As we close the book
on 2013, we would be remiss if we did not take a moment to reflect on the past
year. GET, LLC was so very privileged to
be able to share with you more about our business and insight into the
happenings here in the Western Pacific.
We hope you gained further understanding more about the casegood
furniture business, structured cabling and energy efficiency lighting industry
and aerial lifts. Additionally, you read
a different perspective into Paradise Guam-our home. We wrote about the important
issues of the day-a direct reflection of the discussions of our friends and neighbors. These blog posts were what people were
talking about around water coolers, dinner tables and back kitchens all across
Micronesia. All the writing in this blog reminded me of some important things-all
of us should not take things for granted and knowledge is surely power. GET, LLC is excited for what 2014 will bring. We will continue sharing more information and
exciting insight into the world around us.
Thanks for reading and may you and yours have a prosperous new year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM GET, LLC!!!
On behalf of GET, LLC, we would like to take this time to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas! During this important time, be mindful of the blessings that you have been given and share with others the special gifts of your unique collective lives and skills. We have been honored to share with you our knowledge and interest in unique topics in this blog during this past year and look forward to more into the new year.
Structured Cabling Market to Eclipse $8 Billion by 2015-Does 2014 Stand to Be a Banner Year?
Funny thing the
Internet.
When GET, LLC started our
business, a particular report escaped our research from Global Information,
Inc.(GII). The Japan-based information
service has worked for the last quarter century with over 300 research
companies across five countries to distribute quality technical and market
research.
GII wrote a great paper,
though a bit dated (January 2013), that talks about what can be expected to be
one of biggest growth markets in the world-the global structured cabling
market. No one can question, the
market's 6.8% compound annual growth rate. GII noted that the structured
cabling market will exceed $8 billion by 2015.
The U.S. leads this industry today with China and the Asia-Pacific
region growing fast.
We stand at the
cross roads of that growth right here in the Western Pacific at the junction of
the telecommunications superhighway linking North America to Asia and
Australia.
What is driving the
growth?
GII says that the
success of Gigabit Ethernet correlates to its strong presence with structured
cabling. 1000BASE-T, 10G over twisted-pair copper (10GBASE-T) holds the promise
of being less costly than its optical competitor, 10GBASE-SR.
Also, GII says as
power consumption efficiency is resolved through advances in transceiver-chip
lithography, advances in driving down power consumption are breaking through. It is noted that fiber has taken a foothold
in the network at 10G. Fiber-optic products are poised to steadily take market
share from copper products in the structured cabling market over the next five
years. While the copper structured cabling market is expected to shrink, there
is still potential to recognize revenues, particularly in CAT6 UTP for Gigabit
Ethernet and CAT7 for 10G.
GII notes that driven
by a boom in broadband Internet users and the proliferation of bandwidth-hungry
applications such as HD video, Internet bandwidth maintained by major Internet
carriers has been expanding at 75% to 125% per year.
Will we see this in
2014?
In turn, public and private
networks are experiencing unprecedented end-user demand for bandwidth resulting
in a need to cost-effectively scale the capacity of communications networks. We
are starting to see that already. We'll keep you posted.
For all of your
structured cabling needs in the Western Pacific, please contact GET, LLC for
information on our solutions that can be of assistance to you and your
respective businesses including access to the Panduit and Cisco line of
products-of which we are proud Business Partners of both. Give us a call at 671-483-0789 or find out our
more at our website at www.get-guam.com.
Global LED lighting market= $42 billion by 2019
One of South Asia's
top media companies is reporting that worldwide LED lighting markets are poised
to achieve significant growth over the next six years as buildings and
communities lead the way in implementing more cost efficient lighting systems.
CyberMedia's
India-based ciol,com, through their Dallas, Texas Bureau sites a report
entitled, "LED Lighting: Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts,
Worldwide, 2013 to 2019" lays out that next generation lighting achieves a
complete replacement of incandescent filament bulbs with LED lighting that is
more energy efficient, lasts longer and has a significantly lower cost of
operation.
The report, that hit
the browsers of nearly 1.5 million people, is advocating for the use of LED
lamps, which they say will lower the overall cost of lighting. The CyberMedia
report says that LED lighting costs are less than costs with incandescent lights.
GET, LLC read with
interest that LED lamps offer up to 50,000 hours of illumination with a
fraction of the energy used by traditional incandescent bulbs.
What does that mean?
It means that LED
bulbs generate 90% less heat than incandescent bulbs and its uses will extend
time between bulb replacements. Hard to argue with an report that says the energy
efficient bulbs can be used to achieve a near zero-maintenance lighting system.
