PHOTOVOLTAIC FINS, MORE THAN A SUNSHADE DEVICE

PHOTOVOLTAIC FINS, MORE THAN A SUNSHADE DEVICE


FEATURED PROJECT - THE LIFE SCIENCE BUILDING, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

The College of Arts and Sciences at University of Washington is getting ready to soon open a spectacular, modern research and instructional space called the Life Sciences Building (LSB), which will provide students with over 170,000 square foot of open and flexible lab space, to boost a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to research in the field of Biology.

The building has been designed by architects Perkins + Will, and it is a seven story construction – including two stories below grade, which has been envisioned as a benchmark project in terms of energy efficiency, innovation and onsite renewable energy.

The design targets LEED-NC Platinum Certification, and the deployment and usage of clean energy sources were a primary objective of the University´s Climate Action Plan for Sustainability.

In this sense, the UW-Solar student group, which consists of an interdisciplinary team within the University’s Urban Infrastructure Laboratory – ranging students from undergraduate to Ph.D. level, worked with Perkins + Will to design and install a combined 100 kW solar system, featuring an innovative vertical photovoltaic fin system installed on the South-West elevation of the building.

These PV fins are the first-of-its-kind in the USA and they are made of amorphous Silicon solar cells that capture the sunlight and converts it into clean electricity.

They are all-glass, semi-transparent, letting 20% visible light to pass thru the fin. A total of four different dimensions were required by the design team to meet the design intent.

While conventional glass or metal fins help the building from a passive standpoint, photovoltaic fins pay a multi-functional approach:

1. They work as a sun control device, helping decrease HVAC needs. The South elevation of the building is set to receive high solar radiation in summer and the photovoltaic fins will help shading the building and thus reducing the heat transfer.

2. They work as windbreaks in winter, boosting the insulation of the building.

3. They diffuse light and control glare, contributing to more comfortable daylight conditions.

4. Their solar cell coating filters 99% UV radiation, mitigating the interior’s aging.

5. They generate free and clean electricity, decrease the building’s carbon footprint, and contribute to LEED Certification. Also, they perform under low-light conditions.

6. They aesthetically blend with the rest of the architectural design. They do not look like traditional PV panels, but like conventional glass fins.



Each fin consists of a three-ply laminated, tempered glass, and it offers 3.15 Watts per square foot. They are frameless and were installed vertically, perpendicularly (90 degree angle) to the curtain wall. Concealed junction boxes and wires do perfect the architectural design.

Both the fin´s depth and the horizontal distance from fin to fin was carefully analyzed by Perkins + Will and Onyx Solar, to optimize the performance of the system and help preventing self-shading situations that could impact the output.

The PV fins were tested to UL standards and they are set to start generating power as soon as the electrical interconnection is completed. The lobby of the building will feature a dashboard that will let students and visitors learn from the system, and monitor the energy production on real time. They will be able to compare the building’s energy demand against the renewable energy sources onsite, and explore the model.

The photovoltaic fins are highly visible from Pacific Avenue, which will help raising student and visitor awareness about sustainability and innovation.

南灣鎮中心進展順利 麻州長波市長齊到祝賀

右起，波士頓市議員(Frank Baker)，波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin
Walsh)，EDENS 執行長Jodie W. McLean，EDENS波士頓執行總監
Brad Dumont，麻州州長查理貝克(Charlei Baker)，波士頓市議員
Annissa Essaibi George。(周菊子攝)

         (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導)波士頓市多徹斯特區(Dorchester)的南灣鎮中心(South Bay Town Center)拓展計畫，第一期住宅大樓預定今夏竣工。麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)，波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)，以及發展商EDENS執行長Jodie W. McLean等人，3月26日近午，在已啟用的南灣新AMC影院舉行致詞儀式，作為慶祝。

EDENS 執行長Jodie W. McLean，EDENS波士頓執行總監Brad Dumont。

南灣鎮中心(South Bay Town Center)拓展計畫是個早在2016年8月就已獲波士頓市計畫發展局(BPDA)批准的土地發展項目，總開發金額約2億美元，一旦全部竣工，大約72萬平方公尺的土地，將蓋出5棟6層高大樓，包括475個住宅單位，其中62個為可負擔住宅，以及130個旅館房間，約1095個停車位，12萬平方呎零售面積，6萬平方呎有12個螢幕的電影院。

