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Past News Chalk One Up for Mechanical Insulation I have some great news to report. President Obama signed into law legislation that will fund for the first time a mechanical insulation education and awareness campaign. This is a tremendous victory and is the culmination of the tireless efforts and support from all of you, our champions in Congress, our partner the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, and GolinHarris, which navigated the path for us. The legislation funds the Department of Energy for 2010 and provides seed funding for a mechanical insulation education campaign. On the heels of the passage of this legislation by the House of Representatives and the Senate, on October 8, we again met with the Department of Energy to provide input on shaping this educational outreach program. We believe this funding is a good start to help launch the national awareness campaign that the Mechanical Insulation Marketing Initiative committee envisioned. But it doesn't end with this result. Additional investment from the federal government, as well as industry and other partners, is necessary to ensure we reach as many commercial, state, and local decision-makers as possible. In addition to our work with the Department of Energy, we remain engaged with members of Congress to establish a 3-year education campaign as part of a comprehensive energy bill. Thanks to Rep. Deborah Halvorson, the bill passed by the House of Representatives last summer includes this provision. We continue to meet with Senators to promote its inclusion in the Senate bill currently being drafted and debated. On our tax legislation efforts, we are continuing to work with key offices on Capitol Hill. Instead of a credit, we are promoting legislation to create a deduction for businesses that install or maintain mechanical insulation technologies. Lowering the tax bills for businesses that install, retrofit, or maintain mechanical insulation systems is a win-win for jobs and energy efficiency. We have had additional conversations with the key tax-writing committees (the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees) on next steps. Meanwhile, we are preparing for our first-ever Convergence on Capitol Hill on Friday, November 6. Nearly 20 NIA Board Members will meet with their Senators and Representatives to tell the mechanical insulation story first hand to make the case for the tax deduction and the education campaign. Let me also mention that President Obama signed an executive order on October 5 that commits every federal agency to become more energy efficient. With nearly 500,000 buildings occupied by the federal government across the country, there's an unprecedented opportunity to insert mechanical insulation into the mix and help the government achieve the goals set by the president. Please send any thoughts you have on our efforts. It's going to be a busy month ahead, and I look forward to your input as we move forward. Regards, Posted: November 17, 2009 As you all know, the Thermal Insulation Association of Canada has moved offices and hired a new Secretariat. We are currently working on the 2009 TIAC Membership Directory and would like to make sure that we have your updated membership information. We ask that you fill out the online form with your contact information so we can double-check that all records are correct and that no data has been lost in the transition, so it is important to fill out the form regardless of changes or not. For those who have more than one location, please fill out a form for each location. It is important to fill out the form even if there are no changes to your profile. We want to insure that no data was lost during the office transition. To access the online form please click here. As a member of the Association, you also have
the opportunity to promote your company in the directory. Your
company’s logo will be displayed in the directory, which will be
distributed to over 300 TIAC members, giving you and your company visibility
throughout the year. If you are interested in advertising, please fill out the online form and provide the TIAC Secretariat with a print quality, high-resolution logo (jpeg, eps, tiff or pdf). The advertisement will only be published if payment is made. Prompt Payment Legislation A position paper prepared by the National Trade Contractors Coalition of Canada (NTCCC) We’re the ones doing the work The National Trade Contractors Coalition of Canada (NTCCC) is a partnership that brings together national construction trade associations. NTCCC members are skilled trade contractors that are hired by general contractors for specific parts of a larger construction project. Our thousands of member companies across Canada encompass a significant portion of Canada’s multi-billion dollar construction industry. Late Payment and Canada’s Construction
Trades To a certain extent, all businesses are forced to carry some costs while they wait for payment for goods delivered or services performed. In most industries, payment is received when goods or services are delivered or along some other predictable schedule. In the construction industry, however, it is a tolerated practice whereas sometimes there are no strict timelines for payment of services rendered. The full article is available here. KATE OFFRINGA NAMED NAIMA’S INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO Alexandria, VA (June 12, 2009) – The NAIMA Board of Governors has named Kate Offringa interim President and CEO of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (“NAIMA”). Previously, Kate has served as NAIMA’s Vice President of Public Affairs. Retiring NAIMA President and CEO Ken Mentzer said “Everyone is very pleased that Kate has accepted these new responsibilities. She brings great experience in energy efficiency along with an established track record of accomplishing her objectives. The Board has made a smart choice.” Before coming to NAIMA, Ms. Offringa was Director of Market Transformation for The Alliance to Save Energy. Ms. Offringa received her Master of Arts degree in international relations and economics from The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. She received her B.A. degree Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Hampshire in political science and international affairs. About NAIMA Trade Contractors Calling Economic climate increases credit pressures on trade contractors
