Energy Ottawa on the front line of commercial energy efficiency and sustainability

The management of an organization’s environmental impact has become a natural part of doing business. In response to the demand for improved energy efficiency and reduced waste among businesses, Energy Ottawa has answered the call with services designed to measure and optimize a facility’s usage.

“In the whole culture of energy and resource efficiency, if you can’t measure it, it’s hard to save it,” explains Glenn Mooney, Manager of Energy Services at Energy Ottawa.

Among the services Energy Ottawa offers is the EnergyFlow Monitor, which tracks a building’s energy and water use in real-time, providing valuable data to identify inefficiencies or adjust settings based on occupancy patterns. It was developed by USbased Noveda Technologies, with Energy Ottawa as the exclusive Canadian distributor.

The EnergyFlow Monitor service is twofold. First, Energy Ottawa ensures all the necessary hardware is in place. They deploy energy engineers to either access a facility’s pre-existing metering or to install new ones - whether to track water, electricity or natural gas consumption. These are then connected to a gateway, which sends this data to the cloud. The second component of the system is the EnergyFlow Monitor software. It presents a facility’s data in a real-time, easy-to-navigate dashboard that building managers or owners can access and customize.

The system displays usage data and estimated costs. It also offers comparison features, so organizations can compare themselves to corporate benchmarks. The system is ideal for reporting on the Ministry of Energy’s recently introduced Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking initiative.

Recent users of Energy Ottawa’s dashboard services include Morguard and the Kanata Research Park. While Energy Ottawa remains the sole Canadian distributor of the monitoring technology, it’s been used in the facilities of many major organizations in the US, including McDonald’s, Staples and Aramark.

In addition to the EnergyFlow Monitor, Energy Ottawa also offers in-depth audit services provided by their skilled team of energy engineers. Their energy and water audits assess a facility as a whole - taking everything from lighting to HVAC to water usage into consideration. Energy Ottawa then reports back to the client, both with usage data and recommendations on how to improve the building’s energy efficiency.

As an organization reduces its energy use, it in turn results in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, as less power needs to be generated for a facility in the first place. Energy Ottawa calculates a facility’s greenhouse gas emissions based on their energy consumption, and includes this data in its report. Energy Ottawa also identifies incentives that businesses can use to fund retrofitting or updates to their facilities.

Energy Ottawa is a trusted service provider for the Building Owners and Managers Association’s BOMA’s Best certification program, Canada’s largest environmental assessment and certification program for buildings. Each year, many of the recipients of BOMA certifications earned them through audits conducted by Energy Ottawa.

In addition to Energy Ottawa’s array of advanced reporting services, the organization also offers turnkey energy efficiency project management. Commonly referred to as “continuous commissioning,” Energy Ottawa is able to not only identify potential areas for improvement in a facility - the organization also has the ability to implement efficiency improving changes. This includes the installation of a number of new technologies, ranging from advanced lighting solutions, HVAC conversions, building automation systems and server room optimization to renewable energy and beyond.

Tory Crowder and Shawn Thomas fret as the installation of HVAC and plumbing systems land a figurative one-two punch to the planning gut

Globe Real Estate is following the construction of a new 2700-square-foot home in an Etobicoke neighbourhood that's become, like many Toronto residential enclaves, a hotbed of demolition and rebuilding activity. Part I and Part II were published earlier this year,

All of a sudden, it seemed as if everything was happening at once.

After an epic slog through design and approvals, and then almost half a year of what had seemed like a more or less orderly construction process, Tory Crowder and Sean Thomas had began to fret that they'd lost control over the 2,700-square-foot home they're building for their young family in an older Etobicoke neighbourhood.

"I feel like we're having to make a lot of decisions right now," Ms. Crowder, a publicist, said last week as she ran the gauntlet of the construction debris in the front yard and clambered up a paint-splattered ladder into what will eventually be the dining room. "It's getting complicated."

Anyone who's gotten down and dirty with a home-building project will feel Ms. Crowder's pain: Once the foundation is dug and built, and the framing's completed, all the interior systems need to be installed, setting in motion the fraught drama of sequencing subcontractors, sorting out lingering mysteries on the plans and making countless small choices that collectively add cost, frustration and delay.

The HVAC and the plumbing, she said, were like a one-two punch to the gut.

The plumbing contractors arrived when Mr. Thomas, a wealth adviser, was out of town. Ms. Crowder found herself making solo decisions about running pipes to sinks for the children's bedrooms and other unanticipated add-ons, such as the installation of a $2,000 sound-dampening system on the drains running down from the upstairs toilets, so the rumbling whoosh of a flush wouldn't interrupt dinner parties. (She said yes.)

All of this, however, paled in comparison with the chaos that arrived with the HVAC systems earlier in the summer.

When Ms. Crowder and Mr. Thomas's general contractor and his subcontractor scrutinized their architectural plans, they noticed something strange: The design inexplicably called for two furnaces and two central air-conditioning systems, even though the house itself is relatively small by new build standards.

"It was a disaster from the get-go," she said, noting that they had their architect, Altius managing partner Graham Smith, redo the plans for the HVAC systems three times before the equipment could finally be installed. "You would have thought someone would have looked at the HVAC plans, but we didn't."

Mr. Smith, however, explained that he aims to design homes with proper climate control so there aren't huge temperature variations between the upper and lower floors. But that entails creating separate climate zones within the structure, each serviced by a dedicated mechanical system. When the mechanical contractors took a second look, he added, they recommended a second option – single high efficiency furnace/air conditioning system with specialized zone dampers.

Still, for Ms. Crowder, the experience serves a lesson for anyone building a house: "Look at your plans."

The narrative around the exterior finishes – the application of which began almost immediately after the HVAC equipment had been installed – has been happier, Ms. Crowder said, gratefully, although that portion of their project has also come with its own set of question marks.

"We started the stucco two weeks ago," she noted as she watched Alban and Arian Rekaj, co-owners of Lindi Stucco, sanding the front wall. "It was raining snow and then we had a funny holdup because we had to figure out what colour we were going to do it in."

The plans called for a look that resembled a polished precast limestone but lacked details. Alban Rekaj, whose father started the company in Albania before immigrating to Canada in 2000, suggested that instead of doing a single flat surface, they create a more textured finish. It is built around an irregular grid of notched lines and three different grey tones and a glaze that create the appearance of multiple panels (the stucco product they're using is Durabond). "It will create a very soft interplay of grays," said Mr. Smith.

Ms. Crowder and Mr. Thomas loved the idea, and Mr. Rekaj has worked closely with Mr. Smith to execute it. But the change has meant adding several more layers of substrate, stucco and finish, as well time and money. "It takes three to four times more work," Mr. Rekaj told Ms. Crowder.

Stucco was radically out of fashion for many years after this inexpensive material was found to be causing water damage in Vancouver condos. But Mr. Smith said a new generation of stucco walls are built with both insulation and internal drainage layers that make these exteriors highly energy efficient.

The additional coats and sanding will make it appear smoother and more like limestone. The change added about $7,000 to the original $33,000 budgeted for the exterior, Ms. Crowder said, adding, "It's going to be worth it."

With so much happening at once, those additional costs have begun to pile up. Ms. Crowder has noticed that as the various subcontractors descend on the job site, she and her husband suddenly find themselves facing numerous little decision points about extras that weren't in the original drawings – should they install an emergency generator (a $10,000 outlay; they said no) or a special outlet in the garage for an electric-vehicle plug-in (maybe). "That makes sense to me," she said.

It all adds up and they've been watching their budget – which was tight from the outset – nose up steadily. "Yes, we're overbudget," she said with a sigh. "My husband is very meticulous and he's got it all in his spreadsheet."

In fact, at this point, they've decided to take a zone-defence approach to what seems like an increasingly overwhelming task, with each of them bird-dogging different aspects of the project. Ms. Crowder's list includes the exterior finishes; Mr. Thomas has to get abreast of the HVAC and other internal mechanical systems. She looked up at the bulky and still exposed heating ducts that snake through the ceiling joists. "I never thought my husband would be as involved as he has been."

Temperature Sensor Market Rugged Expansion Foreseen by 2020

Valley Cottage, NY — 01/02/2018 — Temperature detection and measurement is a very important activity and has a variety of applications ranging from simple household to industrial. A temperature sensor is a device that collects the concerning temperature data and displays in a human-understandable format. Temperature sensing is the most controlled and measurable factor behind any critical application. The temperature sensing market shows continuous growth due to its need in research & development, semiconductor and chemical industries. Temperature sensing is gaining a lot of attention due to increasing adoption of HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) for domestic as well as industrial use.

Temperature sensors are primarily of two types, contact temperature sensors and non-contact temperature sensors. The contact temperature sensors are thermocouples, filled system thermometers, resistance temperature detectors and bimetallic thermometers. Contact temperature sensors are currently dominating the market. Non–contact temperature sensors like infrared devices have extensive opportunities in the defence sector due to their ability to detect thermal radiation power of optical and infrared rays emitted from liquids and gases.

The quality of a temperature sensor is measured in terms of standard characteristics such as response time, accuracy, repeatability and stability of output senility towards change in other physical environmental factors. Life of the sensor, termination style, probe type and range of measurement are a few other important specifications to be taken into account while considering commercial use.

There is an increasing demand for temperature sensing in the North American market due to its applicability in defence, aerospace, chemical processing and automotive vehicular production sectors. The key driving force behind the increasing market share of North America in temperature sensing include increasing end-user and industrial applications, rising security concerns towards security & surveillance and increasing macroeconomic government interventions. On the other hand, there is a continuous reduction in prices of temperature sensors due to the introduction of more competitive technologies and higher associated costs that act as restraints for market development.

