Renters NEED Furniture Too!

A great article by on-line industry publication Furniture Today as they analyzed Census numbers and their own market research targeting specifically the ever-booming rental marketplace.  The North Carolina-based web source's Consumer Buying Trends Survey found that in 2012, 12% of furniture and bedding buyers lived in an apartment. 

What was number one on the must have list for this sector of the retail marketplace?

Small sofas.

For the first six months of 2013, the average sofa width was 78.1", compared with a desired width of 85.6" for the same time period in 2010.

Consumers in the survey reported also wanting smaller recliners. During the first six months of 2010 consumers were seeking recliners with a 38.8" width, 41.2" height and a 39.2" depth. For the first six months of 2013 consumers wanted recliners that were 35.3" in width, 37.9" in height and 36.2" in depth.

This news comes as there was a reported 39.3% increase in the number of unfurnished apartments constructed in 2012, compared with the prior year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In the Northeast, 90% of apartments built in 2012 were rented within three months; compared with 64% in the South, 61% in the West and 60% in the Midwest.  Newly constructed, two-bedroom apartments were the most popular in 2012, accounting for 45.4% of all apartments rented; coming in a close second were one-bedrooms with 37.9% of the market share. By rental rate in 2012, 32.3% of new apartments were rented for $1,350 or more a month; while 31.5% of apartments rented for $950 or less.

Couple all this with news that the percentage of apartment renters with household incomes of $75,000 or more has jumped to 41.2%, up 15 percentage points from two years ago and you have a recipe for robust business for furniture manufacturers over the next year and beyond.GET, LLC is a partner with Pennsylvania-based Savoy Furniture. We thank them for what they do and it is the quality and stability of their business that continues to make them a top choice for their respective case good needs.

For more on how Savoy Furniture and GET, LLC can assist you with your furniture needs, please check out our website and drop us a line or give us a call.

Ethernet FAQ-Plenum vs. Riser vs. Communications Cable

GET, LLC remain committed to providing more information about structured cabling for computer networks. This particular blog post examines the difference in use of three of the most popular cabling solutions and where the application is used in a building space.

In order to discuss Plenum (CMP) rated cable we must first discuss what plenum space is. Plenum space is the space in ceilings or between floors, which facilitates air circulation for heating and cooling systems. If air can travel between rooms in a building freely that air occupies a plenum space. The danger is when a fire breaks out. If the fire enters the plenum space, it encounters an oxygen rich environment that feeds it. By using plenum rated cable, one mitigates further fueling of the fire and reduces the toxicity of the smoke.

Riser Cable (CMR) is another designation found on cable and this is intended to be run between floors and not in a plenum space. Riser cable has a fire rating but not as strict as CMP so therefore CMP can be used in CMR applications, but CMR can never be used in CMP applications.

Communications Cable (CM) is general use cable suitable for in wall applications. It is rated to go in wall. It may not be used in applications where CMR or CMP is required, but CMR or CMP can be used for CM applications.


For more on structured cabling solutions for your respective business or building, please give GET, LLC a call at 671-797-0789 or see our website at www.get-guam.com for more details on how we can be of assistance.

New U.S. Department of Energy LED Fact Sheet on Lifetime and Reliability Rolled Out

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Lighting Program Manager Dr. James Brodrick sent out a recent fact sheet from his office on Solid-State Lighting (SSL) that speaks to just how important Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting will be to the collective energy futures of building owners across the United States.

Dr. Brodrick recently told the Tennessee-based Edison Report that, "long life has been touted as a key advantage of LEDs, but understanding and communicating how LED products fail and how long they last can be challenging. The U.S. Department of Energy has come out with a new SSL Technology Fact Sheet, Lifetime and Reliability, to help users gain a better understanding of typical causes for LED product failures, the difference between lifetime and reliability, and methods for measuring and reporting lifetime and reliability."

The fact sheet points out that LED system performance is more affected by interactions between system components than most conventional lighting systems and the failure of any system component can lead to product failure.

The DOE concluded that the dependence of LED package performance on other components will continue to require that discussions about lifetime be focused at the luminaire, and not component or even lamp level, as lamp performance in different luminaires can vary.  Additionally, as with many performance attributes, LEDs have the potential to best other technologies in terms of longevity, but choosing the right product requires some understanding of expected failure mechanisms, lifetime, reliability, and serviceability, as well as asking the right application-specific questions.

