NAWIC 2018 Safety Excellence Award Application

Next month the Safety Excellence Award applications are due.  The 2018 Safety Excellence Award Application are linked below.  We would love to see your companies enter for this National award!

Any qualifying company can turn their application in directly to national for the award this year!    Applications must be sent to safety@nawic.org by March 31, 2018.

 

2018 Safety Excellence Award Application

2018 Safety Excellence Award Scoring Guide

2018 Block Kids

NAWIC Block Kids Building Competition - 90 5th graders at Crestline Elementary School competed in our chapter competition.

Winners:

1st Place - Tower Crane by Kavika Sione

2nd Place - Helicopter by Leo Polovin

3rd Place - Construction Ship by Ryan Wood

 

 

Block Kids Building Competition

Block Kids Building Competition is a National building competition that is sponsored on the local level by NAWIC chapters and other organizations.

The award-winning program introduces children to the construction industry in an effort to create awareness and promote careers in the industry.

A Kids Building Competition

  • Open to grades K-6

  • Construction of various structures with interlocking blocks

  • Use three of the following additional items:
    Small Rock
    String
    Foil
    Poster Board

Competition Structure and Winners

  • Local winners advance to Regional Competitions
  • One semi-finalist from each region is entered in the National Program competitions
  • National prizes are awarded to the top three projects.

 

July 2017 President's Message

July President’s Message

 

Summer is in full swing and I hope everyone has been enjoying the wonderful weather! Speaking of full swing, the chapter has been kicking things into high gear as well.  

 

The chapter has grown to 55 members. Vicky Elkins from Andersen Construction and Sofia Woods from Convergint Technologies have joined the chapter and we welcomed back Taylor Weller-Kurtz, our former student member now working for Precision Construction Company! Ladies - Welcome to NAWIC!

 

Chapter Elections were held for the 2017-18 Board of Directors. Thank you to the 34 members who took the time and voted for next year’s board and congratulations to our 2017-18 Board!

Vice President: Jeannie Spencer

Recording Secretary: Liz Cowen,

Corresponding Secretary: Jenn Harbick,

Treasurer: Charris Sonne-Phinney

Directors: Jo Doherty, Kelly Neimela, Janelle Markovich, Stephanie Holmberg

In addition, Gloria Bruning has accepted the appointment of Parliamentarian.

 

I am so tremendously grateful and blessed to have these women leading the chapter with me next year – it promises to be a fun and exciting board!

 

In July, we will be touring HPP East project with Turner Construction, sponsoring a hole at the AGC Golf Tournament, hosting a karaoke night social event and will hold a new member orientation for those of you who are new to the chapter or just want to refresh you knowledge of NAWIC 101! Email me if you want more information about any of these events!

 

Coming up: We have an exciting assortment of meetings and events coming up: August is our annual Street of Dreams event with the Professional Women in Building Council and we’ll have representatives attending the National Annual Meeting and Education Conference (AMEC) in Garden Grove, CA. In September we’ll be at the CFMA Golf Tournament, and hold our annual installation meeting. On top of that, we’ll continue to hold a couple of social events to encourage our members to get to know each other even better.

 

With so many exciting events happening in the chapter, I hope that you will take advantage of the opportunity to come and hang out with your NAWIC sisters.  There are so many ways for you to get involved, make some wonderful connections and have an impact on the industry and our community – jump into the swing of things!

 

I hope you enjoy the summer!

Kelly Aust | LEED®  AP BD+C

Project Manager

Skanska USA Building, Inc.

 

How Homeowners Can "Keep Their Cool" This Summer

 

Summer is just around the corner! Since everyone is ready for fun in the sun, the last thing they would want is problems with their air conditioners. Nobody wants to (literally) lose their cool over an HVAC issue, as it wastes time, money, and fun.

Here is how all homeowners can “keep their cool” these coming months with some AC maintenance:

Stay Cool! AC Maintenance Tips

#1 Cleaning the air filter

Anybody who has ever owned an air conditioning unit knows that neglecting to clean the filter will render the unit useless. A dust-caked filter will prevent fresh air from flowing through and will route dusty air into the evaporator coil. This will make the coil very inefficient at absorbing heat. Once cleaned, you can expect a higher throughput of cool air at up to 15% savings in electricity usage.

#2 Check for damaged wiring
 

Once in a great while, it is a good idea to completely disconnect the unit to have a look on the inside. If there is melted insulation, burn cables or loose connections, then you will need to call in a professional to clean up this mess. Not only do faulty cables decrease the efficiency of the unit, but it is also a fire hazard.
 

#3 Clean the outdoor environment surrounding the AC unit

Air conditioners and especially split AC units are susceptible to getting clogged by outdoor debris. Make sure that leaves are cleared, plants or vines are trimmed, and that dust has been swept away. You may need to clean out the debris stuck in the interior using a hose (after it has been disconnected).

#4 Repair or replace the thermostat
 

The thermostat will dictate that the air conditioner will cool the room to the desired temperature. If the thermostat is damaged in any way, your AC unit will be a power hog and expensive cool air when it is not desired. Mechanical thermostats should be upgraded to digital models for increased accuracy and longevity.

Keep Your Cool! Prevent AC Problems This Summer
 

#1 Prevent Air Leaks

Not only would air leaks cause cool AC air to escape, but it will also cause unwanted hot air to get inside. Cooling your house in the summer accounts for the large majority of your electricity expenditure, so making sure your house is properly sealed will mitigate your losses. This is one of the first things you should check if cooling effect of your unit is underwhelming.