The North American temperature sensor market is segmented on the basis of product type, application and geography. On the basis of product type, the market is divided into fibre-optic temperature sensors, bimetallic temperature sensors, integrated circuit temperature sensors, infrared temperature sensors, thermistors, resistance temperature detectors (RTD), silicon-based temperature sensors and thermocouples. On the basis of application, the market is categorized into transportation, healthcare, aerospace & defence, petrochemicals, energy & power generation and HVAC & refrigeration. On the basis of geography, North American market is divided into Canada, the United States and Mexico.

There is a need for continuous development in temperature sensing to enhance its usability in different verticals and segments. Remote temperature sensing, switch gear temperature monitoring, MRI temperature sensing, fibre-optic temperature sensing, microwave induction heating control, smart temperature sensing, distributed temperature sensing and geothermal sensing are some of the advancements in the temperature sensing market. Use of nanotechnology and microtechnology is also offering contactless accurate measurement at low cost. Silicon-based temperature sensors are used in coolants and are gaining popularity because they do not need any calibration and are inherently stable.

To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-na-204

The key players in North America market are Texas Instruments Inc. (U.S.), Sensata Technologies (U.S.), Maxim Integrated Products Inc. (U.S.), Microchip Technology Inc. (U.S.), Analog Devices Inc. (U.S.) and Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.). The market in the US is more developed as compared to RoW (Rest of the World). The market in Mexico is in its development stage and need some more time to mature. Development of new technologies and up gradation of existing temperature sensing technologies in automobiles, equipment and machineries is showing continuous growth. The future temperature sensor market is characterized by advanced technology at an affordable cost.

About Future Market Insights
Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.

FMI's research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

LG Launches Online Rebate Center For Residential And Light Commercial HVAC Systems

ALPHARETTA, Ga., June 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for summer, where above average temperatures are expected for many portions of the United States, LG Electronics USA Air Conditioning Technologies is launching a user-friendly rebate tool that allows HVAC contractors and homeowners to search for local and national rebates and incentives available on energy-efficient residential and light commercial LG air conditioning systems.

Due to their energy-efficient design, many of the LG systems qualify for rebates across the country including ENERGY STAR® rated products, the Art CoolTM Premier with LGREDº TM heat technology, the sleek Art Cool Mirror, and the Extended Piping unit complete with SmartThinQ® connectivity. These energy-efficient systems can not only help to lower ongoing heating and cooling operating costs, but in some areas the rebates can total to $2500 making LG air conditioning even more cost-effective! With this online rebate tool, HVAC contractors can effortlessly identify the maximum amount available to their clients by installing an energy-efficient system.

"LG continues to create new tools for our contractors to more effectively communicate the value of our industry-leading solutions. With the launch of this rebate center, contractors and end-users can easily find current rebates and incentives to offset some of the upfront costs of installing an LG single or multi zone split system," said Dale Fields, Director of Distribution Sales, LG Air Conditioning Technologies. "This is yet another way consumers can save money beyond the energy efficiency of the award-winning LG HVAC systems."

To utilize the LG online rebate center, users simply enter their zip code to see the LG HVAC systems that qualify for a rebate and the total rebate amount available for their area. Users can then view the full rebate details and a link to the appropriate rebate claim forms.

Alternatively if they have a system already in mind or recently installed a system, users can search by their zip code and the model number to determine what rebates apply.

The Online Rebate Center for LG residential and light commercial HVAC systems is now available online at rebates.lghvac.com.

HVAC Systems Market: Global Industry Analysis, Trends, Market Size & Forecasts to 2023

The report predicts the global HVAC systems market to grow with a CAGR between 5.5% and 5.9% from 2017 to 2023. The global HVAC systems marketsize was USD XXX.xx billion in 2015.The study on HVAC systems market covers the analysis of regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. Among the geographies,North America and Europe are the major HVAC systems markets with significant growth. Asia-Pacific is anticipated to become the fastest growing HVAC systems market in terms of CAGRand the largest market over the forecast period 2017-2023.

The report on global HVAC systems market is a comprehensive study of demand, market size, forecasts, trends and factors affecting the global HVAC systems market. Moreover, the report is collective presentation of primary and secondary research findings. In addition, it provides deep insights on the factors that driving, restraining the global HVAC systems market. Porter's five forces model in the report provides insights into the competitive rivalry in the global HVAC systems market over the period of 2015 – 2023. Further, IGR- Growth Matrix given in the report brings an insight on the investment areas that existing or new market players can consider.

Research methodology

• Primary Research
Our primary research involves extensive interviews and analysis of the opinions provided by the primary respondents. The primary research starts with identifying and approaching the primary respondents, the primary respondents are approached through
1. Key Opinion Leaders associated with Infinium Global Research
2. Internal and External subject matter experts
3. Professionals and participants from LinkedIn, Hoovers, Factiva and Bloggers

Our primary research respondents typically include
1. Executives working with leading companies in the market under review
2. Product/brand/marketing managers
3. CXO level executives
4. Regional/zonal/ country managers
5. Vice President level executives.

• Secondary Research
Secondary research involves extensive exploring through the secondary sources of information available in both public domain and paid sources. At Infinium Global Research, each research study is based on over 500 hours of secondary research accompanied by primary research. The information obtained through the secondary sources is validated through the crosscheck on various data sources.

The secondary sources of the data typically include
• Company reports and publications
• Government/institutional publications
• Trade and associations' journals
• Databases such as WTO, OECD, and World Bank, among others.
• Websites and publications by research agencies

Report Findings
1) Drivers
• Increasing demand due to extreme weather conditions
• Tax credit programmes & regulations
• Increasing investments in construction sector
• Growing demand due to the need for upgradation or refurbishment
• Technological advancements
2) Restraints
• High energy consumption
• High emissions from boiler based HVAC systems
• Stringent regulations
3) Opportunities
• Countries with extreme weather conditions
• Construction boom
• Eco-friendly and energy efficient systems

Segments Covered
1) Global HVAC Systems Market by Application
a. Automotive
b. Commercial
c. Industrial
d. Residential
2) Global HVAC Systems Market by Equipment Type
a. Heating
Boiler
Furnace
Heat Pump
Unitary Heater
Others
b. Ventilation
Air Filter
Air Purifier
Dehumidifier
Humidifier
Ventilation Fan
Others
c. Cooling
Cooler
Cooling Tower
Chiller
Room Air-Conditioner
Unitary Air-Conditioner
3) Global HVAC Systems Market by Implementation Type
a. New Construction
b. Retrofit Building
c. Others
4) Global HVAC Systems Market by Software & Service
a. Software
Heat Load Calculation Software
Design Software
Scheduling Software
Service Software
Others
b. Service
Installation
Maintenance & Repair

Companies profiled:
The companies covered in the report include
• Daikin Industries Ltd
• Electrolux AB
• Johnson Controls Inc
• Ingersoll-Rand Plc
• LG Electronics
• Lennox International
• Mitsubishi Electric
• Nortek Inc
• Qingdao Haier Co.Ltd
• Samsung Electronics
• United Technologies Corporation
• Whirlpool Corporation

Reasons to buy this report
1) Comprehensive analysis of global as well as regional markets of passive optical LAN
2) Complete coverage of all the applications segments to analyze the trends, developments in HVAC systems market, and forecast of market size up to 2023.
3) Comprehensive analysis of the companies operating in HVAC systems market. The company profile includes analysis of product portfolio, revenue, SWOT analysis and latest developments of the company.
4) Infinium Global Research- Growth Matrix presents analysis of the product segments and geographies that market players should focus to invest, consolidate, expand and/or diversify.

Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada, Inc. Joins NHL® Centennial Fan Arena

Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric), as part of its National Hockey League sponsorship, announced that it will continue accompanying the NHL® Centennial Fan Arena, a traveling fan experience celebrating a century of extraordinary players, teams, and unforgettable moments. The traveling tour, which will visit all 31 NHL markets throughout 2017 will reach all seven Canadian markets before December 31, including a stop in Ottawa on Dec 16 for the 2017 Scotiabank NHL100 ClassicTM.

The NHL Centennial Fan Arena features an interactive museum truck with exclusive memorabilia and content; alumni appearances, trivia and games; a pop-up ball hockey rink; a first-of-its-kind virtual reality ice resurfacing game; and an opportunity for fans to have their picture taken with the most revered trophy in sports, the Stanley Cup®.

The NHL Centennial Fan Arena allows Mitsubishi Electric to showcase its commercial and residential products, while engaging with NHL fans throughout Canada. Mitsubishi Electric will set up its home comfort tent at all stops along the Canadian tour. NHL fans can escape the cold and venture inside the tent to experience working models of the company’s home comfort equipment. While inside the tent, consumers can enjoy photo opportunities as well as a chance to win one of ten daily $50 NHL gift cards, which will be awarded randomly. Details and Official Rules will be available onsite at the Mitsubishi tent during the tour.

In conjunction with the NHL Centennial Fan Arena, Mitsubishi Electric launched its Ultimate Home Game Contest on October 20, giving consumers a chance to win a trip to the 2018 NHL® All-Star Weekend, in January 2018. The grand prize includes travel to Tampa Bay, Florida, a three-night hotel stay, two tickets to the game at AMALIE Arena on January 28 and $1,000 in spending money. To enter the contest, NHL fans are invited to visit www.UlimateHomeGame.ca and upload a photograph of themselves depicting what they feel reflects fan spirit by cheering on their favorite NHL® team from the comfort of their own home.

Mitsubishi Electric is in the second year of a multiyear corporate marketing agreement with the NHL as the League’s official heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and hand dryer partner of the NHL in Canada. As the NHL celebrates its 100-year anniversary, Mitsubishi Electric is celebrating over 30 years of doing business in Canada. Consumers can get information about rebates in their area on home comfort solutions from Mitsubishi Electric by visiting www.MitsubishiHVAC.ca.

About Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada, Inc.
Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada, Inc., established in 1979 as a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan, markets commercial, industrial and consumer electronics products.  Some of these products include heating and cooling systems; energy recovery and fresh air ventilators; and Jet Towel high-speed hand dryers.  For more information visit http://www.MitsubishiElectric.ca/.

About the NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL®), founded in 1917, is celebrating its Centennial anniversary in 2017. The yearlong celebration pays tribute to 100 years of NHL hockey by honoring the past, commemorating the present, and celebrating its future. In March 2017, the League also celebrated 125 years of the most revered trophy in professional sports – the Stanley Cup®. Comprised of 31 Member Clubs, the NHL is represented by players from more than 20 countries across team rosters. Each year, the NHL entertains hundreds of millions of fans around the world. The League broadcasts games in more than 160 countries and territories through its rightsholders including NBC/NBCSN in the U.S., Sportsnet and TVA in Canada, and Viasat in the Nordic Region. The NHL reaches fans worldwide with games available online in every country including via its live and on-demand streaming service NHL.TV™. Fans are engaged across the League’s digital assets on mobile devices via the free NHL® App; across nine social media platforms; on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio™, and on NHL.com, available in eight languages and featuring an enhanced statistics platform powered by SAP, providing the definitive destination for hockey analytics. The NHL is committed to giving back to the community through programs including: Hockey is for Everyone™ which supports nonprofit youth hockey organizations across North America; Hockey Fights Cancer™ which raises money and awareness for hockey’s most important fight; NHL Green™ which is committed to the pursuit of sustainable business practices; and a partnership with the You Can Play Project, which is committed to supporting the LGBT community and fighting homophobia in sports. For more information, visit NHL.com.

Service Experts Acquires Aramendia Plumbing, Heating & Air in San Antonio

AN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning LLC (“Service Experts”) today announced the acquisition of the HVAC and plumbing assets of Aramendia Plumbing, Heating & Air Ltd. (“Aramendia”), an HVAC and plumbing services company, with locations in San Antonio, Texas and McKinney, Texas (part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex). The acquisition complements Services Experts’ industry-leading heating and air conditioning services and solutions already offered in the San Antonio and McKinney markets and introduces full-service residential plumbing.

“Aramendia has a proud 28 year history, during which it has established a trusted reputation for 24/7 emergency plumbing repairs, and has become well known in the region for professional, high quality plumbing renovations,” said Scott Boose, President & CEO, Service Experts.

Founded in 1989, Aramendia has over 90 employees and more than 50 service vehicles. Former owner John Aramendia will lead Aramendia through the transition period.

As a Service Experts company, Aramendia will continue to operate as Aramendia from its locations on Brewster Drive in San Antonio and Powerhouse Street in McKinney, Texas. In addition to San Antonio and McKinney, Aramendia serves the communities of New Braunfels and San Marcos.

ABOUT SERVICE EXPERTS HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING NORTH AMERICA

Founded in 1996, Service Experts is a leading provider of HVAC repair, maintenance, new equipment sales and related services to residential and commercial customers in 29 states in the U.S. and three provinces in Canada. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Service Experts is North America’s largest heating and air conditioning service company, with 90 locations serving approximately 2,000 homes and businesses, on average, each working day. HVAC services include: residential HVAC service and replacement; ancillary residential home services, including plumbing, indoor air quality and energy audits; commercial HVAC service, maintenance and replacement for both light commercial customers and large-scale national retail accounts. For more information on Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning sales, rebates, products and services, visit ServiceExperts.com or ServiceExperts.ca.

INVESTMENT ANALYSTS’ UPGRADES FOR APRIL, 12TH (AKO.A, CCU, GMED, HOG, HPQ, KURA, LQ, LULU, MNR, MOD)

Embotelladora Andina SA (NYSE:AKO.A) was upgraded by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a neutral rating to an overweight rating.

Investment Analysts’ upgrades for Wednesday, April 12th:
Compania Cervecerias Unidas (NYSE:CCU) was upgraded by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from an underweight rating to a neutral rating.

Globus Medical (NYSE:GMED) was upgraded by analysts at Leerink Swann from a market perform rating to an outperform rating.

Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) was upgraded by analysts at DA Davidson from an underperform rating to a market perform rating.

HP (NYSE:HPQ) was upgraded by analysts at Citigroup Inc from a neutral rating to a buy rating.

Kura Oncology (NASDAQ:KURA) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a strong sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Kura Oncology, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company. The company is involved in the discovery and development of therapeutics for the treatment of tumors and blood cancers. Its product pipeline includes small molecule drug candidates which are in different clinical trial consists of Tipifarnib-HRAS, Tipifarnib-PTCL, ERK inhibitor program and Menin MLL inhibitor program. Kura Oncology, Inc. is headquartered in La Jolla, California. “

La Quinta Holdings (NYSE:LQ) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “La Quinta Holdings Inc. is an owner, operator and franchisor of select-service hotels in the United States, primarily serving the midscale and upper-midscale segments. It provides franchise services to hotels in the U.S., Canada and Mexico under the La Quinta Inns & Suites (TM) and La Quinta Inn (TM) brands. La Quinta Holdings Inc. is headquartered in Irving, Texas. “

Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) was upgraded by analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from a hold rating to a buy rating. They currently have $60.00 price target on the stock.

Monmouth R.E. Inv. Corp. (NYSE:MNR) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. The firm currently has $16.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “MONMOUTH REAL ESTATE INVT operates as a qualified hybrid real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. “

Modine Manufacturing (NYSE:MOD) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Modine operates primarily in a single industry consisting of the manufacture and sale of heat transfer equipment. This includes heat exchangers for cooling all types of engines, transmissions, auxiliary hydraulic equipment, air conditioning components used in cars, trucks, farm and construction machinery and equipment, and heating and cooling equipment for residential and commercial building HVAC (heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment). “

Metso Oyj (NASDAQ:MXCYY) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. Zacks Investment Research currently has $8.50 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “Metso is a globally-leading supplier of processes, machinery and systems for the pulp and paper industry and a foremost expert in the key technologies of this sector. The Corporation is also a strong supplier in automation and flow control solutions, and one of the world’s leading suppliers of rock and mineral processing systems. The main customer sectors are the pulp and paper industry, construction and civil engineering, mining and the energy industry. “

MaxLinear (NYSE:MXL) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. Zacks Investment Research currently has $31.00 target price on the stock. According to Zacks, “MaxLinear is a provider of radio-frequency analog and mixed signal semiconductor SoC solutions for broadband communication applications offering small silicon die-size, and low power consumption. The Company’s RF receiver products capture and process digital and analog broadband signals to be decoded for various applications. These products include both RF receivers and RF receiver systems-on-chip (SoCs), which incorporate the Company’s integrated radio system architecture and the functionality necessary to demodulate broadband signals. MaxLinear’s current products enable the display of broadband video in a wide range of electronic devices, including cable and terrestrial set top boxes, digital televisions, mobile handsets, personal computers, netbooks, and in-vehicle entertainment devices. MaxLinear is based in Carlsbad, California. “

Noble Midstream Partners (NYSE:NBLX) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. The firm currently has $56.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “Noble Midstream Partners LP is engaged in crude oil and natural gas exploration and production. Its operating area includes onshore which consists of US DJ Basin, Marcellus Shale, Eagle Ford Shale and Permian Basin as well as offshore in deepwater Gulf of Mexico, Eastern Mediterranean and West Africa. Noble Midstream Partners LP is based in Houston, United States. “

Nordson (NASDAQ:NDSN) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. They currently have $137.00 target price on the stock. According to Zacks, “Nordson Corporation is one of the world’s leading producers of precision dispensing equipment that applies adhesives, sealants and coatings to a broad range of consumer and industrial products during manufacturing operations. The company also manufactures technology-based systems for curing and surface treatment processes. Headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, Nordson has more than three thousand eight hundrednemployees worldwide, and direct operations and sales support offices in thirty countries.ntainers. “

New Relic (NYSE:NEWR) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a buy rating. Zacks Investment Research currently has $44.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “New Relic, Inc. is a software analytics company. The Company offers solution which includes application development, production monitoring, real-time analytics, mobile application management and digital transformation. Its products include new relic APM, new relic mobile, new relic insights, new relic services, new relic browser and new relic platform. New Relic, Inc. is based in San Francisco, United States. “

Navios Maritime Holdings (NYSE:NM) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. is a seaborne shipping and logistics company engaged in the transport and transshipment of drybulk commodities including iron ore, coal and grain. It operates in three segments: Drybulk Vessel Operations, Tanker Vessel Operations and Logistics Business. The Company also engages in operating ports and transfer station terminals and handles vessels, barges, and push boats, as well as operates upriver transport facilities in the Hidrovia region. Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. is headquartered in Piraeus, Greece. “

Noah Holdings Limited (NYSE:NOAH) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. They currently have $30.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “Noah Holdings Ltd through its subsidiaries is engaged in providing independent services primarily comprising of distribution of wealth management products to the high net worth population in China. It distributes over-the-counter wealth management products originated in China which mainly includes fixed income products, private equity funds and securities investment funds. The Company also delivers to its clients a continuum of value-added services including financial planning, product analysis and recommendation, product and market updates and investor education. Noah Holdings Ltd is headquartered in Shenzhen, the Peoples’ Republic of China. “

NetGear (NASDAQ:NTGR) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Netgear Inc designs technologically advanced, branded networking products that address the specific needs of small business and home users. The company’s suite of products enables users to share Internet access, peripherals, files, digital multimedia content and applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled devices. “