To learn more about the LED lighting products that GET, LLC
provides, including Independence LED Lighting and Deco Lighting Inc., please
check out our website at www.get-guam.com or call us to discuss solutions for
your important lighting needs-All Made in America!!!
"Bring Your Own Device", Management and Security-Insight from the CTO of The Westcon Group
Chief Technology Officer of The Weston Group William Hurley regularly
provides words of perspective from the world's leading distributor of networking,
communications, security, virtualization, storage, and unified computing
platforms. GET, LLC and other Cisco
Business Partners utilize Westcon's services to become more successful through
their distribution portfolio and range
of services. We are happy to have him
and his powerful insight into doing business.
Earlier this month, Hurley wrote about mobile device security and was
enlightening on this topic:
We have been asked recently about the potential growth in the BYOD space. It won’t come from malware. It will come from a proliferation of devices, from the common smart phone to the latest wearable, that is retaining and transmitting information the enterprise simply does not want transmitted. And please remember, data is not just spreadsheet attachments in an email, more importantly it is video, taken innocently or not in the office, that poses data loss problems.
That is the threat of
BYOD."
We will continued to follow this trend facing personal devices-powerful for productivity, but vulnerable to security risks.
GET, LLC is a proud Cisco Registered Partner providing the latest Cisco products and services direct to businesses and organizations. For more on the benefits that our Partnership can bring to you and your respective business contact us at 671-483-0789 or at www.get-guam.com.
Deco Lighting Appoints GET, LLC as Guam and Micronesia Sales Rep
GET, LLC has been
appointed by Deco Lighting as its company's Sales Representative for Guam and
Micronesia.
"This
relationship will mean great things to our lighting customers in the Western
Pacific," said GET, LLC Managing Partner Tricia Gumataotao. "As Deco
Lighting is represented by expert independent lighting sales agencies
throughout North America, and by select distributors for international markets,
we are excited to be a partner with them to grow our respective businesses in this region further."
The Commerce,
California company has been doing business since 1957. Deco Lighting has a well established history
of producing many innovative lighting products which have shaped today's
lighting industry, and operates factories located in Mexico, Europe and Asia. Their
experience in energy efficient lighting technologies stems from many years of
industry renowned research and development, working closely with designers,
utilities and associations to develop new lighting products.
Deco Lighting has
done a number of signature projects across the United States including the induction street
lighting retrofit of the U.S. Naval Base Guam in 2009. That particular project lead Deco Lighting to
make significant improvements to their street lighting technology-specifically
their DBMi Black Mamba Induction Street Light product-that recently was
selected by the City of Industry California for a similar energy efficiency
project that is saving the municipal government 50% in energy savings.
"The mission of
Deco Lighting is to be the leading provider of innovative, high quality
lighting fixtures and systems to commercial, municipal and utility
markets." said Gumataotao.
"GET, LLC stands with Deco Lighting to deliver consistently superior value to our respective
customers and their end users."
Terex Appoints GET, LLC as Distributor in Guam and Micronesia
GET, LLC has been
appointed by the Terex Corporation as its authorized distributor for Terex and
Genie aerial work platforms, cranes, construction and materials processing
equipment and parts in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of
Micronesia.
"We are excited
about this relationship with two of the best names in the business," said GET,
LLC Managing Partner Tricia Gumataotao.
"Pairing GET, LLC with the extensive global sales and support
network of Terex and Genie will certainly give Micronesia's aerial lift and
crane customers the very best in unbeatable value and customer service."
GET, LLC was
presented the finalized Distributor Agreement by Terex Japan General Manager Andreas
Odermatt.
"Terex
Corporation is experiencing growth," said Gumataotao. "GET, LLC is excited to be a key part of
that expansion that is growing in lock-step with the rest of the region."
GET, LLC is a
Women-Owned and Minority-Owned Small Business serving both federal and local
government agencies and commercial businesses of Guam and the Western Pacific in
business-to-business consulting services and construction materials and
equipment sales.
Empowering Women in Business Panel Discussion Hosted by Cisco
A very special event
is taking place tomorrow that will feature not only technology but
the advancement of women in business.
Cisco is hosting an two-day on-line panel discussion beginning Monday,
December 2, 2013 (1pm Guam Time December 3rd) with five women business
trailblazers who are part of a San Francisco-Bangalore Sister City Initiative
trade mission to Bangalore, India.
You can catch the
panel with GET,LLC live at at http://www.ustream.tv/Ciscotv.
The panel is
headlined by Intel Architecture Development Group Vice President and General
Manager Rani N. Borkar and Cisco Chief Technology & Strategy Officer Padmasree
Warrior. San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee is scheduled to give the welcoming
address.