Dr. Brodrick notes that the accurate portrayal of LED product lifetime and reliability is important for consumers, manufacturers, and the lighting industry as a whole.


To learn more about LED lighting products and other related electrical products please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or call GET,LLC at 671-483-0789 to discuss solutions for your important lighting needs.

Ethernet FAQ-Unshielded versus Shielded Cable

GET, LLC continues our look at the world of structured cabling for computer networks. This blog post examines cable shielding.

Unshielded and shielded cables have a few deployment requirements that one should keep in mind when deciding which is best for your particular network. Experts argue that unshielded cable have an installation advantage over shielded cable.

Unshielded cable is smaller in size because it lacks a shield and is less fragile which is much better for repeated movement or disconnects from a network. Manufacturers say that such cabling will transmit at the same speeds as shielded and does not require that a ground be used to function properly. Unshielded is vulnerable to more noise on the line, but its helps negate this by the twists in the pairs.

Shielded cable is foil wrapped around the four twisted pairs and actually attracts more noise than unshielded. The difference is that it was designed to offload that noise down a ground wire and away from the twisted pairs. Shielded cable is designed to be used in any application where EMI (Electromagnetic Interferences) are high, such as heavy power lines or radar systems. Shielded cable will actually perform worse than unshielded if it is not installed and terminated correctly. This is because the shield actually attracts noise.  Network professionals say that it is vital that the ground be connected properly in order to offload that noise and keep it away from the data being transferred.

For more on a structured cabling solution for your respective business or facility, please give GET, LLC a call at 671-797-0789 or see our website at www.get-guam.com for more details on how we can be of assistance.

Steel Production Number Improve in 2012

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) is reporting that the U.S. and NAFTA steel production and shipments both increased in 2012 over 2011, but import gains continue as U.S. and NAFTA markets have not attained pre-recession levels.  

The 2012 AISI Annual Statistical Report (ASR) showed that U.S. steel shipments were at 96 million net tons, a four percent increase from the previous year and an 11 percent increase from the most recent five-year average of 86 million net tons.  

Construction and automotive continue to be the largest markets for steel.

Metal Construction News call the report "the most comprehensive reference of its kind" for the American steel industry, adding that the AISI report provides statistical data for the U.S. steel industry and a variety of selected statistical data on the Canadian, Mexican and world steel industries.  

The Illinois-based industry magazine points out the the AISI Report features comprehensive charts and graphs, including: selected statistical highlights on shipments, apparent supply, imports, employment and raw steel data over a 10-year period; selected financial highlights on income and cash flow data; shipments by products and markets over a 10-year period; raw steel production (state distribution and capability utilization); and imports and exports data.   The report also includes an executive summary that highlights recent and historical trends in the North American steel industry.

"The annual statistical report is an indispensable reference tool for anyone interested in tracking steel industry trends," said AISI President and CEO Thomas J. Gibson.  "With 16 pages of charts and graphs in the executive summary alone, it is a valuable resource for industry, media, academia, steel analysts and anyone else who is interested in comprehensive data on our industry."

NAFTA Raw Steel Production was 133 million net tons in 2012, a two percent increase over 2011.

To find out more about how GET, LLC through, our metal building partner MCR Guam Inc., can help your next steel building or aluminum roofing project, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information.


Aerial Lift Safety-Tips from your Friends at GET, LLC

GET, LLC has a Genie TZ-50 that is available for rent for all your aerial lift needs.  Today we decided that since it has since rolled out in support of our local Make A Wish Foundation, we're going to review some safety tips for those working with and around this particular piece of equipment:

As with other powered vehicles, inspect the lift prior to utilizing it. 

Walk around and ensure there are no leaks, check to ensure all the controls are functioning correctly.

Never walk under the boom to gain access to the platform.

Only utilize the lift on level ground.

Only stand on the platform floor. 

Never stand or sit on the railing.

Always look in the direction the machine is moving.


Do not rest the boom or basket on a steel structure of any kind.

Wear safety harnesses and tie-off to the manufacture provided anchorage point within the platform at all times when you're in the basket-this includes when you are lowered and moving the equipment to another location.