Nuance Communications (NASDAQ:NUAN) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Nuance Communications, Inc. is the leading provider of speech and imaging solutions for businesses and consumers around the world. Its technologies, applications and services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way people interact with information and how they create, share and use documents. “

OC OERLIKON CORP CHF1 (NASDAQ:OERLF) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “OC Oerlikon Corporation AG provides technologies and services. Its operating segment consists of Surface Solutions, Manmade Fibers and Drive Systems. OC Oerlikon Corporation AG is headquartered in Pfäffikon, Switzerland. “

Old National Bancorp (NASDAQ:ONB) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. They currently have $19.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “Old National Bancorp is a bank holding company that operates banking offices and ATMs throughout Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Through various subsidiaries, Old National provides a broad range of banking services as well as trust and investment management services, insurance brokerage services for both individuals and companies, and investment products. (Company Press Release) “

Organovo Holdings (NASDAQ:ONVO) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Organovo Holdings, Inc. is a three-dimensional biology company focused on delivering breakthrough bioprinting technology and creating tissue on demand for research and medical applications. Its NovoGen 3D printing technology is a platform that works across various tissue and cell types. Organovo Holdings, Inc. is based in San Diego, California. “

Opexa Therapeutics (NASDAQ:OPXA) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. develops and commercializes cell therapies to treat autoimmune diseases such as MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes. The Company is focused on autologous cellular therapy applications of its proprietary T-cell and stem cell therapies. The Company’s lead product, Tovaxin, a T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis is in Phase IIb trials. The Company holds the exclusive worldwide license for adult multipotent stem cells derived from mononuclear cells of peripheral blood. The technology allows large quantities of monocyte derived stem cells to be produced efficiently for use in autologous therapy, thus circumventing the threat of rejection. The Company is in preclinical development for type one diabetes. “

Orbotech (NASDAQ:ORBK) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a strong sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Orbotech LTD. is the world leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of AOI systems for use in the manufacture of printed circuit boards and flat panel displays and is a leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of imaging solutions for PCB production and of AOI systems for use in the electronics assembly industry. They market computer aided manufacturing solutions for PCB production and continue to develop its proprietary AOI technologies for use in other applications both within and outside the electronics industry. (press release) “

Plains GP Holdings (NYSE:PAGP) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. The firm currently has $35.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “Plains GP Holdings, L.P. operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, is involved in the transportation, storage, terminalling, and marketing of crude oil and refined products. It also focuses on the processing, transportation, fractionation, storage, and marketing of natural gas liquids, including ethane and natural gasoline products, as well as propane and butane products. Plains GP Holdings, L.P. is based in Houston, Texas. “

Pacific Continental (NASDAQ:PCBK) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. They currently have $26.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “PACIFIC CONTINENTAL is a one-bank holding company. Their principal business activities are conducted through their full- service commercial bank subsidiary, PacificContinental Bank. The Bank is engaged in general commercial banking, with emphasis on lending to small and medium-sized businesses and construction lending for commercial facilities and single family residences. The Bank provides a range of financial services tailored to the needs of the community. “

PennantPark Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:PNNT) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. They currently have $9.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “PennantPark Investment Corporation is a business development company which principally invests in U.S. middle-market private companies in the form of mezzanine debt, senior secured loans and equity investments. The companies in which it invests are typically highly leveraged, often as a result of leveraged buy-outs or other recapitalization transactions. PennantPark’s investment objectives are to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments. PennantPark Investment Corporation is managed by PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC. “

Park National (NYSEMKT:PRK) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Park National Corporation is the bank holding company for The Park National Bank, The Richland Trust Company, Century National Bank, The First-Knox National Bank of Mount Vernon, United Bank, N.A., Second National Bank, The Security National Bank and Trust Co. and The Citizens National Bank of Urbana. “

Prospect Capital (NASDAQ:PSEC) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. Zacks Investment Research currently has $10.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “Prospect Capital Corporation is a closed-end investment company that lends to and invests in private and microcap public businesses. Prospect Capital’s investment objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments. “

Ra Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:RARX) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company. It involved in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of diseases caused by excessive or uncontrolled activation of the complement system. Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “

Bankrate (NYSE:RATE) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Bankrate Inc. is an aggregator of financial rate information. It offers rate data and financial content. Its flagship Web site, Bankrate.com, provides free rate information to consumers on more than 300 financial products, including mortgages, credit cards, new and used automobile loans, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, ATM fees, home equity loans and online banking fees. In addition to rate data, the Company publishes original and objective personal finance stories to help consumers make financial decisions. Through its Online Network, which includes Bankrate.com, Interest.com, Nationwidecardservices.com, creditcardsearchengine.com, Insureme.com, Savingforcollege.com, Mortgage-calc.com, Feedisclosure.com, and Bankrate.com.cn, as well as co-branded web sites hosted by its network, it provides the tools and information of products and services that can help consumers make financial decisions. Bankrate Inc., formally known as ilife.com Inc., is headquartered in North Palm Beach, Florida. “

Reis (NASDAQ:REIS) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Reis provide commercial real estate market information and analytical tools to real estate professionals through its Reis Services subsidiary. Reis maintain a proprietary database containing detailed information on commercial properties in metropolitan markets and neighborhoods throughout the U.S. The database contains information on apartment, office, retail, warehouse/distribution, flex/research & development, self storage, seniors housing and student housing properties, and is used by real estate investors, lenders and other professionals to make informed buying, selling and financing decisions. In addition, Reis data is used by debt and equity investors to assess, quantify and manage the risks of default and loss associated with individual mortgages, properties, portfolios and real estate backed securities. Reis currently provide its information services to many of the nation’s leading lending institutions, equity investors, brokers and appraisers. “

Renren (NYSE:RENN) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Renren Inc. operates as a social networking internet platform in China offering information and content sharing, music, online games and online shopping and other services including communication. Its platform includes renren.com, our main social networking website, game.renren.com, our online games center, nuomi.com, our social commerce website, and jingwei.com and professional and business social networking service website. Renren Inc. “

Rtl Group (NASDAQ:RGLXF) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “RTL Group S.A. is engaged in broadcast, content and digital business. The company provides television channels, radio stations as well as content production. RTL Group S.A. is headquartered in Luxembourg. “

Rio Tinto plc (NYSE:RIO) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating. They currently have $47.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “Rio Tinto PLC is an international mining company. The Company has interests in mining for aluminum, borax, coal, copper, gold, iron ore, lead, silver, tin, uranium, zinc, titanium, dioxide feedstock, diamonds, talc and zircon. RTZ’s various mining operations are located in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Europe and Canada. “

Rakuten Inc (NASDAQ:RKUNY) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Rakuten, Inc. engages in the internet services business. Its operating segments consist of Internet Services, FinTech and Others. Internet Services segment manages e-commerce, online cash-back, travel booking, and portal and digital content sites. FinTech segment provides services over the internet related to banking and securities, credit cards, life insurance and electronic money. Others segment includes the provision of messaging and communication services and management of a Japanese professional baseball team. Rakuten, Inc. is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. “

Renasant Corp. (NASDAQ:RNST) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. They currently have $45.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “Renasant Corporation is the parent of Renasant Bank and Renasant Insurance, Inc. “

Scorpio Bulkers (NYSE:SALT) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. They currently have $11.00 target price on the stock. According to Zacks, “Scorpio Bulkers Inc. is a provider of marine transportation of dry bulk commodities. The company’s vessels consist of Ultramax, Kamsarmax and Capesize. It operates shipyards in Japan, China and Romania. Scorpio Bulkers Inc. is based in MONACO. “

Sabra Health Care REIT (NASDAQ:SBRA) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a buy rating. The firm currently has $32.00 price target on the stock. According to Zacks, “Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. is a real estate investment trust that owns and invests in real estate serving the healthcare industry. The trust owns nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities, and independent living centers. It leases properties to tenants and operators throughout the United States. Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. is based in Irvine, California. “

Select Comfort Corp. (NASDAQ:SCSS) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a strong sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “SELECT COMFORT is engaged in the manufacture, specialty retailing and direct marketing of premium quality, innovative adjustable-firmness beds and other sleep-related products. “

Skechers USA (NYSE:SKX) was upgraded by analysts at Vetr from a hold rating to a buy rating. Vetr currently has $26.28 target price on the stock.

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC (NASDAQ:SMFKY) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Smurfit Kappa Group PLC operates as a paper and paperboard manufacturer and converter. It also engages in the manufacturing, distribution and selling of containerboard, corrugated containers and other paper-based packaging products, such as solid board, graphic board and bag-in-box. The company’s operating segments consists of Europe and Americas. Europe segment includes a system of mills and plants which primarily produces containerboard. Americas segment comprises forestry, paper, corrugated, paper sack and folding carton activities. Smurfit Kappa Group PLC is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. “

SENIOR GBP0.10 (NASDAQ:SNIRF) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Senior PLC provides engineering solutions. The Company designs, manufactures and markets technology components and systems for the equipment producers primarily in the aerospace, defence, land vehicle and energy markets. Its operating segment consists of Aerospace and Flexonics. Senior PLC is based in Rickmansworth, the United Kingdom. “

Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE:SNN) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a strong sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Smith & Nephew is a global medical device company. The company markets clinically superior products, principally in orthopaedics, endoscopy and wound management to deliver cost-effective solutions, significant physician advantage and real patient benefits. A continuous process of supplying new and innovative products is supported by substantial R&D investment to deliver new levels of healing to patients throughout the world “

SYNNEX (NYSE:SNX) was upgraded by analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from a hold rating to a buy rating. The firm currently has $120.00 price target on the stock.

