MVP Award
Leviton’s groundbreaking Acenti® Collection, a line of residential dimmers and wiring devices, has won Building Products Magazine’s MVP (most valuable product) Award for 2005. The Acenti Collection is the industry’s first completely new design platform for residential lighting controls, switches and receptacles since the introduction of Leviton’s popular line of Decora ® designer-styled devices more than 30 years ago.
The MVP Award is presented to recognize products that help contractors achieve one of the following goals: 1) save labor, time and money; 2) add value and create better profit scenarios; or
3) increase customer satisfaction and reduce call backs. Entries are evaluated by a panel of judges that includes one builder, one remodeler, two multifamily developers, one replacement contractor and two architects. Of 202 entries, only 28 winners were chosen.
According to Jay Sherman, Leviton’s Director of Marketing for Residential Products, “ Acenti offers significant advances in design technology that reflect the increasingly sophisticated taste of the American homeowner. We’ve seen considerable demand evolve in the residential market for luxury appliances, fixtures, furnishings, and windows and developed this premium-grade line of devices to complement that demand. Acenti devices afford easy installation, add value, and offer contractors a way to sell-up switches and receptacles to higher margin products while enhancing customer satisfaction.”
The Acenti Collection includes a variety of dimmers that feature a simple, intuitive control scheme, signature blue LED locator light and push pad that is easy to operate. Dimmers and switches also feature a “return-to-neutral position” design that creates a clean, uniform look when switches or dimmers are installed in multi-gang applications. Acenti’s unique wallplate design eliminates the webbing between each device, creating a sleek, minimalist look.
The Acenti Collection was among an elite group of winners to earn this year’s highly coveted, world-renowned Industrial Design Excellence Award (IDEA), co-sponsored by BusinessWeek magazine and the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), TED Magazine’s Best of the Best Award in the Merchandising category and was also cited by the Wall Street Journal as among the “biggest stars” at this year’s International Builders’ Show.
CompUSA to Offer Award-Winning Digital Home Entertainment Server from Leviton and Dedicated Devices
CompUSA Digital Living Division to Target Production Home Builders with Home Computer Networks and Digital Entertainment Technology
CompUSA’s Digital Living Division will offer the Leviton Entertainment & Applications Platform (LE&AP) in twelve Digital Living Centers across the U.S. for installation in production home developments, custom homes and digital home remodeling projects. LE&AP is a dedicated home media server that offers an easy, secure and reliable way to access, manage and distribute digital music, video, and photos throughout the home using the home’s electronic devices (TVs, stereos, etc.) or computers. Serving as the central networking point in the home for all digital content, it affords users the convenience of a secure, private network for storing and sharing music, video and photos, as well as Internet access, files, printers and other equipment.
"The experts at CompUSA Digital Living understand the reliability and ease-of-use consumers demand from home entertainment products," said Ian Hendler, Director of Business Development for Leviton Manufacturing Company. “We are pleased that CompUSA has selected LE&AP to showcase in its Digital Living product offering."
"DDi is pleased to have our first product for the digital home chosen by CompUSA Digital Living for sale and installation to their customers in production home building,” said Jeffrey K. Moeser, co-founder, president, and CEO of DDi. “The digital networking expertise of CompUSA Digital Living is a perfect fit with LE&AP.”
Designed specifically for homes with structured wiring, LE&AP will be featured in CompUSA Digital Living’s line of products and services aimed at addressing the convergence of computer networking and digital entertainment technologies in today’s new home construction and remodeling markets. CompUSA Digital Living, the home systems integrator division of CompUSA, provides builders and consumers with the expertise necessary to successfully integrate the two technologies for a complete digital living experience.
"Builders of new homes have come to rely on CompUSA Digital Living to install and service home networking technologies such as structured wiring and the structured media center cabinets that manage it,” said Kevin Burg, National Manager of CompUSA Digital Living. “By featuring LE&AP, CompUSA can provide builders a complete solution to support the digital lifestyles of today’s home buyers."
With more than a dozen locations throughout the country, CompUSA Digital Living Centers provide an interactive model of home living space where builders and consumers can explore the world of digital living. In this realistic home environment, you can experience the latest digital home entertainment and networking technology from DDi and Leviton and see firsthand how digital living transforms everyday life.
“Home buyers today are seeking to completely outfit their homes with digital entertainment and home networking options they can roll up in to their mortgages,” said Doug Thigpen of Priest Development, a San Diego home builder. “With professional installation from CompUSA Digital Living and the built-in simplicity of LE&AP, we are confident our home buyers will be able to enjoy a reliable, easy-to-use digital home entertainment network from the day they move in.”
SubSurface Relocates
SubSurface Relocates to Innovatum Facility in Houston Effective July 1, 2005, SubSurface Instruments, Inc. will relocate its administrative and manufacturing operations to the new larger Innovatum facility in Houston, Texas.
(Innovatum has been doing business as Subsurface Instruments in Virginia, since a purchase of the company from the original owners in July 2001. So this is not a change in ownership but a combination of resources.) Consolidating these operations makes good sense! SubSurface customers will greatly benefit from the synergies realized from the new arrangement; as we continue to manufacture our current products, invent new ones, and provide Service & Repair for all those old Schonstedt brand locators. With the newly combined facilities, the customer will have "one-stop shopping" for infrastructure location needs, whether offshore or terrestrial.
"It is the desire of both Innovatum and Subsurface to operate as one entity; sharing resources in a better facility, combining knowledge and expertise, thereby providing increased opportunity for growth. As one of the original founders, I am excited about our new facility, resources, and potential in Houston. I remember our humble beginnings, and all the people who helped us along the way. I am grateful for the dealers, distributors, and customers, who continually give us their support; and of course, our employees. Our owners and employees are dedicated to continuing to earn that support and respect. All these things; and a hundred more, are the reasons for our continued success and growth..."
SubSurface is now located at: 10055 Regal Row, Suite #190, Houston, TX 77040. Phone: 713-849-9192
New Program Lets Professional Test Tool Uers SHare Rewards of FlukePLus Memerbship with Colleagues
Fluke has announced FluekPlus Rewards, a new program that offers a free gift for every qualifying purchase of a Fluke product to members of its LfuekPlus Program and their colleagues. Additionally, the program enables FlukePlus members to accumulate bonus points that can be redeemed for additional gifts.
FluekPLus is a members-only program for professional test tool users. Program benefits include a direct connection to Fluke technical support, advance notice about new products, and first access to exclusive technical information, educational material and special efforts.
For program details, visit http://plus.fluke.com/usen/apps/plus/promo/plusrewards .