Keep your hands the external portion of the basket when raising or lowering the basket.

Ensure that a fire extinguisher is mounted in the basket when performing activities that present a fire hazard such as welding or grinding. 


Ensure you have a fire watch person below.

Except in a case of an emergency, ground controls shall not be operated on an occupied lift (lift occupant shall be in full control of the lift at all times).

If you have any aerial lift needs and would like to discuss potential solutions, please drop GET, LLC a line via our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-797-0789.



Guam-A Different Perspective

Next month, Guam is playing host to a very unique conference.  The focus-security in the Western Pacific.  The Guam US Asia Security Alliance, a Guam-based 501 (c)(4) concerned with the security of all who live in the Western Pacific and along the Pacific Rim, is bringing together top experts to discuss policy related to U.S. forward deployed forces and  Asian security. 

While there will be no papers formally presented, this expects to be an open and frank discussion on a number of important issues to Americans in this part of the world to include operational realities, basing options and the role of Micronesia among other discussions points.

The list of experts participating in this roundtable talk from September 5-6, 2013  is a literal who's who in American policy expertise in Asia.  Notably, former CIA Senior Official Carl W. Ford Jr., Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Center for New American Security and long time friend of Guam and former U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Wallace "Chip" Gregson will be sharing their knowledge in the discussion.  Local media describes the event simply as, "... a rare event for a private business sector organization, unrelated to military, government, NGOs, or think tanks, to host such an event, offering a unique opportunity for analysts and academics to candidly address and exchange ideas with their peers."

We can expect other security experts from around the region to come to Guam to check out this event.  The interest is growing and many I spoke with on the GUASA event are excited about what this round table talk will lead to in the months and years to come. 

It is about time that Guam is hosting such an event.  Five years ago, this effort was proffered to the incoming Obama Administration as a way to glean further understanding of the unique role Guam and Micronesia plays in the defense of the United States.  The losing Republican candidate for President, Senator John McCain, advocated during that campaign season for such a meeting to bring further attention to the role the U.S. Territory plays in keeping the geopolitical balance across the Pacific Rim intact.

There is no question that the timing of this event is key.  Guam attained Visa Waiver Status for Russia and China is around the corner.  The Sequester has certainly set a new normal for federal expenditure in Guam.  The people are losing belief that the Guam Buildup, now known as the Guam Military Realignment, will ever happen. 

GUASA is taking a leadership role with the effort to bring the U.S. Marines Corps to Guam in line with the agreements set out by the United States and Japan that started back in 1994.  This is a private sector driven initiative.  Note that the members of the non-profit, non-partisan group has been at this for nearly 20 years.  There is no question that they want to see the move-an act that will certainly flip what is currently an economy of 40 percent federal spend and 60 percent tourism to 60 percent military utilization and 40 percent visitor services.  Our Gross Island Product and investment will certainly eclipse numbers we have never seen before.

The GUASA Round Table Discussion is a necessary step forward to protect and ensure a successful move of U.S. Marines in our region-let's get behind this.



SFC and World Wide Fund for Nature Collaborate on Wood Sourcing Webinar

Two unlikely allies? 

No.  

Two organizations committed to the environment and sustainability.

The High Point, North Carolina-based Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) is teaming this week with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) on a webinar on responsible wood sourcing.  The SFC is clear in their mission.  The non-profit coalition recognizes the overwhelming scientific consensus that our world is experiencing dangerous global climate change and work like crazy to support the triple bottom line of PEOPLE - PLANET - PROFITS and lead the industry in developing awareness of best practices throughout their supply chains. Members from all over the world work towards accomplishing this goal by increasing their purchases from suppliers that show continual improvement toward meeting the high standards of the SFC.

The webinar will feature Uan Le Cong, manager of the Global Forest & Trade Network. He will be discussing wood sourcing in Vietnam.  Webinar topics will include best practices in supplier engagement, and the availability of products that are Forest Stewardship Council certified.  Le Cong will also discuss tools available from WWF to help companies understand global timber regulations and responsible forestry and trade practices.