Borkar, Warrior and
the other panelists will provide insight into how each broke into her respective
industry, how each got where they are now and how each overcame challenges to
get there. Also, the panelists will also discuss the best methods for making it
to the top but will also talk about the struggles to succeed in their respective
industry.
The San
Francisco-Bangalore Sister City Initiative is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3)
organization established in 2008 by San Francisco's former mayor Gavin Newsom.
The organization seeks to engage individuals and institutions in Bangalore and
San Francisco in building sustainable 21st century cities through
environmental, technological, and cultural ideas, techniques and resources. Cisco
Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in Internet networking with its Internet
Protocol-based (IP) networking solutions providing the foundation of the
Internet and most corporate, education and government networks around the world.
GET, LLC is a proud Cisco
Registered Partner providing the latest Cisco products and services direct to
businesses and organisations. For more about our role as a Cisco Registered
Partner and the benefits it brings to you and your business contact us at
671-483-0789 or at www.get-guam.com.
NAWIC Guam Chapter "Casino" Fundraiser Approaching
I had the pleasure
this past week of meeting one of the founding members and all-around great lady
Dr. Jaylene Kent of the National Association of Women in Construction GuamChapter 381. The President of Isla Paint
and Roofing Supply was cordial and had no problem hyping up the largest
fundraising event of the advocacy group.
Her pitch to members of the Guam Contractors Association Small Business
Committee was convincing. It's hard to
decided not to go after Jaylene was done pitching it to the membership-to
include GET, LLC.
The 2013 Casino
Royale Annual Wine Tasting and Beer Garden Fundraising Event promises to be as
fun as its predecessors in the fact that there will be plenty of adult
beverages and socializing with the top women executives in Guam's construction
industry. On December 4, 2013 at the Guam
Marriott Resort and Spa expect plenty of activity including an On-Site Expo and
a raffle for electronics and power tools.
The organization is
nearing its second birthday of its chartering in Guam. Membership continues to grow steadily. The advocacy for further growing this segment
of our construction industry continues.
Prime example-the
Guam Legislature is considering legislation that looks to create "government
procurement policy in favor of women owned businesses". Bill 198-32 was heard last week and testimony
is being submitted as we speak to the Committee for consideration. Speaker Jody Won Pat and Senator Tina Barnes
should be commended for their efforts and we all believe that this is a legislation that would provide better
opportunities for government contracts for women owned businesses.
Expect Bill 198-32 to
be the talk of the Casino Royale and hope that all those in support of women in
construction can be there.
For more information
on NAWIC and the efforts of the Guam Chapter feel free to contact us at
671-797-0789 or reach us via our website at www.get-guam.com . GET, LLC is a proud member
of NAWIC and stand in support of enhancing the success of women in the
construction industry.
Guam-A Different Perspective
Last weekend, the Guam Visitors
Bureau celebrated its 50th anniversary as an autonomous Government of Guam
agency and celebrated the men and women who GVB says "pioneered" our
visitor industry which has brought 1.18 million tourists to Guam this
year. The list was long and very
noteworthy. But I must write that there
were at least two notable figures who were missing from that list. Not sure if it was an oversight or chalk it
up to politics.
The first is former Guam Governor
Carl Gutierrez. The architect behind the
Pleasure Island in Tumon and the man who pushed an aggressive visitor agenda
that yielded 1,381,513 tourists to Guam in 1997 was not a part of the recent
GVB acknowledgements. Governor Gutierrez
was actively in his two terms reaching to new markets including Australia and
Europe to bring new investment and opportunities.
The other is former Guam Governor
Carlos Camacho. The last appointed and
first elected Governor of Guam is credited for among other things bringing a
brash young tourism professional from Alabama named Bert Unpingco back home to
draw more people to Guam and its fledgling industry. Governor Camacho also was the man who brought
the "sister city" agreements to the fold and started with Taipei
City, Taiwan upon his election in 1970 which has yieled over 330,000 visitors
to Guam in just the last 10 years alone.
He is also credited a number of other agreements that has been the
modern Guam feeder of tourists to our island now.
These two would have been my vote
to be honored if asked-I wasn't. I did
not mention the younger former Guam Governor Felix Camacho who ushered in the
inclusion of Russian visitors we have today and his work with another noted
leader-current Guam Congresswoman Madeline Bordallo-who ensured the passage of the China and Russia Visa
Waiver legislation on Capitol Hill.
The funny thing about these types
of events is that you run the risk of missing people who should be honored
similarly. From experience, these
oversights are not pretty. In fact, they
can be downright painful.