其中的AMC電影院，以及Starbuck， Nike, Foever 21 Red等至少四家零售店鋪已開張營運，Wahlburgers也預定四月份開張。

慶祝儀式後，EDENS公司員工繼續慶祝。(周菊子攝)

波士頓市長馬丁華殊表示，南灣鎮中心可算是多徹斯特區歷來規模最大的一個發展計畫，把多徹斯特，南波士頓，洛士百利，南端這四個鄰里都銜接了起來，勢將重振這地區的經濟。他很感謝麻州政府撥給121萬8000元的”麻州工作(MassWorks)”補助金，讓波士頓市府得以斥資鋪一條從表面路(Surface Road)到企業街(Enterprise Street)的新路，在水電設施上做了新連接，鋪了新的人行道，改善了麻州大道上的景觀，不但增加了地方上的公共安全，也讓人行道路連接，交通流動更順暢。南波士頓，麥特潘地區的居民也將受益。

               麻州長查理貝克表示，麻州在2017年撥出8500萬元以上的”麻州工作”經費，幫助地方市鎮改善環境，促進經濟發展。南灣鎮中心發展計畫座落在波士頓市的多徹斯特等幾個關鍵社區，正是州政府最樂見的發展項目類型。

正在蓋的475戶住宅單位，就在AMC戲院旁。(周菊子攝)

            在南灣鎮中心項目之外，2017年麻州政府共撥出744萬3000元給波士頓市的三項發展計畫。其中300萬元給Olmsted Green West 第三期基礎工程建設，那兒蓋了151個可負擔住宅，250萬元給了MassRobotics，把Channel街12號改建成二層樓的MassRobotics創新中心，估計可支持該公司創造3000個工作機會，吸引來10億元的風投資金。還有72萬5000元給了Madison Melnea基礎建設項目，在Whittier街蓋76個可負擔住宅單位，其中33個給收入非常低的住戶。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊。(From Mayor's Office Photo by John Wilcox)

               EDENS執行長 Jodie W. McLean表示，重視社區是該公司的傳統。他們很高興這個土地發展項目，內容多元，不但可為地方上帶來450個永久性工作機會，1600個建築工作機會，還可為地方政府增加大約500萬元的淨稅收，以及62個可負擔住宅。

               慶祝儀式由EDEN的波士頓執行經理(Managing Director)Brad Dumont主持，波士頓市議員Fred Baker很激動的打趣表示，他們為推動這發展計畫努力了很久，總算在他和市長是好朋友，市長和州長是好朋友這一關連一關的關係下，推動成功。

               波士頓市不分區市議員Annissa Essaibi George也出席同慶。

波士頓市長宣佈300萬元啟動金 蓋200戶永久性扶助之家

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES GIFTS TOTALING $3 MILLION TO BOSTON'S WAY HOME FUND FROM PARTNERS, SUFFOLK, AND LIBERTY MUTUAL

Community partners step up to aid City's effort to create 200 units of permanent supportive housing for Boston's chronically homeless individuals