Speaking of the WWF, a recent report by the 52-year old international environmental conservation group found that the forests of the Russian Far East are being pushed to the brink of destruction due to pervasive, large-scale illegal logging, largely to supply Chinese furniture and flooring manufacturers. This widespread timber theft is endangering the long-term survival of the endangered Amur tiger, while providing a conduit for illegal timber to find its way into the United States, Europe and Japan.  Illegal Logging in the Russian Far East: Global Demand and Taiga Destruction, brings together more than 10 years of on-the-ground field observations and highlights a sobering reality: Russia’s forest sector has become deeply criminalized, with poor law enforcement, allowing illegal loggers to plunder valuable timber stocks of oak, ash, elm and linden with impunity.

In a day where value is becoming more and more important to our customer's bottom line, it is this drive of a company like our partner Savoy Furniture and their sustainable manufacturing processes is a reminder that such environment conscious efforts are still alive in America.  Give GET, LLC a call at 671-483-0789 or check out our website at www.get-guam.com to find out more about the Savoy solution that is best for your respective organization.



Major Market Penetration Predicted for White-Light LED Over The Next Two Decades

Gotta give credit where credit is due.  Since 1976, the Maryland-based non-profit  National Lighting Bureau has served as the Nation's most trusted lighting information source.  With sponsors to include GE Lighting, Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES), Lutron Electronics Company, Inc., National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the U.S. General Services Administration they surely have their finger on the collective pulse of this industry.  A recent NLB report comes at a time when many across our industry were wondering if bad news is becoming the new normal.

Energy Savings Potential of Solid-State Lighting in General Illumination Applications says that growing reliance on Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting will conserve 2,700 terawatt-hours (2.7 trillion kilowatt-hours) of energy use over the next 20-years saving building owners about $250 billion at today’s energy prices while reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 1.8 billion tons of carbon, assuming today’s power-plant generating mix stays in place.

The NLB report predicts that, compared to conventional incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, and high-intensity-discharge (HID) white-light sources, the rate of LED market penetration will increase steadily, rising to 36% of general-illumination lumen-hour sales in 2020, and to 74% percent by 2030.

“In 2030,” the report states, “the annual energy savings due to the increased market penetration of LED lighting is estimated to be approximately 300 terawatt-hours, or the equivalent annual electrical output of about fifty 1,000-megawatt power plants. At today’s energy prices, that would equate to approximately $30 billion in energy savings in 2030 alone. Assuming the current mix of generating power stations, these energy savings would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 210 million metric tons of carbon. The total electricity consumption for lighting would decrease by roughly 46 percent relative to a scenario with no additional penetration of LED lighting in the market – enough electricity to completely power nearly 24 million homes in the U.S. today.”

“The predicted reductions in energy consumption, greenhouse-gas emissions, and operating and maintenance costs are extremely positive. Nonetheless, not just a few lighting-industry insiders believe that the role of LED lighting may not be quite as prominent as forecasted, principally because of the efficiency and longevity advances being made by alternative sources, fluorescent in particular," said National Lighting Bureau Chair Howard P. Lewis "As such, LEDs may have more competition in the years ahead, not less, all of which is a good thing. More products and more types of products will be competing on the basis of efficiency, cost, and functionality, meaning not only that the study’s forecasts about energy and cost savings will likely be realized, they may even be exceeded.”

The study focuses on four principal sectors of the U.S. lighting market – residential, commercial, industrial, and outdoor stationary – where an array of lighting products competes for market share.

With energy costs in the Western Pacific among the highest in America, it is time to take a serious look at those solutions to reduce consumption and improve efficiencies where you can.  

To learn more about the LED lighting products and other related electrical 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.


Ethernet FAQ-Cat5e v. Cat6 v. Cat6a

GET, LLC begins a look at the world of structured cabling for computer networks such as Ethernet and other high speed networking solutions. This blog post will examine specifications for the in-demand twisted pair cable and the signals that are carried across them.

Believe it or not-CAT5 is the fifth generation of twisted pair Ethernet technology and the most popular of all twisted pair cables in use today. Cat 6 and Cat6a have followed and is backward compatible with Cat5 standards.  But while all are wildly popular with network professionals, they all pose a down side for those seeking faster network bandwidth solutions.