Message to GVB-you had a whole
year to figure this out and how quickly you forgot some of the people whom you
ushered all across the Pacific Rim and beyond, whom you asked to speak at your
countless events and whom you sought counsel to ensure continued funding for
your work both here and abroad.
Maybe
the pioneers honored should have been the past and current staff at GVB. They did all the heavy lifting. They executed what the Board of Directors
charged them to do. They are tourism for Guam.
We should always think through some of these
actions.
Earlier I noted that the
exclusions may have been political. That
might be somewhat true. It is hard to
place four of Guam's living Governors in one room in the climate today-a month
shy from the start of the new election cycle.
But what is the harm in bringing them into a room to celebrate our economic life
blood-tourism.
They and everyone that worked for
them also contributed to growing tourism over the past five decades. Let's see what the 60th anniversary of GVB
shapes into and make this right.
Bill 74-32 Signed Into Law
Guam Governor Eddie
Calvo today signed Bill 74-32 into law that paves the way for the introduction
of solar photovoltaics via Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) into the Guam Public School
System. Thanks to the Guam Renewable
Energy Association (GREA) for their advocacy of this important issue for the U.S.
Territory.
Can power rates get any
higher? Guam's cost for power is $0.26/kWh and expected to rise over the next five years.
Should good money continue to be
thrown at a bad situation in one of the most challenged education systems in
America?
This effort turns around years
of efforts of educators who are finally able to control their own collective destinies and take the savings generated from these private sector led PPA efforts and place these funds into much needed classroom
improvements, books, and other learning aids.
This blogger can confirm that the Guam Power Authority was absolutely against this
effort. GPA employed tactics to
fight against the bill's implementation and were unsuccessful in the end.
This battle was not won
overnight.
GPA has stood in
front of progress to introduce renewable energy solutions for the island for the
past 10 years-calling it perilous to their precious revenue bonds. Keeping coal fire burning turbines moving
versus solar and wind energy is more important to Guam Power. GPA has been so hypocritical that they pushed
hard for solar as a member of the Guam Energy Task Force and through the Guam Consolidated Commission on Utilities attempted to influence the Speaker of the Guam Legislature to buy their arguments
that further study and phasing this effort in is best for the people of Guam
while their liquefied natural gas proposal was rammed through the Public
Utilities Commission of Guam and Guam Legislature .
GREA stood firm to educate the public and
lawmakers that GPA has been wrong in their dealing with this and to force
public policy in the right direction in relation to sustainability.
The Guam Renewable
Energy Association was started on Guam to bring together all of the renewable
energy experts on the Island to establish this well needed industry and to
educate the public and private sector on the importance of renewable energy and
also the affordability of renewable energy. With Governor Calvo's recent appointment to President Barack Obama's State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task
Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, now is the time to stop the business as usual
mentality and curb the extreme amounts of monies that the community of Guam has
given to use our energy made from fossil fuels. It is equally disturbing to see
that our island who is perceived to have taken leadership in renewable energy to
be contemplating the exchange of one fossil fuel for another-liquefied natural
gas.
In a few short years we will be at grid parity
in the United States with renewable energy and Guam will follow right behind
her. The acceleration of energy storage is also becoming mainstream with logic
technology being introduced and the pricing becoming competitive to the
exportation of this energy to the grid whereas facilities will be able to store
their own excess energy that they over produce during the day.
Today is a great day for renewable energy on
Guam and Micronesia-the first in many battles in the war to push our island
towards energy independence.
Price of Electricity Up By Nearly Half Over the Last Decade
Virginia-based on-line news
organization CNSNews.com reported late last week that the price of electricity
hit a record for the month of October, according to data released a week ago by
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For the eleventh straight month, the
average price of electricity hit or matched the record level for that month.
The average price of
electricity in America last month was 13.2 cents per kilowatt hour (KWH), up
from 12.8 cents per KWH in October 2012—and up from 9.3 cents per KWH in
October 2003.
Americans now pay 42 percent
more for electricity than they did a decade ago.
Put Guam's numbers in
perspective. Costs per KWH on island
back in 2003 was $0.18. In 1995 it was just a dime per KWF. Today that number is $0.26 and about to rise
following recent bond issuances poised to pump in over $500 Million for the
next couple of years.
The 15-year old journal, led
by parent-company Media Research Center, reported that the 13.7 cents per KWH
price of electricity of June through September 2013 was the most expensive
electricity has ever been in the United States since BLS started tracking
electricity prices in November 1978.
Did I say Guam's costs for
electricity is a hair over a quarter dollar? Guam Power Authority has reported
that customers consumed on average 11, 985 KWH.
