Berkeley County schools go geothermal

The heating and cooling equipment at 10 schools within the Berkeley County School District in West Virginia were in dire need of an upgrade. Weighing a $23.4 million capital project against decades of operating costs, maintenance demands and other factors, the district ultimately chose closed-loop geothermal heat pump systems that according to a U.S. Department of Energy case study, energy use by 75% and reduced annual energy and maintenance costs by a reported $772,000. Here’s more on how Berkeley got it done in time for the school season. 

Checking in on public water

The Environmental Protection Agency recently released a new checklist designed to help states identify problems in public drinking water systems before they turn into larger concerns and to curb what the agency called “systemic issues.” What are those issues? They include everything from water sources approaching capacity, malfunctioning treatment equipment and frequent water main breaks. The goal? equipment failures, service interruptions or public health concerns if left unresolved. Here’s more on the plan, and what’s on the new list. 

Keeping contractors safe(r)

While industrial and construction work sites rely highly on contractors to deliver specialized on-site services, global safety statistics consistently show that contractor workmen are injured more frequently than permanent work force. This disparity is not simply a matter of skill or competence. It reflects deeper differences in induction, supervision, communication, reporting behavior, and integration into organizational safety culture. Here’s a look at what’s being done to keep workers of all types safe.