BOSTON - Tuesday, March 27, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced in his speech to the Boston Municipal Research Bureau that Partners Healthcare, Suffolk, and Liberty Mutual have each given $1 million to the Boston's Way Home Fund, totaling $3 million to help Mayor Walsh's effort in ending chronic homelessness in the city of Boston. Announced in his second inaugural address, the Boston's Way Home Fund, a partnership with Pine Street Inn, has a set goal of raising $10 million over four years, with funds being used to create 200 new units of supportive, sustainable, long-term housing for chronically homeless men and women. "In Boston, we are committed to making sure that every person has a place to call their home and build a better life, and the Boston's Way Home Fund will help do just that," said Mayor Walsh. "I thank Partners, Suffolk, and Liberty Mutual for stepping up and helping their community by tackling chronic homelessness. I encourage everyone to learn more about the Boston's Way Home Fund, and invite organizations and individuals to join us as we move closer to our goal of ending chronic homelessness in our city." Partners Healthcare, Suffolk, and Liberty Mutual join Bank of America, which launched the fund in January 2018 with a leadership gift of $250,000. "The leaders of Mass. General, Brigham Health, and Partners HealthCare are supporting Mayor Walsh's vision to end chronic homelessness because accessible housing and services are the single most effective way to improve the well-being of homeless individuals," said Peter Slavin, President of Massachusetts General Hospital. "The Mayor's plan is among the most important strategies we can deploy to improve the overall health of the Boston community." "Suffolk is an organization that prides itself on making a positive difference in our local community," said John Fish, Chairman and CEO of Suffolk. "By creating an additional 200 units of affordable housing in the City of Boston, Mayor Walsh's Boston's Way Home Fund is a wonderful way to give back and help our most vulnerable neighbors in a time of need. We are excited to play a role in ending chronic homelessness, and look forward to seeing the success of Boston's Way Home."   "We applaud the Mayor's deep and long-term commitment to ending homelessness," said David Long, Liberty Mutual Insurance Chairman and CEO. "By investing in this partnership, we're paving a way for people who are homeless today to gain a sturdy foundation, so they can move onto promising futures. We're very hopeful that our gift will get Boston one step closer to ending chronic homelessness." "All of us at Pine Street Inn are very grateful to the Mayor for starting the Boston's Way Home Fund," said Lyndia Downie, President and Executive Director of Pine Street Inn. "We want to express our deepest thanks to Bank of America, Partners Healthcare, Suffolk, and Liberty Mutual for their help in getting the fund started and helping to end homelessness in Boston."       While traditionally mayors and mayors-elect raise private funds for inauguration celebration costs, Mayor Walsh instead encouraged organizations and residents to learn more about the city's work to end chronic homelessness, and consider becoming involved in Boston's Way Home. Mayor Walsh's personal message from Inauguration Day can be found here.   In his January 2016 State of the City address, Mayor Walsh announced Boston had ended chronic veteran homelessness; to date, nearly 850 homeless veterans have been housed. In 2016, the City scaled up its efforts to end chronic homelessness; since January of 2016, 425 chronically homeless individuals have been housed, representing more than 3,000 years of homelessness ended.   Since its implementation, Boston's Way Home has also resulted in a complete redesign of the way Boston offers services to homeless individuals. Rather than counting on shelter as the solution to the issue, Boston has moved toward a housing-first model, where an individual's entrance into the shelter system is also their entrance to a path toward permanent, stable housing. Creating new permanent supportive housing is an important component of Boston's Way Home, the City's plan to end chronic homelessness. Permanent supportive housing combines subsidized rental housing with individualized support services so that people with complex issues can receive the assistance they need to stay housed. The services are designed to build independent living skills and to  connect people with services such as community-based health care, help with mental health issues, substance use counseling, and employment services. By definition, chronically homeless individuals have barriers that create challenges to remaining housed. These barriers can include physical disabilities, substance abuse issues, and mental health issues, among others. Without additional assistance, some chronically homeless men and women are not able to maintain their homes.   To learn more about Boston's Way Home, click here.

麻州監理處26日起受理申辦"真實身份證"駕照

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 麻州汽車監理處(RMV)今(26)日起受理申辦可做為真實身份證(Real ID)的新駕照，以因應2020年10月起的法規變化，亦即麻州居民也必須持護照或真實身份證，才能進入聯邦政府所擁有大樓，或搭乘國內班機。

麻州汽車監理處網站新駕照示意圖。

自從2001年發生911恐襲事件，紐約世貿雙塔被飛機撞毀後，美國國會在2005年制定了新聯邦法，規定進聯邦政府大樓或搭飛機，須有更嚴格身分認證。

麻州議會在2016年也通過法案，加入美國20多州行列，在麻州推行真實身份證，規定從2020年10月起，麻州居民必須使用真實身份證，才可登上國內班機，或進入聯邦大樓。以往持用駕照就行的做法，不再適用。

麻州汽車監理處為因應這變化，從3月22日晚上7點至3月26日早上8點，關門停業了3天，更換電腦系統，以俾能夠發行新款，等同真實身份證的駕照。

麻州汽車監理處表示，人們可以選擇，辦理只在麻州適用的基本駕照，或者是辦理可用作聯邦身份證，持以登機或進入聯邦大樓，人稱"真實身份證(Real ID)"的駕照。

不過在申辦或續辦麻州駕照時，不論是只辦僅適用於麻州的基本駕照，或是辦”真實身份證”駕照，人們都需要本人親自到監理處，並準備三份文件，一是證明自己是麻州居民的文件，一個是社會安全號碼，還有就是出生證明，護照，綠卡，或移民文件等這幾種文件的任何一種。