In November 2012, electricity Nationwide was 12.7 cents per KWH, which was down from the 12.8 cents per KWH price of November 2011. But, in December 2012, the price of electricity stayed at 12.7 cents per KWH, matching the record monthly price of 12.7 cents per KWH that had been reached in December 2011.
In each of the ten months since
December 2012, the price of electricity in the U.S. hit record levels for that month. Although
the average price of electricity hit the all-time October record this year, the
price in October actually dropped in the States from September, when it was 13.7 cents per
KWH.
Give GET, LLC a call
or drop us an email to learn about the lines we represent-specifcally our
lighting products including Independence LED and our newest partner-Deco Lighting! More to come on that.
US Department of Energy Releases Report on Dimming LED Lights
Our friends at the
Tennessee-based EdisonReport recently wrote an on-line article on a recent
publication of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): Dimming LEDs with Phase-Cut
Dimmers: The Specifier's Process for Maximizing Success.
This particular Solid-State
Lighting GATEWEAY Demonstration Project was created in response to issues
raised by the industry about dimming by energy efficiency organizations and
specifiers-namely poor performance with existing dimming control systems.
The DOE report noted that while
progress has been made in the dimming capabilities of LED luminaires with
carefully matched dimming systems, challenges remain with compatibility and
performance of LED replacement lamps and dedicated LED luminaires on existing
phase-cut dimming systems, which dominate the installed base of dimmers. The
new report reviews how phase-cut dimmers work, how LEDs differ from the
incandescent lamps these dimmers were originally designed to control, and how
those differences can lead to complications when attempting to dim LEDs. Such
complications are often due to incompatibility between the LED source and the
dimmer, rather than to any shortcomings in the LED source itself.
EdisonReport noted the
report provides both general guidance and step-by-step procedures for designing
phase-controlled LED dimming on both new and existing projects, as well as
real-world examples of how to use those procedures. The general guidance aims
to reduce the chance of experiencing compatibility-related problems and, if
possible, ensure good dimming performance.
Specifiers should also
consider alternatives to phase-control dimming for LED sources, such as digital
addressable lighting interface (DALI) or even wireless approaches. While they,
too, have their pluses and minuses and typically cost more, separating the
control signal from the AC mains voltage may result in higher levels of
performance, more predictability, and fewer headaches.
DOE's SSL Technology
Demonstration GATEWAY program features high-performance SSL products for
general illumination in a variety of exterior and interior applications. The products are installed at demonstration host
sites, where their performance can be evaluated. Performance measures include
energy consumption, light output/distribution, and
installation/interface/control issues. Qualitative performance is investigated
via feedback surveys of the relevant user communities.
To learn more about the lighting controls products that GET,LLC provides, please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or call us to
discuss solutions for your important lighting needs-Made in America!!!
Phase Change Energy Solutions-National Retrofit Rollout Begins
In San Diego, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and
Guam a big rollout is underway. Phase
Change Energy Solutions has kicked off their six locale rollout of the innovative
thermal mass product in commercial buildings.
What are Phase Change Materials (PCM) you ask?
Phase change materials do just what their name implies-change
"phases" (for example, liquid to solid or solid to liquid) between
set temperatures. A October 2009 Metal Construction News article describes it
best as during the process of liquefying and solidifying within a set
temperature range, PCMs absorb, store and release large amounts of energy. The
report notes that these natural properties of latent heat energy help maintain
a product's or structure's temperature and buffer it from temperature swings.
PCMs recharge as ambient (outdoor) temperatures fluctuate, making them ideal
for many everyday applications.
There is no question that available in a variety of forms,
bio-based PCMs have myriad applications in the construction industry, with the
most popular uses being an aid to insulation, and in flooring and ceiling tiles.
They also can be used in bridges and sidewalks to prevent icy surfaces from
forming.
Four years ago ,the industry magazine pointed out that PCMs
are effective in residential and commercial new construction and remodels. The
material works by absorbing and releasing energy(heat) based on the outside
temperature to regulate the inside temperature of a structure. During the day
it absorbs heat (cools), and at night it releases heat (heats). This makes a
structure's energy cycle more efficient-intelligently capturing and releasing
otherwise wasted energy.
Today, the way forward is much simpler.
1.You provide us Energy Bills for at least 12 months of service
to your facility.
2.We make a site visit to inspect actual mechanical equipment
and take installation measurements.
3.We will present proposal for Guaranteed Energy Savings and
free labor and materials.
4.We will also install Measurement and Verification Data
(M&V) Loggers for a test period, (typically 15 days) to establish energy
use-then we review the data with you.