Sparton (NYSE:SPA) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a strong sell rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “SPARTON CORP. ‘s continuing operations are principally in one line of business, the development and manufacture of electronic parts and assemblies. SPARTON CORP.’s products and services include microprocessor-based systems, transducers, printed circuit boards and assemblies, sensors and electronic and electromechanical contract manufacturing for the telecommunications, medical, electronics and other industries. “

HVAC switch over snared by hot spell

ensions boiled over last week at Toronto apartment buildings without air conditioning as temperatures soared into heat wave territory in late September.

Tenants aired their frustrations in the media and city councillors implored landlords to turn the AC back on, assuring them that they would not face enforcement from the city. Toronto bylaw requires landlords of both condo suites and rental buildings to provide for temperatures of at least 21 degrees Celsius from Sept. 15 through June 1.

Coun. Josh Matlow made efforts last week to clarify that if the conditions outside make it possible to meet this threshold, landlords need not turn off the AC and turn on the heat.

“When Mother Nature doesn’t follow the calendar strictly with respect to weather, then tenants can be really adversely affected,” Matlow said. “Many landlords have turned the air conditioning off already and some have even turned their heat on because it was cooler earlier in the month.”

When the warm weather returned, this left vulnerable populations such as seniors and young kids in what the city councillor characterized as “really unhealthy, deplorable conditions.”

The late September hot spell has brought renewed attention to the difficult-to-time seasonal HVAC switch over in multi-residential buildings, which happens twice a year in fall and spring. Changes to the heating bylaw could be coming down the pipeline as early as next spring with Mayor John Tory backing calls for reform.

Matlow has been calling for reform for the last five years and wants to ensure landlords are able to schedule the seasonal HVAC switchover based on the actual weather rather than predetermined dates.

“If you don’t believe there’s enough flexibility to adjust the temperature in your buildings to protect the health and well-being of your tenants, then we need to work together to reform that bylaw,” said Matlow.

“Meanwhile, let’s let common sense prevail, and when it’s 30 degrees in Toronto, it’s time to get the central air on if you have it.”

In at least one case, a landlord appears to have heeded the city councillor’s message, turning the AC back on before Toronto’s medical officer of health issued a heat warning last Saturday.

The ability to quickly switch from heating back to cooling in a multi-residential building in the fall hinges on the cooling tower remaining filled, said Grant Markewitz, senior director of commissioning, WSP.

“It’s not just a matter of going over and flicking the thermostat from heating to cooling on the wall,” said Markewitz. “It’s much more complicated than that.”

The cooling tower is drained ahead of winter to prevent it, and the lines leading up to it, from freezing, which can cause costly damage.

“You’re really relying on the judgment of the building operator or the mechanical contractor when to do that, because it’s totally dependent on the weather and no one has a crystal ball to determine when you’re going to have a cold snap,” said Markewitz.

It’s possible to winterize cooling towers to run in below-freezing temperatures, which would give condo boards and landlords more leeway to switch between heating and cooling in the fall and spring, or what Markewitz called the “shoulder seasons.” However, he added that it’s rare to see multi-residential building owners invest the tens of thousands of dollars this can cost.

Another possible hitch in making a quick switch from heating back to cooling is a shortage of labour if a lot of landlords are trying to do this at the same time.

Reversing and redoing the seasonal HVAC switch over, which is usually accounted for in maintenance contracts, come with their own costs as they are considered service calls.

Matlow said he was disappointed to hear some of the landlords he spoke with complain about the expense of switching back and forth between heating and cooling. However, he said more landlords were worried about facing enforcement for violating the city’s heating bylaw.

Contravening Toronto’s heating bylaw carries a potential fine of up to $5,000 upon conviction, but Matlow said landlords who do their best to provide safe and comfortable conditions for their tenants and follow the forecast should not fear repercussions.

In any event, city statistics for the last three years suggest that most violations are informally resolved before they reach that stage. In 2017 to date, the city has received 20 complaints about excessive heat and 609 complaints about inadequate heat, which have resulted in 22 notices of violation, one order to comply and the laying of three charges (all three at the same address). The city laid no charges in 2016 and one charge in 2015.

Mark Sraga, director of investigations in the city’s municipal licensing and standards division, said via email that enforcement of this bylaw is complaint-based as opposed to proactive.

“When a contravention of the bylaw is found, then a notice of violation is issued and the landlord is provided an opportunity to rectify the problem within a certain amount of time (no heat must be rectified immediately),” said Sraga. “If the landlord does not fix the issue, then a charge is laid.”

Laura McKeen, partner at Cohen Highly LLP, observed that most landlords are likely to quickly resolve bylaw violations when prompted.

“The purpose of the bylaw is to ensure that tenants are provided with a reasonable amount of heat during the colder months of the year,” she said.

The recent heat wave doesn’t fit this description, and the condo and municipal law expert suggested it would be best practice to factor changes in climate trends and weather patterns into the type of planning that goes into the seasonal HVAC switch over.

Markewitz echoed McKeen, citing a City of Toronto report predicting a rise in the number of hot days and heat waves per year in the next few decades. He said this will make it all the more important for building owners to ensure the heating and cooling components of their HVAC systems undergo regular maintenance during their off-seasons, as repairs and replacements have long lead times.

“When a chiller fails, it’s going to be in the middle of August,” said Markewitz.

Toronto’s officer of medical health yesterday terminated the extended heat warning that had been in effect since last weekend.

The late September hot spell may be over, but questions remain about the role the municipal heating bylaw may have played in air conditioning getting switched off in multi-residential buildings ahead of more than 30-degree temperatures. Not only has the issue caught the attention of Mayor Tory, but Toronto’s ombudsman, Susan Opler, announced last week that she would be conducting an enquiry into the matter after hearing from concerned tenants.

“I am encouraging both tenants and landlords to contact Ombudsman Toronto to describe the challenges they have experienced over the past week relating to this issue,” she said.

Carrier Launches New Digital Solutions for Commercial HVAC Systems

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Carrier is introducing a suite of digital solutions that will improve engagement and remote management of commercial heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Customers with Carrier® SMART Service will now have visibility into their system's performance and energy usage through a new equipment dashboard and mobile application. In addition, they will have access to an online community portal to help them manage the service and maintenance activity on their HVAC assets. With greater connectivity and system insight, building owners and facility managers can be more proactive about increasing the performance, efficiency and uptime of their systems. Carrier, a world leader in high-technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions, is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

Leveraging the rapidly expanding capabilities of the internet of things (IoT) and cloud-based applications and data management, Carrier has designed these tools to enable mobile-first, on-demand customer engagement.

"This is an exciting time for Carrier and the HVAC industry as the IoT enables innovative and intuitive tools such as these that can improve the customer experience and keep buildings comfortable and efficient," said Chris Opie, director, North America Commercial Marketing. "We anticipate technologies to continue to evolve and we will continue collaborating with our customers to ensure we deliver solutions that best serve their needs."

A new equipment dashboard connects customers with their complete portfolio of Carrier SMART Service-enabled equipment, providing real-time visualization of vital system and component level health measures and deeper insight into operating performance and efficiency. Information can be analyzed remotely, so that service technicians can deliver faster, more accurate diagnosis of equipment issues on site.

Customers can also get connected via the Carrier SMART Service mobile app now available for iOS and Android devices. With its simple and intuitive interface, users can remotely monitor the health of their portfolio of chillers in real-time and have oversight of key operating parameters, recent energy consumption trends, as well as weather forecasts to help predict future usage. Advanced notifications can be setup within the app to alert when equipment is operating outside pre-defined parameters.

An online community portal provides Carrier SMART Service customers with a new way to keep track of service and maintenance history, and improves their asset management capabilities for their complete portfolio of HVAC equipment. Users can request and track service online, as well as automate service requests from smart connected equipment, improving budgeting and scheduling. The system also stores site-based service history and account information to provide greater continuity between service technicians, facility managers and others involved in the HVAC system's operation and maintenance.

"By enabling a more seamless connection between our customers, their HVAC assets, and our field service organization, Carrier SMART Service is improving system-wide performance and reliability at customer sites as a result of faster, more accurate diagnoses of issues and delivering the right service at the right time," said Chris Nelson, president, North America HVAC Systems & Service. "We're intensely focused on delighting our customers by delivering services that make them more productive and can help their bottom line."

Dundas Star News 2017 Year in Review

This is a sample of some of the biggest local stories of the past year. By no means is it an exhaustive or complete summary of 2017, but a taste of what the year was like and a reminder of some significant local events. As we move into 2018, new stories and highlights are sure to face the Valley Town, and some of the topics below are sure to continue developing.

Library renovation

Renovation of the Dundas library branch at 18 Ogilvie St. began in earnest at the start of 2017, after a stop-work order from Ontario’s Ministry of Labour stalled the process at the end of 2016. An original completion target of fall 2017 was pushed to December.


After work resumed for several months, holes in the roof and HVAC equipment were discovered — adding an unplanned but necessary roof and equipment replacement to the project, extending not only the project timeline but also its budget. Library staff hoped to complete the work by the end of December, but admitted late January was more likely.

Two more stop-work orders were issued by the Ministry of Labour in early December, but work quickly resumed and library staff still expected work to be completed by the end of January 2018.

Throughout the long and drawn out renovation project, scaled back library services were still offered at a temporary location at 55 Cootes Dr., and the library’s bookmobile made weekly stops in the parking lot behind the local branch.

Parkside demolition

Demolition of the former Parkside Secondary School began in January, with the salvaging of many elements of the building. By mid-August the entire structure was gone, the site had been reseeded with grass and was expected to remain a passive public open space for approximately two years, until Grove Cemetery fills up and new cemetery space is needed in Dundas.

