While the students have been enjoying the playground since school began, it was a celebration getting to recognize everyone who made it happen. Thank you to Play! at Pierce, our donors, Rep. Stava-Murray, and the entire community for all of their efforts! #WEarePD58#DG58Pridepic.twitter.com/eNZdPmjaI2
In the soft light of a Notting Hill afternoon in 1958, the playground of a local day nursery becomes something closer to a sanctuary. Rows of small camp beds and folded rugs are neatly arranged beneath the open sky, each one cradling a sleeping child. The air carries the scent of⌠pic.twitter.com/L6i0HmcMmI
Notice the product orientation. ASTM’s business model is built upon conformity and compliance activity, supported by market incumbents such as manufacturer and insurance interests; but — as an ANSI accredited standards developer — it opens its standards-setting process to all stakeholders; including in one of the largest markets for these products.
We are happy to represent any user-interest at any of the ASTM International meetings; assuming our costs are covered. Feel free to contact Sanne Anthony either by email or phone for more information. In the intervening time, we will track action in the ASTM catalog an maintain relevant titles in this product category on several standing agendas — Sports, Kindergarten and Recreation. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting.
ASTM has released two documents for public review — one a new standard, the other a revision of an existing standard — that should interest K-12 school systems which are stewards of recreational facilities :
Comments are due April 23rd.  You may obtain a free review copy by setting up a (free) stakeholder account at ASTM Technical Committee page or by communicating with Corice Leonard, (610) 832-9744, cleonard@astm.org or accreditation@astm.org. Send comments to Corice (with a copy to psa@ansi.org).
The ASTM International Committee F08 on Sports  Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities also meets again May 21-24th in San Diego.  We keep all ASTM documents that affect the revenue and cost structure of the education industry on the standing agenda of our weekly Open Door teleconferences to which everyone is welcomed. Â
1 pound dried split peas, rinsed and picked over 1 ham hock, ham bone, or 1 pound diced ham 1 onion, chopped 2 carrots, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth 2 bay leaves Salt and pepper to taste Optional: thyme, parsley, or other herbs for flavor
Instructions:
Prepare the ingredients: Rinse the split peas under cold water and pick out any debris. Chop the onion, carrots, and celery. Mince the garlic.
SautĂŠ aromatic vegetables: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. SautĂŠ until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
Add split peas and broth: Add the rinsed split peas to the pot, along with the ham hock, ham bone, or diced ham. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth. Add bay leaves and any other herbs you’re using.
Simmer the soup: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the split peas are tender and the soup has thickened, about 1 to 1.5 hours. If using a ham hock or bone, remove it from the soup once the meat is falling off the bone; shred the meat and return it to the pot.
Season to taste: Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as needed. Adjust any other seasonings to your liking.
Serve: Remove the bay leaves before serving. Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy hot. Optionally, you can garnish with chopped fresh parsley or a drizzle of olive oil.
Tips: You can customize the soup by adding other vegetables like potatoes or leeks. For a vegetarian version, omit the ham and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Split pea soup tends to thicken as it sits, so you may need to add more broth or water when reheating leftovers.
Energy 400: Codes and standards for energy systems between campus buildings. (District energy systems including interdependence with electrical and water supply)
A different “flavor of money” runs through each of these domains and this condition is reflected in best practice discovery and promulgation. Energy 200 is less informed by tax-free (bonded) money than Energy 400 titles.
Some titles cover safety and sustainability in both interior and exterior energy domains so we simply list them below:
There are other ad hoc and open-source consortia that occupy at least a niche in this domain. All of the fifty United States and the Washington DC-based US Federal Government throw off public consultations routinely and, of course, a great deal of faculty interest lies in research funding.
Please join our daily colloquia using the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
ICYMI – here is our 50th anniversary lecture from Professor Helen Thompson on the 1970s energy crises and what we can learn from it, with some great questions from our audience! https://t.co/9XUqc3fx5fpic.twitter.com/zHvqY8HYL1
LSU supports U.S. energy security through its renowned Craft & Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering, one of the nation’s top programs. Established decades ago, it trains engineers in drilling, production, reservoir management, and enhanced oil recovery, supplying skilled talent to the petroleum industry that underpins domestic oil and gas output.