5.We install the bioPCM and run for 15 days to show energy
savings.
6.If documented savings not as good as promised, product
remains free. If energy saving is met, then you pay for product based upon a 5
year ROI.
Want to try this in your building and save money now?
To find out more about how GET, LLC through,
our metal building partner MCR Guam Inc.-and licensed Phase Change Energy
Solutions partner, can help you be a part of this important roll out, give us a
call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information.
By the way-get up to 19 LEED Points with Phase Change bioPCM in your next
project.
Guam-A Different Perspective
Bill 74-32 sits before the Guam Legislature-a measure that
will allow the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) to enter into one or more
power purchase agreements (PPA) to purchase solar energy from qualified
provider or providers which will be at the best financial interest of the
Government of Guam for a period up to and not exceeding twenty five years. This week, the Guam Renewable Energy
Association went on a full court press onto Hessler Street to get this
important piece of legislation passed to help grow a fledgling industry in
Micronesia.
GREA was started on Guam to
bring together all of the renewable energy experts on the Island to establish
this well needed industry and to educate the public and private sector on the
importance of renewable energy and also the affordability of renewable energy.
There are Senators still undecided on this matter. There are some industry folks including some
members of GREA attempting to turn the Bill into a renewable "Christmas"
tree law. The Guam Power Authority is fully resisting its passage.
The time has
come for this isolated American community to stop talking about being
"green" and demand action to finally bring a sustainable energy
solution to our respective doorsteps.
This blogger has learned that in a few short years we will
be at grid parity in the United States with renewable energy. The acceleration
of energy storage is becoming mainstream with logic technology being introduced
and the pricing becoming competitive to the exportation of this energy to the
grid whereas facilities will be able to store their own excess energy that they
over produce during the day.
Also, after years of bellowing that there are no experts in
the renewable energy field on Guam, GREA has brought forward home-grown folks
that have been involved in school-related energy projects in the US mainland. Each with
great success.
Why 74-32 now?
GET, LLC and the Association has since been in the process
of establishing renewable projects with both short and long term benefits to
the utilities grid over the past couple of years. Once this Bill is passed. the
costs saved by this solar energy generation would include among other things:
- Social Benefits: including business to business commerce, job creation, a new tax base, training of skilled workers.
- Environmental Benefits: Guam’s contribution to the reduction of fossil fuel becoming a Pacific leader in Island climate change.
- Fuel Price Insurance: Electricity generation from solar resources has an embedded fuel price hedge like value, since its cost of generation is known with reasonable certainty over the expected system life.
- Utility Energy Purchases/ Generation Impacts: Solar Distributed Generation (DG) reduces the onsite energy requirements of the utility customers who employ these systems. As the number of DG systems increase, sufficient energy may be generated by these systems to offset utility purchases of energy or utility generation. These will create a net economic impact associated with avoided fuel purchases and generation plant O&M costs.
- Transmission and Distribution Line Loss Impacts: Distributed solar projects generate energy at the point of use, reducing consumption of energy from the utility grid. In reducing grid energy requirements, the localized distribution feeders and transmission lines serving the utility experience reduced line losses
- Reliability Benefits: Solar is a proven technology that is very reliable. In larger systems added with storage this can be a very beneficial source of energy for the utility.
- Energy Security: By adding DG solar this will add to Guam’s energy security reducing the effects of any political impact and the associated price of fuel, such as wars, weather, and the relentless manipulation of supply and demand on fossil fuel.
GET, LLC is proud to be a part of the Association. We will continue to work with Senators and GPA
as a partner in Energy, and continue to establish a credible Industry. An industry
that we believe will not only secure our future as becoming less reliant on
fossil fuel but securing our future and our children’s, children future as a
carbon neutral society.
We, the people of Guam are the owners of our utility and
some of us are rate payers. Our role as
owners carries with it an awesome responsibility to our island, its people, its
environment, and its economy. The
utility is not an isolated entity unto itself.
We are the utility. Its action or inaction affect all of us.
Guam Senators-you are the voice of the owners.
Please vote yes on 74-32.
What Is The True Cost of Ownership-a Furniture Tip
Our friends at Savoy
Contract Furniture shared with us recently a couple of things to think about
when looking at the cost of ownership of the furniture in your office, dorm or
retail outlet.
Maintaining furniture
can be exactly like having a leaky pipe.
There is no question that you can patch the leaks, but the problem will
continue to grow. They ask us to
consider the following when calculating the true cost of your furniture:
- How many maintenance hours are spent on furniture repair calls?
- Number of furniture items replaced during the calendar year?