Grightmire renovation

The long-awaited renovation of, and front addition to, J.L. Grightmire Arena on Market Street went through site plan review by City of Hamilton planning staff during the first few months of 2017. While temporary locations for users were arranged, many worried continuing delays could impact meeting the tight September, 2018, completion deadline. The Hamilton Conservation Authority gave its formal approval in April for flood-proofing measures that had set the project back a couple of years.The project was tendered by July, and awarded by the end of August. Work finally began on the site in October.

2 Hatt St.

The history of Dundas’ oldest building came to a crossroads this year. Not long after the City of Hamilton placed a certificate of tax arrears on 213-year-old 2 Hatt St. in May, the current owner put the property up for sale before the end of June. All the questions surrounding the undesignated property’s status and future attracted the attention of Hamilton’s municipal heritage committee which, in October, approved a staff recommendation for a high priority heritage assessment — scheduled to be completed before July, 2018. On the market for six months, the structure built around 1804 by Richard Hatt, one of Dundas’s founders, was still for sale heading into the end of December.

Valley City sold

One of several historic sites with an unclear future was the former Valley City Manufacturing plant at 64 Hatt St. It had been quietly operating under Bob Crockford for several years as a sort of business mall, providing space for several small companies. In June, Crockford sold the sprawling historic site, featuring more than 75,000 square feet, to Forge & Foster, a Hamilton company known for refurbishing and reusing similar large historic industrial sites like Valley City. The new owners slowly and carefully started a process to temporarily rezone the property to permit existing businesses to continue operating, while developing a permanent zoning that will add brand new features to the central Dundas space.


Sisters of St. Joseph convent for sale

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton put its 97,000-square-foot sandstone mansion and more than 50 acres of property at 574 Northcliffe Rd. up for sale in November for $15 million. Staff and members of the convent would not comment on the decision to sell, but had been trying for at least a decade to keep the building operating despite dwindling numbers of nuns residing in the building that has space for at least 200 residents. Before the end of the year, a subcommittee of the Hamilton municipal heritage committee recommended the convent be placed in a registry of properties of interest.


Flooding at York Road

Maintenance and emergency response attracted plenty of attention when Sydenham Creek escaped its man-made banks near York Road and Cootes Drive on April 20.

Private property owners are not required to keep creeks that cross their property clear of debris — natural or unnatural. Municipal workers will not remove trees or branches because they are considered part of a creek’s natural environment. Accumulated debris and a slow emergency response were blamed when the Cootes and York area experienced its worst flooding in years, causing property damage in area residential and commercial properties.


King Street West bridge and Fisher’s Mill Park

The year opened with a Feb. 1 public information meeting about the city’s proposed solution to the replacement of the King Street West bridge in front of the Dundas District Lofts. Reaction was generally opposed to the planned realignment of King Street West — and construction of a new bridge — through Fisher’s Mill Park. The park site had been purchased from the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board after it closed Dundas District school and was being paid for by Dundas residents on their municipal tax bills. Rebuilding in the park would mean being able to keep the road and bridge open during the construction.

Nine months later, in November, the Dundas Star News learned staff had changed their minds and dropped the “preferred alternative” in favour of another option of rebuilding the bridge in its current location.

71 Main appealed to OMB

An appeal hearing of a City of Hamilton decision to amend zoning bylaws and the official plan to permit a nine-storey residential building on a small lot across the street from Dundas town hall began on April 3. Within a couple of days, it was clear to all the five-day hearing wouldn’t be long enough to hear all the evidence. After the first half concluded on Friday, April 7, the hearing resumed on Monday, Dec. 4. The hearing raised ongoing issues about how Dundas will be developed, how extensive further intensification should really be, where that intensification should be located, and what it should look like in the midst of iconic historic properties.


Alley closure approved

City staff and councillors approved a controversial recommendation to close the south end of a public unassumed alley between Alma and Victoria streets on Monday, June 19. More than 30 people showed up at the council meeting in opposition to the recommendation, but they did not trump city policy of accepting the support of immediately abutting neighbours.

While the administrative process required to actually close and transfer ownership of the alley had apparently not been completed, the city did receive an application to close the remaining north part of the same alley, at Alma Street, in June.

Vacant DQ demolished

Many downtown area business, as well as residents, cheered — or at least smiled briefly — on Aug. 21, as the long-awaited demolition of the vacant former Dairy Queen building at 16 King St. E. finally began at least five years after it closed. Some had described the property as an eyesore at one of the main entrances into the downtown core. A proposal to redevelop the site by building a seven-storey condominium with ground floor commercial has yet to be confirmed.

Dundas Community Awards

In April, when Russ Powers was named the 2016 Royal Bank Citizen of the Year, he recalled handing the first award to the winner in 1972. Powers became the 45th recipient of the honour. William Olenek was named the 2016 Dundas Valley Collision Youth Volunteer of the Year. Olenek volunteers with the Stewards of Cootes Watershed and is also a volunteer coach in Hamilton Water Polo's junior league.

Dundas Learning Centre, which has provided education and growth opportunities for intellectually challenged adults for more than 20 years, was named Business of the Year. Founder Anne Pearson accepted the award.

Mark Jankowski breaks into NHL

It will be a highlight reel year for former Dundas Minor Hockey player Mark Jankowski, who scored his first NHL goal, then added a few more.

Jankowski, 23, started the 2017-18 season with the Calgary Flames’ AHL farm team in California despite a strong training camp. Injuries gave him his shot and he was called up to the big club on Oct. 24.

The former St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School student played the next seven games without a point, but on Nov. 8 in Calgary against the Detroit Red Wings he broke the ice with his first NHL goal.

Jankowski went to the net while linemate Jaromir Jagr fired the puck. A rebound off the goalie hit the Dundas native in the thigh and went in for the goal. Jankowski followed that up in Calgary’s next game against St. Louis with two more goals and an assist — this time a couple of true highlight real plays, including a slap shot just inside the blue line and a nifty deke of the goalie and shot off the backhand into the net.

As of Dec. 20, Jankowski has six goals and five assists for 11 points in 26 games.

Dundas Blues Junior Hockey Club

The Blues junior hockey club started the season in a temporary home — Westoby Ice Surface on Olympic Drive — with new head coach Andrew Tait.

In December, the Blues announced a new partnership with the Hamilton Huskies minor hockey association that would see them share volunteer administration support while providing an opportunity for further development for Huskies players.


Mackenzie Hughes

Golfer Hughes, 27, completed his rookie season with more than $2.3-million in total winnings. He had two top 10 finishes, nine top 25 finishes and made the cut in 22 of the 31 events he competed in. He finished the RBC Canadian Open as top Canadian, tied for 32nd overall. But all those highlights might be hard-pressed to beat out the birth of Hughes’ son, Kenton Robert Hughes, to him and wife Jenna.

Hughes finished the season at 107th in the Official World Golf Rankings. That made him the third best professional golfer in Canada, just behind Graham Delaet (98th), and Canada’s No. 1 Adam Hadwin (46th).

Among Hughes’ season highlights were: a tie for 13th at the Dell Technologies Championship, a tie for 16th at The Players Championship and a tenth-place tie at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. It all combined for what is still an impressive 36th place finish in the FedEx Cup standings.

New Fuel Cell Engine Facility Commissioned in Shanghai

Shanghai Edrive, division of Broad-Ocean, is the first facility for Chinese produced Ballard fuel cell modules
Ceremony attended by the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change
VANCOUVER and SHANGHAI, China, Dec. 6, 2017 /CNW/ - Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) today announced that a subsidiary of strategic partner Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Motor Co., Ltd. ("Broad-Ocean"; www.broad-ocean.com/en/index.html) – called Shanghai Edrive Co. Ltd. ("Shanghai Edrive") – has commissioned its fuel cell engine manufacturing facility located in the City of Shanghai, China. Shanghai Edrive will assemble Ballard FCveloCity® 30-kilowatt (kW) and 85kW fuel cell engines at the facility under a technology transfer, licensing and supply arrangement between Ballard and Broad-Ocean that closed earlier this year. Broad-Ocean also plans to assemble Ballard-designed engines at facilities in Hubei and Shandong Provinces.

An opening ceremony held today at the Shanghai Edrive facility was attended by the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Mr. Ma Xingfa, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Government Science and Technology Committee, along with Mr. Gong Jun, CEO of Shanghai Edrive and Mr. Alfred Wong, Managing Director of Guangzhou Ballard Power Systems Co., Ltd.

Minister McKenna noted, "Clean fuels reduce carbon pollution and help improve air quality. That's why Canada supports innovative businesses like Vancouver-based Ballard. Its fuel cells, which are used for electric buses, facilitate affordable zero-emission transportation. Ballard is commercializing and exporting clean energy solutions that are in demand here in China, and around the globe."

Randy MacEwen, Ballard President and CEO said, "Commissioning of Shanghai Edrive's facility is an important step in our strategy to localize production in China, as the market for fuel cell-powered heavy duty applications – including buses and commercial trucks – heats up in China. And, this timing dovetails with the recent roll-out of the Shanghai Fuel Cell Vehicle Development Plan, a ground-breaking initiative for large-scale vehicle deployment. The Plan includes annual production targets of 3,000 fuel cell electric vehicles by 2020 and 30,000 fuel cell electric vehicles by 2025."

Mr. MacEwen continued, "We are thrilled to have Broad-Ocean as a key partner to accelerate the adoption of fuel cell-powered heavy-duty vehicles in China. Broad Ocean has manufacturing scale, supply chain muscle, operations excellence, bus and commercial vehicle OEM relationships, and a strong balance sheet. Ballard will also benefit from Broad-Ocean's demand pull-through of fuel cell vehicles for use in its own new energy vehicle leasing business."