沒有社會安全號碼的人，持有所工作機構發給的W-2表格，也可被接受。

麻州汽車監理處26日這天，人滿為患，既因為前三天監理處關門，無法辦證的人，許多都趕在這天來了，更因為新的辦照規定，不但得準備更多文件，還得本人出席，監理處人員不熟悉新作業程序，動作也比較慢些，有些人甚至排隊等了5個小時。

麻州監理處表示，在2018年的頭兩個月哩，90%的到訪者，在半小時內證件就辦妥了。

波士頓經文處台灣電影系列 築夢者闡述孫中山一生 (圖片)

FOUR COMPANIES SETTLE ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGAL ASBESTOS WORK AT SALEM PUBLIC HOUSING FACILITY

FOUR COMPANIES SETTLE ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGAL ASBESTOS WORK AT SALEM PUBLIC HOUSING FACILITY

Settlement Includes $340,000 in Penalties and Requires Training in Asbestos Safety

BOSTON — Four companies will pay up to $340,000 to settle allegations of illegal asbestos work during the renovation of a public housing facility for elderly and disabled residents in Salem, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

The complaint and consent judgment, entered Friday in Suffolk Superior Court, settles a lawsuit filed by the AG’s Office against the asbestos abatement contractor, E&F Environmental Services (E&F), and its owner and manager, Frank Balogh, as well as three other companies – New England Builders and Contractors, Blackstone Block Architects and TRC Environmental Corporation – for violating the state’s clean air law and regulations while working on renovations at the Pioneer Terrace housing facility in Salem.

“Asbestos poses serious health risks to workers and the public when it’s not handled properly. Here, our investigation uncovered widespread violations,” AG Healey said. “We will take action against companies and individuals who endanger the health of residents and workers through the improper handling of asbestos.”

The lawsuit also alleges that the Methuen-based New England Builders and Contractors and Boston-based Blackstone Block Architects violated the state’s False Claims Act by submitting claims for payment to the Salem Housing Authority, certifying that the improper work at the housing facility was completed in compliance with state law.

According to the AG’s Office, during the winter and spring of 2015, E&F illegally removed asbestos from Pioneer Terrace by failing to follow the proper procedures required by law to protect workers, residents, and the public from harmful asbestos exposure, including failing to properly store and contain asbestos-containing material. During inspections at the site, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) found asbestos violations by E&F employees at nearly every building they worked on in the housing complex.

“The Commonwealth’s asbestos regulations are designed to protect the public health and the environment,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg. “MassDEP will vigorously pursue and hold accountable companies and individuals that violate those regulations and put employees and other people in harm’s way.”

The lawsuit also alleges that while E&F was working with MassDEP to remediate the asbestos violations at Pioneer Terrace, the company allegedly failed to follow required asbestos abatement procedures during construction at a multi-family home in Medford.

            Under the terms of today’s settlement, the defendants will pay a total of up to $340,000 in penalties to the state.

E&F and Balogh will pay $150,000, with $20,000 suspended if Balogh and the company’s other employees complete training on proper handling and disposal of asbestos. New England Builders & Contractors will pay $85,000, with $15,000 suspended pending asbestos training as well. The settlement also requires TRC Environmental Corporation, a Connecticut-based firm hired to monitor the asbestos work at the Salem project, to pay $60,000 and for one of its employees to be retrained in monitoring asbestos work. Blackstone will also pay $45,000 in penalties to the state.

            AG Healey has made asbestos safety a priority, as part of the office’s “Healthy Buildings, Healthy Air” Initiative, announced in March 2017, which seeks to better protect the health of children, families, and workers in Massachusetts from health risks posed by asbestos. Since September 2016, the AG’s Office, with the assistance of MassDEP, has successfully brought asbestos enforcement cases that together have resulted in more than $2 million in civil penalties. 

For more information on asbestos and asbestos-related work, visit MassDEP’s websiteoutlining asbestos construction and demolition notification requirements.

This case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Peter C. Mulcahy, with the assistance of Senior Regional Counsel Colleen McConnell, Asbestos Enforcement Section Chief John MacAuley, and Environmental Analyst Grady Dante of MassDEP’s Northeast Regional Office in Wilmington.