One of the most misinterpreted specifications that customers and installers get hung up on is the megahertz (MHz) rating on Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a Cable.
Search for Cat5e cable and the most common rating you will see is 350MHz. There are two things wrong with this number. The Telecommunications Industry Association and the Electronic Industries Alliance specifies the electrical characteristics for a Cat5e cable to have a 100 Mhz bandwidth. So automatically any cable advertised above this number is not following the spec.

Then why do we see this number? Some have been using this number for so long that people have come accustomed to seeing 350 MHz bandwidth, and when it is not present, they question the quality of the cable. The truth of the matter is, yes, you probably can test most Cat5e cables to 350 MHz and beyond, but it means nothing past 100 MHZ. So to say that a Cat5e 350 MHz cable is better than a Cat5e 100 MHz cable is just marketing.

In much the same way, Cat6 cable is commonly seen advertised at 500 or 550 MHz, when the actual specification calls for Cat6 cable to be up to 250Mhz.

The official bandwidth specifications are as follows: Cat5/Cat5e 100 MHz, Cat6 250 MHz, Cat6a 500 MHz. Along those same lines, there is no such thing as "Cat5a", "Cat6e" and there is no official release for Cat7 or Cat7a in the USA yet. The data transfer rate on these cables is as follows: Cat5e and Cat6 are 1 Gb/s (Gigabits per second), Cat6a is 10 Gb/s.


For more on structured cabling solutions for your respective business or building, please give GET, LLC a call at 671-797-0789 or see our website at www.get-guam.com for more details on how we can be of assistance.

Terex Announces Roll Out of On-Line Lift Training

Access Lift & Handlers Magazine is reporting that Terex Aerial Work Platforms will  launch an online operator training program for telehandlers by the end of this year.

The Chicago, Illinois-based industry publication says in their July-August 2013 issue that Terex AWP is still in the process of developing the aerial lift training program which it plans to officially launch at The Rental Show scheduled for February 2014 in Orlando, Florida. The four-hour online program is said to include videos, graphics and interactive quizzes and will conclude with a 40-50-question exam followed up by hands-on training at a Genie dealer.  GET, LLC is working to bring similar opportunities like this to the Western Pacific in the near future.

The online training is not manufacture specific and will cover all makes and models of telehandlers and we understand that it will be similar to Terex's 98-page packaged training. The hands-on training, however, will be machine-specific.  Costs have not been set for this course.

Terex is concerned that there is a severe lack of quality telehandler training programs in the marketplace with a goal to ensure that the people who operate the equipment go home to their families at at the end of the day.

Terex AWP provides their dealers with documentation in regard to what the hands-on portion must consist of. They also provide check sheets for dealers to follow so they have a documented process for performing the hands-on training. There is also a verification test that the individual taking the training must complete before they receive their hands-training in order to verify they are in fact the person who took the online program.


For more on bringing Genie Solutions to your workplace, please let GET, LLC know-our TZ-50 is available for your aerial lift needs.  Call us at 671-797-0789 or see our website at www.get-guam.com for more details.

Guam-A Different Perspective

I had the privilege of talking to a number of local entrepreneurs recently on how the Guam tourism market is responding to the newest and highest potential market-Russia. 

With the recent addition of the Russians to travel into Guam and enjoy our island and hospitality there have been many an observation and actions are quickening to accommodate.  With just over 9 Million outbound travelers from North Eurasia seeking significant leisure time this past year, we can surely tap off a percentage of this business and further diversify Guam's visitor industry.

Russians travel to Turkey, Egypt and China. Much of the reason-cost.  Travel to Spain and Greece is increasing.  Much of the interest in those two markets is primarily driven by relaxed entry and re-entry policies. Also, Middle East low budget tour packages are also enticing more and more Russians to their respective locales each and every day.

Guam tourist industry folks are scrambling to gain more visitors from Russia.  

We offer a warm and friendly place to visit.  Right now it is a warm 77 degrees Fahrenheit in Vladivostok.  In the coming months, those temperatures will drop.  Russian travelers take many of their cues to leave the cold and see the world that that time.  In Guam, it is currently 84 degrees Fahrenheit-frankly it is the same temperature year round.  Our tourist district is relative safe.  Sand and surf abound.  Luxury shopping is there for those seeking goods from American and from all over the world for that matter.  The food here is great.  World fare or even the local cuisine is showcased all around. 