Deep ties to Louisiana’s petroleum sector, including industry partnerships and research via the Center for Energy Studies, enhance production in a state central to Gulf Coast operations. Proximity to Henry Hubâthe benchmark pricing point for U.S. natural gas in Erath, Louisianaâamplifies LSU’s role: the university’s expertise aids the stable supply, pricing transparency, and infrastructure that powers LNG exports and national energy reliability.
The fourth edition of ASHRAE Standard 90.4 was published in late 2025 (superseding the 2022 edition) and it provides leading practice for smaller enterprise level data centers as well as hyperscale campuses.
Key Highlights of the 2025 Edition
Establishes minimum energy efficiency requirements for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of data centers.
Expanded sustainability scope: Goes beyond pure energy efficiency to explicitly include greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and broader resource impacts.
Maintains the performance-based approach using metrics like the Mechanical Load Component (MLC) and Electrical Loss Component (ELC), with refinements to make requirements more stringent.
Applies primarily to data centers with power density >20 W/ft² and IT loads >10 kW. It references ASHRAE 90.1 for non-data-center elements (envelope, lighting, etc.).
This marks a clear evolution toward decarbonization and resource efficiency, especially important for AI-driven hyperscale data centers.
Recent Developments (2025â2026)
Addendum b to the 2022 edition was approved in September 2025, providing clarifications for phased or modular data center designs.
The 2024 IECC now references ASHRAE 90.4-2022 (Sections 6 and 8) as a compliance path for data centers.
ASHRAE continues to advocate for wider adoption of 90.4 in state and local energy codes.
The Standing Standard Project Committee (SSPC 90.4) remains active with working groups on mechanical, electrical, ESG, and marketing aspects.
Data centers are among the fastest-growing energy consumers globally due to AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure. ASHRAE 90.4 was created because traditional building codes do not adequately address their unique high-density, mission-critical nature.
The 2025 editionâs inclusion of emissions and water use reflects increasing industry and regulatory pressure on data center environmental footprints.
This title establishes minimum energy efficiency requirements for data centers; a permanent fixture in all education communities now undergoing a virtual +â asymptotic spike in generative intelligence transformation in âÂł. At the moment this title is stable but can be revised in 30-90 day consultation cycles which will make it the dominant standard compared with IEEE and NFPA titles which move on a 3 to 5 year revision cadence.
ASHRAE 90.4 defines an alternate compliance path, specific to data centers, while the compliance requirements for ânon-data centerâ components are contained in ASHRAE 90.1 . The 90.4 structure also streamlines the ongoing maintenance process as well ensures that Standards 90.1 and 90.4 stay in their respective lanes to avoid any overlap and redundancies relating to the technical and administrative boundaries.  Updates to ASHRAE 90.1 will still include the alternate compliance path defined in ASHRAE 90.4. Conversely the 2022 Edition of 90.4-2022 refers to ASHRAE 90.1-2022; cross-referencing one another synchronously
Links to noteworthy coverage from expert agencies on the 2022 revisions:
This title resides on the standing agenda of our Infotech 400 colloquium; hosted several times per year and as close coupled with the annual meetings of ASHRAE International as possible. Technical committees generally meet during these meetings make decisions about the ASHRAE catalog. The next all committee conference will be hostedJanuary 20-24, 2024 in Chicago. As always we encourage education industry facility managers, energy conservation workgroups and sustainability professionals to participate directly in the ASHRAE consensus standard development process. It is one of the better facilities out there.
Proposed Addendum g makes changes to definitions were modified in section 3 and mandatory language in Section 6 to support the regulation of process heat and process ventilation was moved in the section for clarity. Other changes are added based on comments from the first public review including changes to informative notes.
Consultation closes June 4th
Update: February 10, 2023
The most actively managed consensus standard for data center energy supply operating in education communities (and most others) is not published by the IEEE but rather by ASHRAE International — ASHRAE 90.4 Energy Standard for Data Centers (2019).  It is not required to be a free access title although anyone may participate in its development.  It is copyrighted and ready for purchase but, for our purpose here, we need only examine its scope and purpose.  A superceded version of 90.4 is available in the link below:
It is likely that the technical committee charged with updating this standard are already at work preparing an updated version that will supercede the 2019 Edition. CLICK HERE for a listing of Project Committee Interim Meetings.
We maintain many titles from the ASHRAE catalog on the standing agenda of our Mechanical, Energy 200/400, Data and Cloud teleconferences.  See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Originally posted Summer 2020.
