Monthly e-Newsletter August 2009

The only thing that might be more gratifying than working on a medical facility, where life and limb are at stake, is working on a Naval medical facility, where our public servants come for support and care, while they serve our country. In conjunction with JKT, general contractor and Blue Mountain Electric, electrical contractor, Team Abossein offered engineering and quality control for the renovation and replacement of the electrical and fire alarm systems at the Naval Hospital at the Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, WA. This 80,000 square feet facility is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so it was important to provide these services, and the testing involved without interruption of hospital services. Extra attention was also given to maintain clean spaces, and not to in any way contaminate sites, or disturb infection control care. The project came together cleanly, efficiently, and with satisfaction for all parties concerned. An effort that everyone has been pleased and proud to be a part of as this project nears completion in August.

Aljoya Opens New Senior Homes in Northgate Location

Aljoya Thornton Place at Northgate promises to be the premier assisted living facility in the north end of Seattle. With 143 apartments, and 245,000 square feet of living and activity space, this well designed, activity friendly space is a great place to call home. Aljoya Thornton Place is equipped with such features as: a theater; a wellness center which provides medication, massage and wellness counseling; a private dining space for gatherings of family and friends; a conference center; a game room; a room for arts and crafts; a pool and spa; an exercise room; a large commons, with an outside terrace; a street side café; as well as location specific benefits, such as: natural vegetation: a waterscape stream; easy access to shopping at Northgate Mall and easy access to bus routes. This building, designed by Weber + Thompson, owned by Era Living, and engineered by Abossein is six stories tall and has two underground stories for parking. Aljoya is definitely a place to be called "home".

There are many benefits to rainwater harvesting; some are more obvious than others, such as the usage of collected water for flushing toilets and for irrigation systems. When coupled with other water saving techniques it can dramatically reduce the size of water bills. It can also help garner credits for projects seeking LEED certification. As well as conserving resources reducing water usage, rain water harvesting can help stave off the need for costly infrastructure upgrades. But there are equally important benefits that aren’t as apparent. In areas that use a combined storm and sewer system rainwater harvesting has less obvious benefits. During storms water treatment plants can become overtaxed and have no choice but to drain water that has not been fully treated. Rainwater harvesting systems can reduce the volume of water needing treatment and may help keep untreated runoff out of the environment. Each project has its own specific circumstances that must be considered. The owner’s needs and wants, the suitability of the site and a jurisdiction’s particular regulations, including the quality control of the harvested water, must all be considered. But from rain barrels to self sustaining buildings and everything in between, there is a rainwater harvesting system to meet the needs of nearly any project desiring it and the benefits can be more far reaching than just saving water.

Last Month's Answer: 14%

Question of the month (see next month's issue for the answer):

What does "Designed to Earn Energy Star" mean and what incentives will that audit and certification provide?