On Democracies and Death Cults
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An Expanded Study of School Bond Elections in Michigan
Gallery: School Bond Referenda
As of January 2022, there were a few municipalities in the United States that allowed non-citizens to vote in local elections, but no entire states. These municipalities included:
San Francisco, California: Non-citizens are allowed to vote in school board elections.
Chicago, Illinois: Non-citizens are allowed to vote in school board elections.
Takoma Park, Maryland: Non-citizens are allowed to vote in local elections.
It’s worth noting that these policies may change over time as local governments make decisions regarding voting rights. For the most up-to-date information, it’s best to consult the specific laws and regulations of each municipality or state.
“Election Day, 1944” | Norman Rockwell for the Saturday Evening Post
School bond elections — either at county or district level — are processes through which communities vote to authorize the issuance of bonds to fund various projects and improvements in their local school districts. The elections determine the quality of educational settlements –new school buildings, renovating existing facilities, upgrading technology, and improving safety measures. The outcomes of these elections directly affect the quality of education and learning environments for students within the county. Successful bond measures can stimulate economic growth by creating jobs and attracting families to the area.
Community involvement and voter turnout are essential in determining the allocation of resources and shaping the quality of life for its citizens. In recent years, however, voter ambivalence about the education “industry” in general, the rise of home schooling and other cultural factors, complicate choices presented to voters.
Gallery: School Bond Referenda
In terms of total spend, the US elementary and secondary school industry is about twice the size of the higher education industry according to IBISWorld. About $100 billion is in play every year for both (which we cover during our Ædificare colloquia); with higher education spending only half of what elementary and secondary school systems spend on facilities.
Note that some districts are including construction for faculty housing.
Our focus remains on applying global standard to create educational settlements that are safer, simpler, lower-cost and longer-lasting — not on the hurly-burly of local school bond elections. We recommend consulting the coverage in American School & University for more detailed and more timely information.
Redivivus
Today we pick through the literature for best practice in recycling enterprises in education communities. We have been keeping pace with the evolution of regulations in this domain for over 15 years now. Much like the security zietgeist the number of organizations involved in standards setting and conformance will likely surprise you. It is a cross cutting topic with a growing body of expert agencies claiming some part of the domain.
We will also pick through a few representative legislative proposals. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
Art Wall from Recycled Materials 2017 Barbara Rucci
Smart Recycling Machine to collect the wasted Non-woven Fabric Face Mask
*May 10, 2021
We have been keeping pace with the evolution of regulations in this domain for over 15 years now. Hydra-like growth in policy think tanks and standards-developing organizations expanding into this domain will likely surprise you. For example, in no particular order:
College and University Recycling Association
NSF International Joint Committee on Environmental Leadership Standard for Servers
Sustainability Leadership for Photovoltaic Modules
Reconditioned Electrical Equipment
Sustainable Electronics Recycling International
Environmental Protection Agency: Land, Waste, and Cleanup Topics
As in other domains, the private standards system competes with government “influencers” and incumbent proxies who make markets through legislation.
Specific requirements must be met for recycling to be economically feasible and environmentally effective. These include an adequate source of recyclates, a system to extract those recyclates from the waste stream, a nearby factory capable of reprocessing the recyclates, and a potential demand for the recycled products. These last two requirements are often overlooked—without both an industrial market for production using the collected materials and a consumer market for the manufactured goods, recycling is incomplete and in fact only “collection”.
“Not only is it good for recycling stuff, but you also see young and old working together. It connects,” said student Bjorn. @eindhovenlife @summacollege #repaircafe #voicesforrepair #GENERATIONS https://t.co/SlCx0bdTdI
— Mend It, Australia is Karen and Danny Ellis (@MendItAussie) June 4, 2022
Proud to have won two @CambridgeSust Green Impact awards for our environmental efforts. The College won a Platinum award for the 2nd year, plus an award for its mixed waste recycling points.