ASHRAE International has released four new addenda to its energy conservation consensus document ASHRAE 90.4-2016 Energy Standard for Data Centers. This document establishes the minimum energy efficiency requirements of data centers for design and construction, for the creation of a plan for operation and maintenance and for utilization of on-site or off-site renewable energy resources.
It is a relatively new document more fully explained in an article published by ASHRAE in 2016 (Click here).  The addenda described briefly:
Addendum a – clarifies existing requirements in Section 6.5 as well as introduce new provisions to encourage heat recovery within data centers.
Addendum b – clarifies existing requirements in Sections 6 and 11 and to provide guidance for taking credit for renewable energy systems.
Addendum d – a response to a Request for Interpretation on the 90.4 consideration of DieselRotary UPS Systems (DRUPS) and the corresponding accounting of these systems in the Electrical Loss Component (ELC). In crafting the IC, the committee also identified several marginal changes to 90.4 definitions and passages in Section 8 that would add further clarity to the issue. This addendum contains the proposed changes for that aim as well as other minor changes to correct spelling or text errors, incorporate the latest ELC values into Section 11, and to refresh information in the Normative Reference.
Addendum e adds language to Section 11 intended to clarify how compliance with Standard 90.4 can be achieved through the use of shared systems.
Comments are due September 6th.  Until this deadline you may review the changes and comment upon them by by CLICKING HERE
Education facility managers, energy conservation workgroups and sustainability professionals are encouraged to participate directly in the ASHRAE standard development process.  Start at ASHRAE’s public commenting facility:
The ASHRAE catalog is a priority title in our practice. This title appears on the standing agenda of our Infotech sessions. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
These Guidelines cover fossil-fueled power plants, gas-turbine power plants operating in combined cycle, and a balance-of-plant portion including interface with the steam supply system of nuclear power plants. They include performance monitoring concepts, a description of various methods available, and means for evaluating particular applications.
Since the original publication of these Guidelines in 1993âthen limited to steam power plantsâthe field of performance monitoring (PM) has gained considerable importance. The lifetime of plant equipment has been improved, while economic demands have increased to extend it even further by careful monitoring. The PM techniques themselves have also been transformed, largely by the emergence of electronic data acquisition as the dominant method of obtaining the necessary information.
These Guidelines present:
â˘Â âFundamental Considerationsââof PM essentials prior to the actual application, so you enter fully appraised of all the requirements, potential benefits and likelihood of tradeoffs of the PM program.Â
â˘Â âProgram Implementationââwhere the concepts of PM implementation, diagnostics and cycle interrelationships have been brought into closer conjunction, bringing you up-to-date with contemporary practice.
â˘Â âCase Studies / Diagnostic Examplesââfrom the large amount of experience and historical data that has been accumulated since 1993.
Intended for employees of power plants and engineers involved with all aspects of power production.
From ANSI’s PINS registry:
Project Need: This document is being developed in order to address performance monitoring and optimization techniques for different power generating facilities. The latest trends and initiatives in performance monitoring as well as practical case studies and examples will be incorporated.
Stakeholders: Designers, producers/manufacturers, owners, operators, consultants, users, general interest, laboratories, regulatory/government, and distributors.
This document will cover power generation facilities including steam generators, steam turbines, and steam turbine cycles (including balance of plant of nuclear facilities), gas turbines, and combined cycles. The guidelines include performance monitoring concepts, a description of various methods available, and means for evaluating particular applications.
No drafts open for public consultation at this time.  The PINS announcement was placed on October 11th*.  The PINS registry is a stakeholder mapping platform that identifies the beginning of a formal process that may interest other accredited, competitor standards developers.  Many ASME consensus products may be indirectly referenced in design guidelines and construction contracts with the statement “Conform to all applicable codes”
The landing page for the ASME standards development enterprise is linked below:
Note that you will need to set up a (free) account to access this and other ASME best practice titles.
We maintain all ASME consensus products on the standing agenda of our periodic Mechanical and Energy teleconferences.  See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Teacher pension funds, typically defined-benefit plans, were designed decades ago for stable, lifelong careers in one state or district. They fail to prepare for modern 50+ year careers (spanning multiple jobs, states, or even professions) due to structural flaws. They also buy the bonds that finance the construction of buildings where the teachers work.
Benefits are heavily backloaded: little value accrues early in a career, with most wealth spiking only after 20â30 years tied to final average salary and service years. Teachers leaving before vesting (often 5â10 years) get back only their contributions, sometimes with minimal interest â no employer match.