Boston Playwrights’ Theatre presents the North American premiere of The Rosenbergs (An Opera)

Boston Playwrights’ Theatre presents the North American premiere

of The Rosenbergs (An Opera)

BOSTON – Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (BPT) concludes its 2017-18 season with the presentation of a special event, the North American premiere of The Rosenbergs (An Opera), produced by Boston University and Brandeis University.

Running from April 12-22, the opera features a score by Joachim Holbek and a libretto by Rhea Leman. Dmitry Troyanovsky will direct, with musical direction by Cristi Catt.

This tragic love story—set during the United States’ Communist witch-hunt of the 1950s—is based on the lives of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed for atomic espionage. The Rosenbergs was recognized as Denmark’s Best Opera of 2015 by online journal Copenhagen Culture.

“The Rosenbergs is BPT’s first foray into opera, and I’m excited for this production for many reasons. First, the Rosenbergs’ papers are housed at the Howard Gotlieb Archives here at BU, so it makes perfect sense that we would want to support this award-winning opera,” Kate Snodgrass, Artistic Director of Boston Playwrights’ Theatre says. “Furthermore, this story couldn’t be more relevant to today’s political climate—we must remember our past in order to preserve our future. Rhea, our librettist, has been a friend of mine for years, and I wanted very much to support her work here in the States—both she and Joachim are experienced and gifted theatre artists. But the bottom line is…I love the story. It’s moving and alive without being overtly political, and it speaks to Ethel and Julius’s relationship—which is something that gets short-shrift when we think of this period in our nation’s history. Oftentimes when we read the newspapers, we forget that there are real people behind these big stories—people with dreams and loves and deep fears just like us. Whether we think of the Rosenbergs as heroes or traitors, in the end they were people living out a tragic love story.”

Composer Holbek and librettist Lehman have worked together as theatre and television producers for 35 years. Holbeck is best known for his film scores, most notably Lars von Trier’s Medea. He has composed music for more than 50 film and theater productions. Leman is an award-winning director and playwright (Gorilla); her plays have been performed throughout Europe and the U.S. The Rosenbergs is her first opera.

Director Troyanovsky’s recent area credits include Charlotte’s Web for American Repertory Theater and Exit the King with Actors’ Shakespeare Project. He directed Tchaikovsky’s Evgeny Onegin at Opera Idaho, conducted by Grammy nominee Sara Jobin. Music Director Catt has extensive international experience as a performer. In addition to credits as a music director and vocal coach both in the U.S. and abroad, she is the author of The Kinesthetic Singer: Lessons on Singing from Yoga and Basketball. 

A post-show conversation with Snodgrass, Holbek, Leman, Troyanovsky, Catt and the cast will follow the April 14 performance. After the conclusion of The Rosenbergs’s run at BPT, the production will move to Brandeis University for three performances there.

AT A GLANCE:

The Rosenbergs (An Opera)

Music by Joachim Holbek

Libretto by Rhea Leman

Directed by Dmitry Troyanovsky

Musical Direction by Cristi Catt

April 12-22, 2018

Thurs. 7:30 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.

It’s 1953 Cold War USA, and Ethel and Julius Rosenberg have been accused of atomic espionage and sentenced to death. In this most famous spy case of the 20th century, and leading into the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) Senate hearings, the Rosenbergs’ love affair broke all bounds. Recognized as Denmark’s Best Opera of 2015, this tragic love story is adapted from the Rosenbergs’ letters from jail. As seen through the lens of the McCarthy witch hunts, echoes of which can still be heard today, it begs the question to all of us: “Would you die for love?”

A North American premiere co-produced by Boston University and Brandeis University, presented by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre.

The Rosenbergs is generously supported by the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies at Boston University, the Jewish Cultural Endowment at Boston University, the Brandeis Arts Council, the Boston University Center for the Humanities, and through an arts grant from the BU Arts Initiative—Office of the Provost.

Free to all students, faculty, and staff of Boston University and Brandeis University. Regular ticket prices: Adults ($30); Seniors-62+ ($25); Students with valid ID ($10)

Call 866.811.4111 or visit www.bostonplaywrights.org Additional dates at Brandeis University. For more information, visit www.go.brandeis.edu/productions.