Well done to Jo and Justine (pictured) who led the recycling station project. pic.twitter.com/zRNbkiuQFK
— Jesus College (@JesusCollegeCam) June 6, 2022
Which Australian beaches are microplastic hot-spots? Research from Macquarie University’s AUSMAP project can help you to find low pollution beaches: https://t.co/JK43XMuAIL #microplastics #AustralianBeaches #plasticpollution @AUSMAP_AU pic.twitter.com/FZDgsAZ0Gz
— Macquarie University (@Macquarie_Uni) January 21, 2022
Electronic Equipment Recycling
The Impact of E-Waste / Student Art Guide
We are observers in the development of a new ANSI accredited electronic equipment recycling standard produced with the leadership of NSF International; a Michigan-based standards developer (founded at the University of Michigan) not far from our own offices and one of the largest in the world.
The electronic recycling space is growing quickly — reaching far upstream the value chain into how electronic equipment is designed in the first place. An overview of the project is available in the link below:
Joint Committee on Environmental Leadership Standard for Servers
A public edition is linked below:
This standard moved swiftly to market under NSF International’s continuous maintenance process. We bring it to the attention of the education facilities industry as a recommendation for lowering #TotalCostofOwnership. Participation as a User interest in American national standards development reduces “wheel reinvention” in which many recycling workgroups unnecessarily start from scratch, eliminates the need to attend costly workshops hosted by trade associations and significantly minimizes destructive competition.
This title is on the standing agenda of our Redivivus colloquium. Since our interest lies primarily with electrotechnology we collaborate with the IEEE Standards Association. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Issue: [14-74], [15-147], [15-148]
Category: Electrical, Telecommunications, Interior
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Richard Robben
Campus District Energy
University of California Merced Power Plant*
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ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
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Description: Establishes minimum requirements for energy-efficient design of buildings, including district energy systems for heating and cooling, covering system efficiency, controls, and insulation.
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Relevance: Ensures campus energy systems meet energy performance benchmarks and optimize thermal distribution.
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ASME B31.1 – Power Piping
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Description: Governs the design, construction, and maintenance of piping systems for steam, hot water, and other fluids used in district heating systems.
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Relevance: Applies to high-pressure steam and hot water piping in campus district energy systems.
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NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1 – National Fuel Gas Code
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Description: Provides safety requirements for the installation and operation of fuel gas piping systems, appliances, and venting for gas-fired equipment in district energy plants.
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Relevance: Ensures safe operation of gas-fired boilers or cogeneration systems in campus energy facilities.
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ASHRAE Guideline 0 – The Commissioning Process
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Description: Outlines a systematic process for commissioning building systems, including district energy systems, to ensure they meet design intent and operational requirements.
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Relevance: Critical for verifying that campus heating, cooling, and power systems perform as designed.
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International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
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Description: Sets energy efficiency requirements for building systems, including district energy systems connected to buildings, focusing on reducing energy waste.
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Relevance: Guides energy-efficient design and operation of campus-wide heating and cooling networks.
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NFPA 85 – Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code
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Description: Provides safety standards for the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of boilers and combustion systems used in district energy plants.
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Relevance: Ensures safe operation of large boilers in campus central plants.
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ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC), Section I
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Description: Governs the design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers used in district energy systems.
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Relevance: Ensures structural integrity and safety of high-pressure boilers in campus energy systems.
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ASHRAE Standard 188 – Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems
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Description: Provides guidelines for managing Legionella risk in water systems, including cooling towers and hot water systems in district energy setups.
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Relevance: Critical for maintaining water quality and preventing health risks in campus cooling and heating systems.
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API Recommended Practice 2000 – Venting Atmospheric and Low-Pressure Storage Tanks
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Description: Offers guidelines for the safe venting of storage tanks used for fuel or other liquids in district energy systems.
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Relevance: Applies to fuel storage for backup generators or boilers in campus energy plants.
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EPA’s Clean Air Act Regulations (40 CFR Part 60 and 63)
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Description: Regulates emissions from boilers, engines, and other combustion equipment in district energy systems to ensure compliance with air quality standards.
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Relevance: Ensures campus energy systems meet federal environmental requirements for emissions control.
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Jurisdiction-Specific Codes: Local building codes, such as those based on the International Building Code (IBC) or state-specific amendments, may apply and should be verified for campus projects.
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Sustainability Guidelines: Guidelines like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or ASHRAE’s Building Decarbonization resources may be relevant for campuses pursuing sustainability goals.
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Verification: Consult local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) and campus-specific requirements, as codes may vary by region or institution.
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
Standards Michigan Group, LLC
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