Portability is poor; pensions rarely transfer across state lines, penalizing mobility. Many teachers never reach full benefits, as turnover is high â over half leave before qualifying for meaningful payouts, while plans assume only a minority stay long-term.
Early retirement incentives (often after 25â30 years) encourage exiting in one’s 50s, not sustaining decades-long work. Unfunded liabilities divert contributions to debt rather than future benefits. Overall, these systems reward narrow, traditional paths but leave flexible, long careers underprepared, forcing reliance on personal savings or Social Security where available.
â National Council on Teacher Retirement (@NCTRtalk) February 12, 2026
The Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) was founded in 1918 by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie through the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. In 1905, Carnegie had established a free pension system for college professors, but it proved unsustainable as higher education expanded rapidly. To create a permanent, portable solution, the Foundation launched TIAA as a nonprofit life insurance company, with Carnegie Corporation providing a $1 million endowment.
TIAA offered contributory, fully funded annuities where both employers and employees shared costs, ensuring secure retirement income for educatorsâpredating Social Security. In 1952, it added CREF (College Retirement Equities Fund), the first variable annuity, to combat inflation. This innovative model focused on lifetime income for those serving academia.
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Fidelity does not offer a traditional âteacher pension plan.â Instead, it provides 403(b) retirement savings plans, which are the most common supplemental retirement option for K-12 teachers and higher-education employees across the USA.A 403(b) plan allows educators to contribute a portion of their salary on a pre-tax basis (or Roth after-tax), reducing current taxable income while building retirement savings. Contributions grow tax-deferred, and investments can include mutual funds, target-date funds, and other options managed through Fidelity.
Unlike state teacher pensions (defined benefit), Fidelityâs 403(b) is a defined contribution plan â the final amount depends on contributions and investment performance. It supplements a teacherâs primary state pension and Social Security.
Fidelity is one of the largest and most respected 403(b) providers, known for low-cost investment options and strong online tools. Availability depends on whether your school district has selected Fidelity as an approved vendor.
Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie | Dutch East India Company
FM Global is one of several organizations that produce technical and business documents that set the standard of care for risk management in education facilities.  These standards — Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets — contribute to the reduction in the risk of property loss due to fire, weather conditions, and failure of electrical or mechanical equipment. They incorporate nearly 200 years of property loss experience, research and engineering results, as well as input from consensus standards committees, equipment manufacturers and others.
In July FM Global updated its standard FM 2510 Flood Abatement Equipment which should interest flood barrier manufacturers, standard authorities, industrial and commercial facilities looking to protect their buildings from riverline flooding conditions.
The following updates were proposed and mostly adopted:
Modifications to the opening barrier protocol to include water performance testing at lower depths;
Additional tests that apply to open-cellular rubber compounds (i.e., foam-type rubber) which are commonly used as gaskets on flood barriers need to be added to the Standard to sufficiently assess their quality;
Addition of adhesive testing. Many barrier designs use adhesives to bond the gasket material to the barrier. Adhesives are not addressed under the current protocol; Modify the flood abatement pump section to clarify approval of pump packages vs. wet-end only;
Additional requirements for electric drive and submersible flood pumps;
Modifications to backwater valve section to be inclusive of all types of âbackwater valvesâ besides the traditional check valve.
Additional requirements for waterproofing products for building penetrations. Products in this category include collars, plugs, elastomeric seals, and types of putty.
This standard also contains test requirements for the performance of flood barriers, flood mitigation pumps, backwater valves, and waterproofing products for building penetrations, as well as an evaluation of the components comprising these products to assure reliability in the barrierâs performance.
While there are a number of noteworthy colleges and universities that have grown near rivers and lakes — twenty-five of which are listed HERE — severe weather and system failures present flooding risks to them all.
Another Data Sheet — I-40 Floods — was updated in October.  Both Data Sheets are available for download at the link below:
You will need to set up (free) access credentials.
You may contact FM Global directly: Josephine Mahnken, (781) 255-4813, josephine.mahnken@fmapprovals.com, 1151 Boston-Providence Turnpike, Norwood, MA 02062
Our “door” is open every day at 11 AM Eastern time to discuss any consensus document that sets the standard of care for the emergent #SmartCampus. Additionally, we dedicate one session per month to Management and Water standards. See our CALENDAR for the next online teleconference.  Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
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/njrDAbSpwBpic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
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