- How long is your furniture lasing-seven, 10 or 15 years?
Keeping with the
comparison, time and again the purchase of low price furniture leads to a leaky
pipe. Calculating the total expenses
over a seven year period is usually enough to see how much profit is lost to
maintenance. Look for value added and
quality furniture and you should be OK.
For more on how GET,LLC through our friends at Savoy Contract Furniture and teaming partner
American Hotel Register can assist you with your specific FF&E needs-
please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at
671-483-0789 to discuss the best solution for your facility. All the solutions are Made in America!
ANNOUNCEMENT-GET, LLC is a Cisco Business Partner
Managing Partner Tricia J.S. Gumataotao is proud to announce
that GET, LLC is officially a registered Cisco Business Partner.
Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in Internet
networking with its Internet Protocol-based (IP) networking solutions providing
the foundation of the Internet and most corporate, education and government
networks around the world.
Additionally, as a Cisco Business Partner we enjoy access
to a wide variety of Cisco partner tools and its world-class products and
service packages.
We are also eligible to apply for Cisco certifications and
specializations including its online training and technical support passing
these advantages onto you and your respective business in the form of
high-quality services.
For more about our role as a Cisco Business Partner and
the benefits it brings to you and your business contact us on 671-797-0789 or at
tricia.gumataotao@get-guam.com.
Guam-A Different Perspective
An interesting debate is ramping
up in the halls of the Guam Legislature.
Since the late 1970's, discussion of Guam moving towards the use of
renewable energy sources to support the island's power needs has came and went
like the tides of the ocean. Former
Governor Ricky Bordallo had urged a younger staff member, now retired-Guam
Superior Court Justice and current Guam Senator B.J. Cruz to find a way to make
this effort come to fruition. It was
stonewalled by the fledgling Guam Power Authority. Over the next 30 years, talks and studies and
more discussion and duplicative white papers would fill the GPA archives. Today, the Harmon headquarters of the now
Consolidated Utilities Service is taking on more of the same. What is different there than what was working
on the next source of energy for Guam? Older engineers.
Their work or lack of work was put on display
as debate started this week on Bill 74-32 by the Guam Legislature. While there is a mandate that sets the bar on
how much of our island's power system should be of a sustainable technology,
this newest law is forcing the use of renewable energy on a single customer and
the largest of consumers-the Guam Department of Education.
With a $15 million annual power bill, policy makers
have pulled their collective hair out for years to stop the rising costs of
power and use the money towards basic essentials for education like books,
desks, pencils and other learning materials.
Did you know that of that amount, $10 million is for fuel costs? That leaves the dreaded $5 million portion
for what the technocrats call "stranded costs". There has been many ways to describe this
complex term for "operational costs".
Simply put it is the administration of the power bill and the other
responsibilities to keep the lights on for all power customers. It is this part of the Guam Department of
Education Bill that is bring protected like a newborn baby by GPA.
They absolutely do not want to let this
go.
GPA claims the impacts to their
payment of revenue bonds would be impacted.
GPA claims that they will pass along this cost to rate payers who would
shoulder the loss of this important piece of revenue. Did I mention that the
$10 million is for fuel? GPA claims that they cannot administer renewable
energy as they are short of qualified staff to do so. The Guam Legislature is very eager to
establish this important public policy.
They were miffed by a lack of input by GPA-five months of neglect. The Bill is on the agenda as a statement by
lawmakers that they are willing and able to bring a modern law forward to keep
Guam in pace with other communities around the world that have made the effort
to bring meaningful renewable energy policy to the forefront and move in
lockstep with the rest of the world who is struggling as well with rising
fossil fuel costs.
Adding to the drama
on Bill 74-32, is a subversive element in our community that is trying to make
a buck as a fragile policy is just about to see the light of day. While I have no problem with capitalism, I do
have a problem when such aims will cause great harm to the new Green Guam
Industry before it even has had a chance to grow. A few businessmen have already shown that knowledge
of the costs renewable energy can make a lump in their wallets before a system
is ever put in operation. Like minded
"industry partners" have shown their true colors as they have made a
minor-league attempt to influence sustainable public policy. It is the "I know" and "This
is how we do it in BLANK!".
Guys-good try.
Bill 74-32 will be made whole by those with major-league experience in
this type of politics and push the renewable energy industry forward in Guam
for the best of everyone. Does not sound
too capitalistic? My bet is with the
movement to take Guam closer to its destiny to become a leader in this new
industry in the years to come and the example for the rest of Micronesia.