OTTAWA, May 20, 2009 – Last week, the National Trade Contractors Coalition of Canada (NTCCC) was on Parliament Hill urging politicians to create Prompt Payment Legislation to alleviate some of the pressure from the current economic situation affecting their businesses across Canada. NTCCC members, representing over 12,000 contractor companies who employ as many as 250,000 individuals, are skilled trade contractors that are hired by general contractors for specific parts of a larger construction project. The group of trade contractors, from electrical to plumbing, masonry to roofing, interior systems to sheet metal, are “the ones who do the work” and want to ensure that their services are being compensated in a timely manner. “During these economic times, government leadership is needed now more than ever,” said John Blair, Executive Director of the Masonry Contractors Association and Chair of the NTCCC’s Prompt Payment Committee. In the construction industry, it is a tolerated practice that there are sometimes no strict timelines for the general contractors to pay the trade contractors for services rendered. For a trade contractor, carrying these costs limits the business’ cash flow and a cash flow crunch limits trade contractors’ ability to carry out future business. Late payment, then, is a serious impediment to small business, making already trying economic situations even more difficult and, in some cases, forcing companies to lay-off workers or go out of business all together. Small businesses rely on predictable revenue streams to remain successful; construction trade contractors are no different. The NTCCC explained that the solution to the delayed payment problem is Prompt Payment Legislation, similar to what already exists in the United Kingdom and the United States. Prompt payment legislation in Canada would provide contractors with the tools to ensure that their businesses can remain competitive and productive, and would also encourage a culture of prompt payment that is presently absent and is much needed. “Delayed payment hurts small businesses and hurts competitiveness,” explained Blair. “Prompt payment legislation would help to ensure that trade contractors have the support they need to run their business effectively.” - 30 - The National Trade Contractors Coalition of Canada (NTCCC) was established in 2004 to provide an organized forum for Canada’s national trade organizations to share information, resources, and to collaborate on issues that are of common interest to all. Its membership is comprised of national trade organizations including:
For more information please contact: National Trade Contractors Coalition of
Canada National Insulation Association Advocacy Results in Congressional Resolution on Mechanical Insulation The National Insulation Association (NIA) has been
working on Capitol Hill to increase awareness of mechanical insulation's
value and benefits among Congress members. This effort resulted in
the introduction of House of Representatives Resolution 389 by Representative
Deborah Halvorson The resolution encourages energy efficient and environment-friendly building and facility certification programs to incorporate the use of mechanical insulation as part of their standards and ratings system. It recognizes that mechanical insulation: provides long-term energy efficiency, emission reduction, cost savings, and safety benefits can be used to reduce the number of tons of greenhouse gas emissions that could be prevented from release into the atmosphere protects occupant safety and public health wellness. The resolution, which has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, also notes that maintenance of mechanical insulation at industrial facilities alone can generate more than $3,600,000,000 in energy savings per year, reduce 37,000,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emission, and create more than 27,000 jobs annually. NIA will continue its work to promote mechanical insulation's benefits to both legislators and the public. For more information on the association's Mechanical Insulation Marketing Initiative, visit www.insulation.org/mimi. As you all know, the Thermal Insulation Association of Canada has moved offices and hired a new Secretariat. We are currently working on the 2009 TIAC Membership Directory and would like to make sure that we have your updated membership information. We ask that you fill out the online form with your contact information so we can double-check that all records are correct and that no data has been lost in the transition, so it is important to fill out the form regardless of changes or not. For those who have more than one location, please fill out a form for each location. It is important to fill out the form even if there are no changes to your profile. We want to insure that no data was lost during the office transition. To access the online form please click here. As a member of the Association, you also have the
opportunity to promote your company in the directory. Your company’s
logo will be displayed in the directory, which will be distributed
to over 300 TIAC members, giving you and your company visibility
throughout the year. If you are interested in advertising, please fill out the online form and provide the TIAC Secretariat with a print quality, high-resolution logo (jpeg, eps, tiff or pdf). The advertisement will only be published if payment is made. National Insulation Association and Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association Announce Alliance The National Insulation Association (NIA), in conjunction with its Foundation for Education, Training, and Industry Advancement, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association (RETA) to pursue common goals through a collaborative effort. The two organizations will work together on membership, education, and networking issues. This collaboration provides new and specialized opportunities to educate specifiers and end users as to how insulation systems improve energy efficiency. For more information visit www.insulation.org/index.cfm |
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