In This Section:
Electric Rates To Skyrocket Widely
TriMark USA Under New Ownership
Vent Master Merges With Halton
EFC Honors Enodis Companies
ASHRAE Releases New GreenGuide
This issue's Economic Report Sponsor: Hotelex Shanghai, April 4-7, 2007 |
Regulatory ReportSponsor: Scotsman Ice Systems/Enodis
 |
 |
|
|
Electric Rates To Skyrocket Widely
If you haven't already been investigating energy efficient equipment, a report forecasting major jumps in electric rates may encourage you to act.
A report called "Why Are Electricity Prices Increasing?" published by Edison Electric Institute, warns of increasing numbers of rate-increase requests by utilities.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has noted that "customers may experience rate shock" as utilities seek to make up for revenue losses caused by imposed cuts, freezes or limits negotiated by consumer groups.
According to the Int'l. Herald Tribune, rate hikes will be painful. For example:
- In Baltimore, look for an expected 72% rate increase to be phased over several years.
- In Illinois, rates are expected to rise by up to 55%, with 22% commonly cited in Chicago.
- In Connecticut, residential electric rates rose as much as 27% last year, and were expected to grow as much as 50% more this month.
- In New Jersey, rates rose as much as 13% this year, and are poised to go much higher.
|
|
TriMark USA Under New Ownership
Make a note in your genealogy of equipment distributors and design firms: TriMark USA, South Attleboro, Mass., has been acquired by Audax Group from Bradford Equities Management, White Plains, N.Y.. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Audax, which has offices in Boston and New York, said that TriMark CEO Jerald Hyman will continue to lead TriMark's management team.
Vent Master Merges With Halton
In a move to optimize its global brand equity, kitchen ventilation systems manufacturer Halton Group Americas has announced the merger of sister brands Vent Master, based in Mississauga, Ontario, and Halton Co., of Scottsville, Ky.
Vent Master will now be known as Halton Canada, and will continue to produce and market its existing equipment under the Halton brand.
Halton Group Americas, Bowling Green, Ky., is a subsidiary of Halton OY, Finland. In 2005, Halton acquired Vent Master Europe, U.K., and the Canadian and U.S. business operations of Vent Master. Halton operates manufacturing facilities in Canada, China, Finland, France, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
EFC Honors Enodis Companies
Enodis plc and three of its operating companies were recently honored by the Electric Foodservice Council with the 2006 "Award of Excellence" for their innovation and energy efficiency in equipment, and ongoing support of the EFC. The four top awards went to Enodis, Cleveland Range, Frymaster and Lincoln Foodservice Products.
Enodis was recognized as Manufacturer of the Year; Cleveland Range was recognized with the Innovation of the Year Award for its Convotherm by Cleveland.
Frymaster and Lincoln, meanwhile, each picked up President's Choice Awards—Frymaster for its advancement of electric foodservice equipment with the introduction of the E4 series of rotating element electric fryers; and Lincoln for the Impinger Dual Technology Finisher.
ASHRAE Releases New GreenGuide
Interested in "green" building design for future restaurants, but not sure where to start? That's easy: Check out the newly updated GreenGuide, published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
GreenGuide takes you through the design, construction, and operation of sustainable buildings. New info includes a chapter on navigating the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Rating System; another chapter examines reducing HVAC&R systems' impact on the environment. Also included: more than 40 practical GreenTip sidebars on techniques, processes, measures or systems.
For more info, visit www.ashrae.org.
|
www.fermag.com