FF&E Services-Preparing Cost Estimates and Specifications
GET, LLC revisits our discussion on Furniture, Furnishings
and Equipment or FF&E-this blog post focuses on effort needed to prepare a
cost estimate and specifications for your next project.
The sage wisdom of
the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Handbook of Professional Practice
asks us to remember that your architect or construction professional must be
able to estimate costs to provide the client with figures for a furniture budget.
Pricing estimates can be calculated by applying an appropriate discount to
current list price information obtained from the manufacturer. More accurate
pricing can be obtained directly from manufacturer’s representatives, dealers, like
GET, LLC.
To make budget estimates as accurate as
possible, the architect must consider applicable taxes, shipping and storage
costs, access fees and installation costs.
We must remind you to
prepare accurate and clearly written furniture specifications for all types of
furniture and furnishings. Specifications for freestanding furniture pieces are
the simplest to prepare, and most vendors will assist with the preparation-including
our partner Savoy Contract Furniture and teaming partner American Hotel Register.
Systems furniture can be specified in general terms, since most systems vendors
prepare full and detailed parts lists for individual orders.
There are three types
of specifications for furniture and furnishings. Proprietary specifications
identify products and materials by manufacturer’s name, model number, or part
number. This is a “closed” specification and does not allow for
substitution-used by many designers to control aesthetics, function, and
quality. Descriptive specifications describe in detail the performance characteristics,
materials, finishes, workmanship, and fabrication of a particular product and
list several comparable manufacturers. This type of specification is used in an
“open” bid situation. Performance specifications describe only the desired or required
results and neither prescribe product characteristics nor reference
manufacturers.
For more on how GET,
LLC through our friends at Savoy Contract Furniture and teaming partner
American Hotel Register can assist you with your specific FF&E needs-
please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at
671-483-0789 to discuss the best solution for your facility. All the solutions are Made in America!
Saving $4 Billion by 2020 by Using Wireless Lighting Controls
A couple of local
mid-sized corporations had asked me in recent weeks just how much savings can
be achieved combining an energy efficient light bulb, like the Independence LED
Lighting products we represent, and lighting controls in their respective
buildings. I found the answer in a very
unlikely place.
 |
| Add caption |
San Diego,
California-based ON World Inc.,a provider of global business intelligence on
smart technology markets in there recently published "Smart Building
Wireless Sensor Networks found that wireless lighting controls in combination
with energy harvesting, wireless mesh networking and wireless enabled smart LED
drivers will save buildings $4 Billion in energy savings by 2020.
“Today, a typical
building wastes almost a third of its lighting energy due to inefficient or
non-existent lighting control systems,” says Mareca Hatler ON World’s research director.
“Wireless energy management systems that integrate with a building’s lighting
infrastructure is one of the fastest growing areas in building automation.”
ON World’s survey of
85 professional installers found that 59% are providing wireless lighting
controls. Over half provide a centralized wireless lighting control system and
about a quarter install lighting systems that use wireless adapters. Nearly 6
in 10 provide a wireless lighting control system that features occupancy
detection, 34% daylighting and 26% support utility demand response programs.
Maintenance-free
wireless sensors and switches powered by harvested energy made up about 1 in 3
of the wireless lighting device shipments in 2012. Today, these mostly use the
EnOcean wireless protocol that has over 1,000 interoperable products. Wireless mesh networking avoids dependence on
a wired backbone that is used by the majority of wireless lighting control
systems. Targeted at building-wide wireless energy management as well as
outdoor commercial areas, wireless mesh systems attach to, or integrate with,
lighting luminaires. Competition is increasing from system innovators such as
CIMCON, Convergence Wireless, Daintree, Enlighted and TwistHDM as well as
lighting manufacturers such as Acuity, Digital Lumens, Harvard Engineering,
Hubbell, Light Corporation and Venture Lighting Corporation.The migration to
LED lighting is one of the biggest developments in building energy management
systems by providing long-lasting light sources that are especially suited for
digital controls. Software configurable LED drivers with integrated wireless
communications such as those provided by Orama promise to reduce communications
costs up to 90% by replacing the need for a separate device for the adapter.
Industrial,
warehousing, parking garages/lots and outdoor area lighting are currently some
of the fastest growing markets for wireless lighting controls. However,
traditional commercial buildings such as offices, retail and restaurants will
make up over 40% percent of the market by 2017.
The ON World report
noted that by 2020, global wireless lighting control device shipments will
increase by over 1500% from 2012 when they will save buildings $4.2 billion in
energy costs.
Your mind made up
yet?
To learn more about the lighting controls products that GET,
LLC provides, please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or call us to
discuss solutions for your important lighting needs-Made in America!!!