Sounds good?  It is.  

But something is missing.

Most hoteliers since 2012 have come face to face with the reality that the Russia visitor spends more time in a room in Guam than any other of the visitors to our shores.  The average stay according to local government and private experts is about three weeks.  Compare that long stay to two to five days for Guam's number one tourist base-Japan.  The lengthy stays means bullish property owners and managers are making key upgrades to rooms to keep our Russian visitors happy and likely to return.  Amenities associated with longer stays continue to be researched and surveys are yielding quicker action among the tourist elite here.  

Folks I spoke with on this matter are greatly encouraged by the new market.  With the new market will surely come with new products, services and interest in Magnificent Micronesia as a whole.  We cannot expect that the best kept secret in the Western Pacific to be that way for long.  

China and its 20 million outbound travelers by 2020 is still a carrot our island tourism industry is hoping to tap-even in a small way. One percent of that to Guam would be a boom.


We all should keep an eye on the surging Russian tourist market.  It is imperative to do so if we want to further diversify and build our isolated economy of which 60 percent is dependant of this key industry.

Independence LED Lighting CEO Busts Myths of LED Tubes

The July/August 2013 issue of LEDs Magazine featured a good friend of GET, LLC.  Independence LED Lighting CEO Charlie Szoradi contributed to the recent issue of the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based industry publication and wrote that  it's only a question of when the time is right to install LED tubes in place of fluorescents and not if it's the right retrofit path. The article is spot on:

"Fluorescent tubes have dominated commercial illumination in American ceilings for more than 50 years — more than 2.3 billion tubes are installed, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). That huge potential retrofit market has drawn the interest of many in the solid-state lighting (SSL) space and resulted in a lot of myths related to LED tube technology. Let's bust some of those myths, considering that LED tubes save 50% or more energy over fluorescent tubes.

To date, the hurdles for adoption of LED tube technology fall into three categories: trust, technology, and cost. Let's explore them, in that order.

Many believe that the LED tube industry has not matured to a trustworthy level, but manufacturers have improved thermal management, and installations now range from Fortune 100 companies to leading health care institutions to leading higher-education institutions. Organizations such as the DesignLights Consortium have qualified LED tubes, and warranties have increased to as long as 10 years on some LED tubes

Meanwhile, some worry that imported LED tubes lack UL or CE marks or other trusted output testing. Simply ask for source documentation and third-party testing data, and look into LED tubes that are made domestically or that meet the International Class A-10 LED Tube Standards.

And then there are those concerned that new LED manufacturers won't be around to support the warranty. An easy way to protect your business is to look for performance-based programs such as savings shares, lighting service contracts, or LED rental center opportunities. This way you don't fully pay for the technology and aren't chasing the seller if failure occurs.

Let's turn to technology, and the worry that a typical LED tube doesn't give off as much light as its fluorescent counterparts. Fluorescent tubes may have more lumens, but 35% percent of the output is often wasted going up into the fixture. Make sure to look at fixture output side-by-side in foot-candles after a sample LED tube retrofit.

Others worry that an LED tube does not have the same color consistency as a fluorescent tube. Yet the thermal management of many LED tubes has improved to protect the phosphor coating that dictates color temperature. Still others question the quality assurance for LED tubes. The answer is to look for LED tube manufacturers that are ISO 9001:2008 certified.

Then there are those who say LED tubes with external drivers are more difficult to install than internal driver LED tubes. Not so: Installers need to open the cover to the fluorescent ballast in order to install either type of driver system, so the time is roughly identical.

Finally, some contend that the diodes get so hot that they burn out the LED tubes. To combat this, seek out LED tubes with deep-fin, aircraft-grade thermal management and external drivers.

Now let's turn to cost where some argue that specifiers wait to invest in LEDs because of dramatically falling prices. But the cost of waiting, in terms of energy and maintenance, is most likely higher than the price drop, particularly for 24/7 illumination areas. At the least, consider a rolling retrofit where you replace fluorescent tubes and ballasts as they fail with new LED tube technology.

There are other cost-related issues that are top of mind for some specifiers. Those who replaced T12 fluorescent tubes with the better T8 tubes and don't want to upgrade again should still calculate ROI, especially for 24/7 areas. Payback is three to five years, and some worry about warranties in that same range; however, as we mentioned, longer warranties are becoming commonplace.