You will need to check multiple facets of the house in order to determine where the air leaks are. Floors, walls, air ducts and ceilings are the primary culprits. Make sure the sealant in these parts of the house are renewed and that there are no unexpected cracks.

Windows and doors also need special attention to prevent air leaks. Make sure window AC units are properly installed without any gaps. Put sweeps under every door for every room receiving air conditioning.  An HVAC professional will be able to examine the weak points of your house during a consultation.

#2 Tripped Breaker Switches
 

When your AC unit will not turn on, your first reaction would be to call in an HVAC expert to repair your broken machine. One of the biggest causes of AC units failing to turn on is tripped breakers. Air conditioners use massive amounts of electricity that may overload the electrical grid of your house. Check your breaker box to see if any of the switches appear to be abnormal in comparison to the others. If so, turn off that abnormal switch and turn it back on.  You should consider hiring an electrician to evaluate whether or not your fuses are sufficient for your AC unit. Always make sure to unplug essential electronics before messing around in that box.

#3 Unclog Drain Line or Plumbing
 

When the air conditioner absorbs moisture, it will expel the excess water through your plumbing system. If water build up gets too intense, you will have to clean out either your plumbing line or drainage line. Additional drain pans should be placed to collect additional overflow of water. If you leave the drain line unchecked, nasty algae will clog the lines and create buildup in parts you don't want to be filled up with liquid.

#4 Reduce Heat Sources Around The House
 

Aside from body heat and the Sun, there are factors within your home that contribute to the temperature. Seek out the most heat-generating appliances (like desktop computers) and switch them off during peak heat conditions. Switch off or replace incandescent light bulbs as they put off more heat than LED lights. You may also close the drapes to block direct sunlight.

 

Ashley Morse is with The Cooling Company which has provided the absolute best comfort in heating and air conditioning for Southern Nevada homes since 2011.

Tips to Hide that Air Conditioner in Your Yard

 

As summer heats up, people want to stay cool. In fact, you probably can’t imagine surviving the summer without the comforts of air conditioning in your home. At the same time, people tend to spend much more time enjoying their outdoor living spaces in the summer, too—patios, yards, decks, outdoor dining areas, and more. But let’s face it: most outdoor AC units are just plain ugly. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a way to conceal it while allowing it to safely cool your home? Good news, there are some fairly simple ways to do just that.

 

Before we get into these easy tips, please remember these important cautions. You may think your air conditioning unit is an eyesore, but it’s a pretty important one, so make sure you keep it accessible. At some point you or a service technician will have a very urgent need to access the unit. If you’ve blocked all access to the unit, you could have a very serious problem on your hands. Second, your outdoor AC unit needs plenty of ventilation. It won’t do its job well if it can’t breathe, and this could even lead to an AC repair.

4 Clever Ways to Conceal Your AC Unit

Tip #1: Hide It with Plants

If you have a green thumb or know someone who does, consider building out a garden or green space around your outdoor air conditioner unit. Some well placed bushes, small leafy trees or evergreens, or some species of tall wild grasses could all do a good job of hiding (or at least distracting from) your unsightly AC unit. Depending on how your property is situated, especially if people will often walk past the unit, consider creating an attractive green space on the opposite side of the path. Lead your guests’ eyes away from the air conditioning unit and toward something more attractive.

Tip #2: Build a Fence around It

For the handymen and women out there, building a fence or structure around your outdoor air conditioning unit could be an enjoyable weekend project. This could take dozens of forms: wooden fences range from plain, simple options such as straightforward cedar planks or a lattice screen all the way up to luxurious stained woods intricately crafted together. Or take another popular approach and repurpose some old pallets or shutters into an attractive fence-like structure. And why stop with just wood? People have built structures out of cinder blocks or stone pavers of all sorts. Maybe you have some old bricks lying around. A patchwork brick wall could be a great way to conceal your air conditioning unit.

Tip #3: Hide It with a Decorative Cover

OK, so plants and fences and gardening and building are all fine and good, but maybe you’re not up for a weekend project. For those who don't have a green thumb and don't want to build a DIY project, good news, there’s hope! You could also hide your unsightly air conditioning unit using a premade or repurposed decorative cover. Prefabricated privacy screens (you know, the ones you might see by the pool) could easily be repurposed for air conditioner concealment. These are easy to find at most hardware store chains. In fact, quite a number of items for sale at the hardware store might easily be used for this purpose. You’ll find pre made sections of decorative fencing— yes, this is similar to Tip #1, but without having to build it yourself. Any number of decorative garden items in the right combination could do a great cover up job. What about a metal trellis or two, a couple potted bushes, and maybe even a bird feeder? Use your creativity and imagination to find a solution that works well for you.

Tip #4: Don’t Forget the Big Picture

Remember to consider the overall look of your home and yard. Whatever solution you choose for concealing your AC unit needs to add to the overall look and flow, not detract from it. Choose a solution that has a similar feel to or pairs well with your home’s existing style. Now what are you waiting for? Go make your AC beautiful!

 

May 2017 Newsletter

I can’t believe it’s May already, the year is hurrying by. Welcome to Spring! I think Spring is a time of possibilities and opportunity. We see the world around us come alive and get busy and we can’t help but want to do the same. Spring is motivating and inspiring. As we start planning for the latter half of the NAWICkian Year, and even into the events of next year, I just wanted to let everyone know where we are as a chapter – hopefully you will find it equally stimulating. Robin Williams said that “Spring is nature’s way of saying Let’s Party!” I want to encourage all of you to come party with us!

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