Industry News
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DOE institutes enforcement action against showerhead manufacturers
Washington — The Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued Notices of Proposed Civil Penalty to manufacturers for failing to certify to the DOE that showerheads manufactured or distributed by these companies meet the applicable water conservation standard as required by the Energy Policy Conservation Act and DOE’s regulations. These Notices of Proposed Civil Penalty collectively propose payments to the government of more than $3 million. Unless the manufacturers settle these claims within 30 days, the Department will file actions either in District Court or with an Administrative Law Judge to demand payment for the failure to certify their products.
Under federal law, manufacturers of some products covered by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act are required to certify with the Department that their models meet the applicable water conservation standards. These certification reports provide DOE with information critical to determining that American consumers are buying products that deliver significant water and cost savings in accord with DOE’s regulations. On December 9, 2009, DOE announced that manufacturers would be granted a 30-day window, until January 8, 2010, to submit correct certification data to DOE, after which time DOE would begin to aggressively enforce violations of its certification requirements, including seeking civil penalties or fines. These are the first actions taken following expiration of the 30-day grace period.
CharIotte Pipe launches RePVC™, only PVC pipe with recycled content
Charlotte, N.C. — Adding to its list of environmentally friendly products, Charlotte Pipe has launched RePVC™, a PVC pipe that uses 100 percent recycled content as the center layer. RePVC™ is the newest member of Charlotte Pipe’s True Fit System.
RePVC™ is a coextruded, solid-wall Schedule 40 pipe. Using recycled PVC expands the market for recycled materials, slows the consumption of raw materials and reduces the amount of waste entering landfills. It is a durable, cost-effective system that is simple to install.
Recycled content makes up 30 to 80 percent of the pipe’s overall wall thickness, while the inner and outer skins of the pipe are made from virgin materials. RePVC™ is manufactured to ASTM D 4396, ASTM F 1760 and is NSF listed.
Charlotte Pipe is proud of its commitment to the environment. Annually we save more than 350 million pounds of scrap iron from overcrowded landfills. The company has received a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Blue Thumb Award and a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Environmental Excellence in Industry Award for its continued efforts at reducing city water demand and recycling 100 percent of its treated process water.
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry is the only manufacturer that offers a system of ABS, PVC, CPVC, cast iron, FlowGuard Gold®, ChemDrain® and ReUzeTM pipe and fittings for residential and commercial plumbing systems and industrial applications. The nation's leading maker of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry offers the industry’s broadest product offering of standard and specialty DWV products.
Taco’s charitable foundation gets new name, announces recent grants
Cranston, R.I. — Taco, Inc.’s John & Happy White Foundation is now the White Family Foundation. The non-profit charitable foundation, established in 2000, recently received permission for the name change from State of RI.
John Hazen White, Jr. President and CEO of Taco, Inc., commented that the name change is a reflection of the Foundation’s continuing efforts as it enters its second decade of gift-giving. “My late parents established the John & Happy White Foundation to benefit worthy community-based organizations operating here in RI for the benefit of Rhode Islanders. While we have altered the Foundation name slightly to reflect where we are today, the mission they established remains the same.”
Recent gifts have included awards of $10,000 each to the House of Hope Community Development Corporation of Warwick, which provides permanent housing and social services to families and individuals in need, and to the RI Free Clinic of Providence, providing free care to the uninsured.
“Both of these organizations are on the frontlines of providing the homeless and the uninsured with housing and medical care at one of the most difficult economic times in our state’s history. The work of these organizations are in service to two of society’s most critical tasks,” the White Family Foundation stated in its announcement of the gifts.
The Foundation also made a $20,000 contribution recently to Butler Hospital for the creation of a new Center for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics in Alzheimer’s Disease.
New Products
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AERCO's Smart Plate Water Heater
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Carbon steel weld fittings & flanges |
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Pro-Connect Universal |
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Push Tite redesign |