American-made products are more expensive than imports. Property owners and managers should not focus on the race to the bottom of pricing but instead consider the race to the top of performance. All tubes are not created equal, so look at the equipment and operating cost of a total fixture versus a tube.

It can't be stressed enough that specifiers should find a qualified LED manufacturer and start changing out old fluorescent tube technology in 24/7 areas as soon as possible. Switch to LEDs as fluorescent tubes fail and make a three-year plan to purge your outdated "glass and gas" tubes for toxic-free SSL."


Charlie has the Last Word in this issue. Our last word- to learn more about the Independence LED Lighting products and other related electrical 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.

Ambit Energy Asks Where Does Failure Come From?

Ambit Energy National Consultant Carlos Marin shared with GET, LLC and other consultants of a famous quote from George Washington Carver that,  "99% of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses." He's also known for saying "Start where you are... with what you have..."

Marin noted, "If your intention when you started your business in Ambit was to create the life of your dreams then you have to give up all excuses! Let go of the stories you tell yourself about how you're the "victim" and all of the reasons why you "can't" make it or why you "can't" have the things you desire. Maybe that was the case for you... until now.

Take back your power and make the decision to approach your life and your business differently. With no excuses. Doing what you know is best and will produce the greatest outcome and the results you truly desire.

Everything in life starts with taking small strides. Tiny tweaks can lead to big changes... they're easy to do and also easy NOT to do. Make the commitment right now to stop making excuses and go after your dreams and start where you are.. with what you have!"

Looking for additional income opportunities with Ambit Energy? Ask me how. 

Find out how to turn on the cash flow whenever someone uses electricity and gas at http://getllc.myambit.com/start-a-business/energy-526.

What Exactly Are Phase Change Materials and How Does It All Work?

GET, LLC, through MCR Guam Inc.,  is proud to be associated with PhaseChange Partners and PhaseChange Energy Solutions.  Since the 2013 American Institutes of Architects Expo in Denver back in June there has been much that the Sales team led by Director Rob Morton can be proud  of.  Recent meetings getting BioPCM into different markets and projects all across the Nation and other initiatives into the Pacific Rim is keeping things interesting for this "old-new product". Hence, this blog post asks the simple question: what are phase change materials and how does this thing work?

The answer is a bit more simple than you may think. 

Phase change materials, as the name implies, are simply materials that change from one phase to another at a designated set point.

One of the most common phase change materials that we all encounter on a daily basis is water. At 32 degrees F, or 0 degrees C, water transitions from one phase to another. When water transitions from ice to liquid water, or from water into ice, energy is stored and released in each direction. This energy is in the form of latent heat storage. Water is very efficient in its ability to store latent heat, but the temperature at which it makes its transition is not very friendly to human habitation. Phase Change Energy Solutions has taken this same concept of storing and releasing energy through phase change materials but has moved the transition temperature up the scale from 32 degrees to the mid 70's Fahrenheit.

PhaseChange Energy Solutions products add thermal mass to any structure giving it the ability to hold designated temperatures for much longer lengths of time. When objects with different temperatures come together they move toward reaching thermal equilibrium. 

Think of when we open our front doors in the summertime, hot air comes rushing into the house. Conversely, when we open that same door in the wintertime, the exact opposite happens. Our nice comfortable, warm air goes rushing out.  Likewise when we place ice into a beverage, the ice immediately starts this same process. Heat inside the liquid is absorbed by the ice. As the beverage cools, the ice in turn melts resulting in phase change. Any heat above 32 degrees will be absorbed into the ice until all of the ice is completely melted.

The same thing happens at a larger scale inside homes and commercial structures. When the walls and ceilings of a structure are designed to be 73 degrees Fahrenheit, they work to help condition the interior temperature of the structure. When the heat load inside the structure begins to rise during the day, as the temperature gets above 73 degrees, that added heat will transition or be absorbed into the walls and ceilings which are cooler. This continues to happen throughout the day until the phase change material is completely transitioned (just like the ice in the glass). The heat is captured or stored in the phase change material and is given back as the temperature of the day begins to drop. Since the walls and ceilings are designed to be 73 degrees, the material will transition back to its designed temperature and will work very hard to maintain that temperature at night, just as it does during the day.