Mr. Gong Jun, Shanghai Edrive CEO added, "We anticipate significant demand for zero-emission fuel cell electric buses and commercial trucks in key Chinese cities, including Shanghai. We are excited to collaborate with Shanghai to support implementation of the Shanghai Fuel Cell Vehicle Development Plan. Our company has already started production of Ballard-designed fuel cell engines and we expect to scale our manufacturing operation through 2018."

Shanghai Edrive's fuel cell engine manufacturing facility is over 50,000 square feet and has a capacity to manufacture and test several thousand engines annually. Ballard has provided training to Shanghai Edrive to ensure consistent manufacturing build quality and engine performance.

Each fuel cell engine assembled by Shanghai Edrive will utilize FCvelocity®-9SSL fuel cell stacks manufactured by Guangdong Synergy Ballard Hydrogen Power Co., Ltd., a joint venture owned by Guangdong Nation Synergy Hydrogen Power Technology Co. Ltd. ("Synergy") and Ballard in the City of Yunfu in China's Guangdong Province. The joint venture manufacturing facility was commissioned in September 2017.

Shanghai Edrive was founded in 2008 as a manufacturer of electric drive systems and motor controllers for use in a variety of electric vehicles and has been a subsidiary of Broad-Ocean since 2016.

On August 18, 2016 Broad-Ocean became Ballard's largest shareholder following an investment of $28.3 million in Ballard common shares, representing approximately 9.9% of Ballard's outstanding common shares following the transaction. During 2017 Broad-Ocean has manufactured over 70 million motors to power small and specialized electric machinery for electric vehicles (EVs), including buses, commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles, and for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).

About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) provides clean energy products that reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve difficult technical and business challenges in their fuel cell programs. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements concerning planned production, product deployments, market adoption and demand for our products. These forward-looking statements reflect Ballard's current expectations as contemplated under section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any such forward-looking statements are based on Ballard's assumptions relating to its financial forecasts and expectations regarding its product development efforts, manufacturing capacity, and market demand.

These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause Ballard's actual results to be materially different, including general economic and regulatory changes, detrimental reliance on third parties, successfully achieving our business plans and achieving and sustaining profitability. For a detailed discussion of these and other risk factors that could affect Ballard's future performance, please refer to Ballard's most recent Annual Information Form. Readers should not place undue reliance on Ballard's forward-looking statements and Ballard assumes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward looking statements, other than as required under applicable legislation.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.  The Ballard Common Shares have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

New hires for Water-Right, Goodway and Waterline & Lyncar

Water-Right

Vicki Andersen has been hired as associate brand manager for water treatment OEM, Water-Right. Andersen will assist in marketing efforts to uphold the company’s brand, and develop a long-term strategy for Water-Right wholesale product lines, including Sanitizer and Impression brands. Andersen has almost 20 years experience in maintaining brand identities for a variety of OEM companies, including Briggs & Stratton and Pentair. Operating at the company’s headquarters in Appleton, WI, Andersen will support all markets, including Canada

Goodway Technologies

Goodway Technologies has hired Greg Wyatt as senior vice president of engineering and operations. Wyatt will be responsible for overseeing the company’s engineered products and operations activities, including managing R&D, material sourcing and operation efficiency. Wyatt previously held the position of general manager and COO, Asia Region, at Stanley Black and Decker, in which he was responsible for supply to and from the continent.


Ontor Limited

Ontor Limited has appointed Nicholas Bourque as their new regional sales representative. Bourque will cover Alberta and the Northwest and Yukon Territories. Bourque has over 30 years of HVAC/R and industrial experience in the oil, gas and mining industries. He is a fourth class power engineer with a focus on temperature control.

Waterline & LynCar

Andy Fretz has joined plumbing and fire protection product supplier, Waterline & LynCar, as national director. Previously, Fretz held the position of national sales manager, commercial, at Conbraco Canada. His last day with Conbraco Canada was December 8, 2017.

Canadian innovations cultivate quality cannabis for explosive global marijuana market.

Earlier this year, the federal government made good on its promise to introduce legislation that will legalize recreational cannabis use for Canadian adults. The proposed Cannabis Act — estimated to come into law by July of 2018 — would allow adults to possess up to 30 grams of legal cannabis in public and grow up to four plants per household.

Beyond July 2018, Canada will join a growing wave of medical and recreational cannabis legalization taking place globally and thereby benefit economically from what most analysts forecast as an explosive market. According to Arcview Market Research, for example, the North American legal pot market is currently a US$6.7 billion industry but will expand to US$22.6 billion by 2021.

In Canada alone, a Forum Research poll estimates that 31 per cent of Canadians make up the theoretical pool of potential marijuana users — approximately 8 million people. Canadian financial firm, PI Financial, estimates the total Canadian cannabis market will reach CAD$7 billion by 2024. However, that’s only a tenth of the global market, which could reach CAD$70 to $75 billion by 2025.

No matter your views on legalization, Canadian companies see that there is a big slice of the “pot” pie to be had. To compete in such a unique space, Canadian cannabis is some of the “cleanest” in the world. Health Canada requires that licensed producers conduct mandatory testing of all cannabis products for the presence of unauthorized pesticides. To meet those quality standards, companies are finding enterprising ways to grow and cultivate “clean” cannabis.

“Canada has some of the strictest requirements to cultivate marijuana’,” explains Patrick Gagné, president and CEO of Avid Growing Systems and CEO of CannaCure, a producer of medical-grade cannabis. “We had to go above and beyond what the home growers and current cultivators were doing if we truly wanted to make this a pharmaceutical grade product.”

Avid Growing Systems
In 2014, Gagné launched his Niagara-based company, which manufactures modular turnkey marijuana growing systems. Approximately the size of a refrigerator, these vertically stackable systems are designed to convert a shell warehouse into a high-end marijuana producing facility, based on a common pallet racking system.

“We went this route because no matter what municipality we went into, there is already a set of rules and permitting processes in place to allow this type of racking,” explains Gagné.

The Avid Growing System has two parts. The nutrient centre monitors the feeding schedule, CO2 levels and is where all data tracking is done. The growing centre includes 17 separate plant chambers. These chambers are supplied by an innovative aeroponic system that feeds the plants by suspending the root base in air and spray it in a nutrient mist.

Aeroponics is known for its explosive growth cycle, cutting cultivation time by 35 percent. However, the mechanics are tricky; just as fast as a plant is reactive to growing in this type of system, a plant can be lost within hours, if there is a fault or problem. This is why the system was designed with 17 individual growing chambers. In addition, the growing system encompasses more than 22 subsystems including lighting, HVAC and heat exchangers.

According to Gagné, the hardest thing to manage with indoor cultivation of marijuana is proper heat and humidity control. At night, a single plant can produce one to three litres of water into the air, which is significant. The Avid Growing System uses sensors to control the climate and air temperatures but also includes a reclamation system that recycles 96% of the water lost to evaporation.

Another challenge was the lighting system. Gagné and his team designed the system to have compartmented chambers with highly reflective material to drop this electrical load significantly.

“We are using a lighting system called LECs or light emitting ceramics,” he explains. “Right now, our chambers are producing seven to 10lbs. per 96 square feet of space every 7-8 weeks, using only 2520 watts of lighting.”

Given this level of fine environment control, the system offers the ability to grow multiple marijuana strains simultaneously, adjusting environment variables to maximize yield and quality for each individual strain.

According to Gagné, this feature gives Avid a significant advantage, since there are more than 2200 different strains on the market today. To turn users away from the black market, Gagné says licenced producers will have to give them a reason beyond lower cost.

“Everyone wants to be a bit different,” he explains, “and the demands for ‘boutique bud’ is going to soar.

Home Grown

In addition to sparking large-scale commercial grow-ops, Canada’s legislation will also open up a new market segment for “grow your own” systems.  Surrey-based BC Northern Lights (BCNL) is one company that got into the game early on.

In 2001, Blair Williams was struck with an idea, which he brought to fruition with his brother Rhys Williams and friend, Tarren Wolfe. The team found that growing required a significant amount of time and effort to produce quality cannabis, so they designed and built a home grow box prototype.

“The design and the concept was to make life a little simpler but to also make an easy setup growing system,” explains Blair Williams, sales manager for BCNL. “You can roll it on wheels into any room and it’s plug-and-play. The advantage is you don’t have to poly the whole room off. You don’t need intakes and outtakes or tons of equipment. It’s all built into one—it waters the plants, adds CO2 and filters the smell.”

Today, after 16 years in business, the company offers four variations of that prototype for people who want to grow for themselves. The most advanced boxes come pre-programmed with light timing, watering, CO2 injection, air circulation and air stone pumps. They are also outfitted with a number of sensors to ensure proper growing conditions.

“It’s a deep water culture hydro set up,” Williams says. “The system auto waters all of the plants. You get all the nutrients with it, the grow medium for up to at least three harvests and a carbon filtration system…You can even make your own clones, so it is very self-sustainable system.”

As with Avid, BCNL found the lighting system to be one of the biggest challenges. The first prototypes used T5 fluorescent lights and then moved to HID lights. Recently, the company had an LED lighting system designed and built. After testing, the yields were slightly smaller than using HID lights but the quality was much better.

As of October 2, 2017, BC Northern Lights was acquired by Canadian cannabis supplier, Aurora Cannabis, in a CA$8.35 million deal. Tarren Wolfe, co-founder and CEO of BCNL as of late, agreed to sell the company, to “enable us to address a much larger audience of people…seeking access to the equipment, genetics and educational support services to do so.”

Grobo

For those who lack any sort of green thumb or enjoyment in gardening whatsoever, Waterloo-based Grobo has developed a personal robotic gardening system called the Grobo One. Founded in 2014 by CEO Bjorn Dawson, the company recognized a unique opportunity when many of its customers began expressing interest in growing cannabis.