If you use PhaseChange Energy Solutions M51 material in your building, this process is equivalent to having a 51 Btu air conditioner in every square foot of wall and ceiling space during the day and a 51 Btu heater in every square foot of wall and ceiling space during the night time hours.

We'll continue to explore this issue and product further in future blog posts.

For more on how GET,LLC through our friends at MCR Guam Inc and PhaseChange Partners can assist you with your energy reduction and thermal mass design needs, please check out www.phasechange.com, drop us a line, or give us a call.

Genie Safety Notice 130005

Terex AWP has issued a safety notice requiring an inspection of the secondary boom angle on Genie Z-135/70 booms.

The Great Britain-based KHL Group is reporting that Safety Notice 130005 coincides with the manufacturer’s continued investigation into the collapse of a Z-135/70 belonging to Kimberly Access in London, UK, on 5 June, 2013. The boom’s operator was killed in the incident.

In the statement Terex said it had been made aware that in some instances, machines that were calibrated in the field were not done so in accordance with the machine’s service manual. However, the company made clear it was not suggesting that the accident at Kimberly Access was due to improper calibration.

“This safety notice is being issued to ensure that machines that were calibrated after leaving Terex AWP’s factory were calibrated in accordance with the procedures in the Genie Z-135/70 service manual," according to Terex. “This Safety Notice requires a simple inspection of the secondary boom angle. Completing this inspection procedure will confirm whether the secondary boom angle sensor is properly calibrated and the machine is safe to use.”

In the safety notice, Terex AWP was adamant that the Z-135/70 is safe to use.

GET, LLC stands with Genie and would like to remind those reading this blog that the Z-135/70 machines are safe to use as intended provided the machine is in proper working order, the operators are properly trained, and the owners/operators follow the warnings and instructions provided by Terex which are located on the machine.

If you have any aerial lift needs and would like to discuss potential solutions, please drop GET, LLC a line or give us a call.

Guam-A Different Perspective

Yet another bad report related to the Guam Buildup Program.  Local media reports say that the U.S. Department of Defense has advised the Governor of Guam that the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement that was scheduled to be released in December, won't be let out to the public until March 2014.  Buildup Director Mark Calvo told local broadcast media that the delay appears to be caused by the "complicated nature of  studying the options and the options they're looking at are numerous. Five cantonment areas and  seven range areas."

I don't read the DOD delay like Mark does.

Options have been studied extensively.  This is a program that started back in 1996 when the push to move U.S. Marines started.  Many options have been presented over the past 17 years.  Studies have already been done.  Both the pros and cons of the military effort have been discussed on the "Beltway" and at Adelup.  What is needed is a decision to present a Master Plan to Congress that spells out the way forward for this buildup effort.  How many GAO reports and requests from both House and Senate Armed Services Committees will it take to ensure this proud American community to get a definitive answer on this important issue facing our people?

I can understand the diligence required for such an effort.  Many of our Government of Guam Planners have been in lock-step with the federal government since 2009 and have presented much of the alternatives to ensure a successful program on Guam.  Federal bureaucrats responsible for this important DOD program have changed throughout the past seven years.  Many have retired. Many were fired.  Many others simply quit. Many are now just getting up to speed on the progress to date and given the direction to seek more input from island leaders. 

Timing is everything.

Input from island leaders at the start of the new year will take on a whole new tone-Election Time!

We all can expect rhetoric to be turned on "full blast".  Candidates for Senator will decry the benefits of the Guam Buildup Program.  Candidates for Governor will work to make you believe that their respective leadership will finally bring the Guam Buildup Program to a reality.  Pundits will make the Guam Buildup Program the biggest election year issue-Never mind those common pocket book issues like jobs, economic growth in other non-federal sectors and curbing the costs of energy on our island.


I expect much of the time between now and March will ignore the political realities of the island and become a place where voters and outsiders will look at the talk as something either very moving or just more chatter on an issue that clearly has taken a back seat in Washington DC and in Tokyo.  Decision 2014 won't help matters much either.  Let's all keep an eye on this report and others in the waning days of 2013.