Dawson boasts that this system should look great in any room environment and fits in seamlessly with its surroundings. The team constantly focused on industrial design and strives to create a design that fits seamlessly into different locations but, at the same time, looks nothing like a traditional growing system.

The solution they came up with is a 1x1x4 foot tower system—an at-home size footprint with unique finishes for a decorative aspect. Within the growing chamber itself, sensors collect temperature and humidity data that’s analyzed by algorithms to optimize growing conditions.

As a result, the system automatically adjusts nutrients, lighting and pH levels to ensure the success of each plant. The Grobo One is also able to track all plant growth variables including a plant’s height and the amount of nutrients it is consuming. According to Dawson, little is required of this plug-and-play system’s user.

“You just go to our app and choose from the list of plants to set up your system,” he explains. “You pick which one you’ve actually planted. It will load up a growing recipe and away you go.”

When it comes to lighting, each system offers its own unique option which includes lighting cycles and wavelength/spectrum of 53 LEDS (colour and intensity), which can be adjusted to promote compact and dense plant growth.

“The advantage of Grobo is that we can save hours a week troubleshooting, setting up, picking the right combination of lights, water, nutrients,” says Dawson. “It is the easiest way to start growing.”

Whether it’s a sleek at-home grow unit, a grow box combo system with high-yield design, or an automated stackable industrial grow system, one thing is certain: Canadian talent and innovation is leading the charge.

These companies have focused on the U.S. market, and according to Gagné, many customers expressed surprise that these unique and advanced systems were coming out of Canada. As legalization becomes more imminent, Canadian innovation in cannabis cultivation is expected to grow and yield positive results in both the domestic and global markets.

Lighting, Computers, HVAC Promise Most Energy Savings in Canadian Commercial Sector

Canada could reduce stationary energy consumption by up to 15% by 2035, driven in part by changes to lighting, computer and HVAC equipment in the commercial sector, a new report finds. Doing More with Less: Energy Efficiency Potential in Canada, was recently published by the Conference Board of Canada, an independent, not-for-profit research organization focused on economics, public policy, and organizational performance.

The CBoC’s report looked at recent studies that attempt to quantify Canada’s energy potential, and used that information to determine what energy-intensity improvements would mean for future energy consumption. One of the findings was that lighting, computer and HVAC equipment “hold the most promise” for energy savings in the commercial sector. This means that companies willing to focus on these areas should be able to significantly reduce energy consumption.

The report also suggests that electricity and natural gas utilities in the country will likely play a significant role in improving energy efficiency, especially through incentive programs to install energy-efficient equipment, conducting energy audits, and performing retrofits.

Looking at planned utility spending, the CBoC report says that the utilities referenced in the studies they used expect to invest approximately $2.24 billion on demand side management programming between 2017 and 2024 — with the caveat that the actual investment will probably be much higher. Time will tell how Canadian utilities respond, and whether businesses in the country can expect increased energy improvement assistance.

Canada ranks as one of the most energy-intensive OECD countries, the think tank points out. However, electricity in the country currently comes from sources that are approximately 80% renewable or very low emissions, according to the CBoC. Those sources could be close to 100% renewable by 2035, their analysis says. The CBoC doesn’t anticipate energy demand lowering in absolute terms in the future, but sees potential for energy demand growth to be inhibited through improvements to efficiency across the board.

Earlier this summer, a Canadian manufacturing plant received more than $140,000 for energy conservation efforts from a community-owned utility services provider, and the country’s largest communications company began offering energy management as a service.

America First Investment Advisors Increased By $462,292 Its Loews Corp. (L) Holding; Carlisle Companies (CSL) Sellers Decreased By 14.91% Their Shorts

America First Investment Advisors Increased By $462,292 Its Loews Corp. (L) Holding; Carlisle Companies (CSL) Sellers Decreased By 14.91% Their Shorts
January 2, 2018 - By Peter Erickson

America First Investment Advisors Llc increased Loews Corp. (L) stake by 3.89% reported in 2017Q3 SEC filing. America First Investment Advisors Llc acquired 9,836 shares as Loews Corp. (L)’s stock declined 2.26%. The America First Investment Advisors Llc holds 262,405 shares with $12.56 million value, up from 252,569 last quarter. Loews Corp. now has $16.80 billion valuation. The stock decreased 0.26% or $0.13 during the last trading session, reaching $49.9. About 245,550 shares traded. Loews Corporation (NYSE:L) has risen 15.12% since January 2, 2017 and is uptrending. It has underperformed by 1.58% the S&P500.



Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL) had a decrease of 14.91% in short interest. CSL’s SI was 1.38M shares in January as released by FINRA. Its down 14.91% from 1.63 million shares previously. With 274,500 avg volume, 5 days are for Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL)’s short sellers to cover CSL’s short positions. The stock increased 2.03% or $2.31 during the last trading session, reaching $115.96. About 64,735 shares traded. Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL) has declined 0.67% since January 2, 2017 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 17.37% the S&P500.

Carlisle Companies Incorporated operates as a diversified manufacturing firm in the worldwide. The company has market cap of $7.19 billion. The companyÂ’s Construction Materials segment makes and sells rubber, thermoplastic polyolefin, and polyvinyl chloride membrane roofing systems; rigid foam insulation panels for various roofing applications; and liquid and spray-applied waterproofing membranes, vapor and air barriers, and HVAC duct sealants and hardware for the commercial and residential construction markets. It has a 22.93 P/E ratio. The Company’s Interconnect Technologies segment creates and makes wires, cables, connectors, contacts, and cable assemblies for the transfer of power and data primarily for the aerospace, medical, defense electronics, test and measurement equipment, and other industrial markets.

Among 12 analysts covering Carlisle Companies (NYSE:CSL), 7 have Buy rating, 0 Sell and 5 Hold. Therefore 58% are positive. Carlisle Companies had 25 analyst reports since September 1, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. Topeka Capital Markets initiated the stock with “Buy” rating in Thursday, May 26 report. As per Monday, October 5, the company rating was maintained by Oppenheimer. Northcoast downgraded the stock to “Neutral” rating in Thursday, June 2 report. RBC Capital Markets maintained Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL) rating on Thursday, October 22. RBC Capital Markets has “Sector Perform” rating and $89 target. The stock has “Sector Weight” rating by KeyBanc Capital Markets on Tuesday, September 29. The firm has “Buy” rating by BMO Capital Markets given on Tuesday, October 24. The rating was downgraded by Longbow to “Neutral” on Tuesday, November 29. The firm earned “Buy” rating on Wednesday, December 16 by Wunderlich. As per Wednesday, June 14, the company rating was downgraded by Oppenheimer. The rating was maintained by BMO Capital Markets with “Buy” on Friday, April 21.

Since August 30, 2017, it had 0 insider purchases, and 1 sale for $589,438 activity. The insider Berlin John E sold 6,250 shares worth $589,438.

Investors sentiment decreased to 0.85 in 2017 Q3. Its down 0.05, from 0.9 in 2017Q2. It dropped, as 31 investors sold Carlisle Companies Incorporated shares while 118 reduced holdings. 46 funds opened positions while 81 raised stakes. 53.11 million shares or 1.54% less from 53.95 million shares in 2017Q2 were reported. Brandywine Global Investment Limited, Pennsylvania-based fund reported 51,200 shares. 74,831 are held by United Svcs Automobile Association. Ontario – Canada-based Royal Natl Bank Of Canada has invested 0% in Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL). Highbridge Mgmt Ltd Llc owns 4,934 shares. Davenport And Com Limited Com, a Virginia-based fund reported 4,110 shares. 20,154 are held by Tocqueville Asset Management L P. Huntington Bancshares owns 3,347 shares for 0.01% of their portfolio. State Of Tennessee Treasury Department has invested 0.04% of its portfolio in Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL). Morgan Stanley owns 0.01% invested in Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL) for 210,814 shares. Jefferies Gp Limited Company invested in 0.01% or 12,924 shares. Bluecrest Cap Mngmt Limited holds 13,079 shares. Comerica Bankshares stated it has 50,759 shares. Natixis invested 0.07% of its portfolio in Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL). M&T Bankshares holds 0% or 5,429 shares. Victory Management Inc stated it has 1.16 million shares.

Investors sentiment decreased to 1 in 2017 Q3. Its down 0.31, from 1.31 in 2017Q2. It dropped, as 34 investors sold L shares while 137 reduced holdings. 47 funds opened positions while 124 raised stakes. 196.05 million shares or 0.97% more from 194.17 million shares in 2017Q2 were reported. Glenmede Tru Com Na holds 1,646 shares. Gargoyle Inv Advisor Ltd Liability Co accumulated 21,948 shares. Price T Rowe Incorporated Md reported 22.81 million shares. Srb Corp reported 0.02% in Loews Corporation (NYSE:L). Blackrock Incorporated has invested 0.04% of its portfolio in Loews Corporation (NYSE:L). Waters Parkerson Ltd reported 12,400 shares. Sentinel Tru Communication Lba owns 44,383 shares. Us Retail Bank De holds 23,266 shares. Vanguard Grp Inc Incorporated holds 18.93M shares or 0.04% of its portfolio. Earnest Ltd Liability Corporation owns 4,465 shares or 0% of their US portfolio. Strategy Asset Managers Limited has 0.53% invested in Loews Corporation (NYSE:L) for 54,559 shares. Laurion Cap Management Lp holds 91,700 shares. Capstone Investment Advisors Limited stated it has 12,651 shares. Baystate Wealth Mgmt Ltd Liability Co accumulated 668 shares. Public Sector Pension Inv Board reported 31,057 shares.