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Argonne-East's energy bills should drop in coming years thanks to an agreement signed by Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and the U.S. Department of Energy.
ComEd will help Argonne meet energy reduction goals by providing "performance contracting." Under this type of agreement, ComEd buys and installs new energy-efficient equipment for customers, who pay ComEd back from the energy savings the project generates.
The eight-year agreement stems from a presidential directive that mandates 30 percent energy reductions at DOE facilities before 2005.
Under the terms of the agreement, ComEd will provide energy audits of selected buildings to identify possible projects. As DOE determines that the proposed project is feasible, ComEd will provide the engineering, design and installation of energy-efficient equipment.
According to Argonne Director Dean Eastman, DOE and Argonne chose to team with ComEd because of their longstanding relationship and to expedite the use of performance contracting in energy conservation projects at the laboratory.
Siegfreid Hecker, former director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, will speak on "Nuclear Imperatives and Realities for the Next Century" at a Director's Special Colloquium on Thursday, May 7.
Hecker's talk will begin at 11 a.m. in Argonne-East's Advanced Photon Source Conference Center (Building 402). Shuttle service will be provided.
He will discuss nuclear issues in national security, energy and the environment, including the challenges of stockpile stewardship for plutonium, nonproliferation, the environmental legacy of the Cold War and the obstacles to realizing the potential of nuclear energy.
Hecker, currently a senior fellow at Los Alamos, led the laboratory from 1986-1997. The metallurgist has won many awards for his research and leadership.
He serves on the National Materials Advisory Board of the National Research Council, the Council on Competitiveness, Reinventing R&D Advisory Committee and the Global R&D Committee.
The Argonne Club is sponsoring trips to Kane County Cougars and Chicago White Sox baseball games.
The Cougars will play the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Friday, May 15. Tickets are $8, including bus transportation to and from the game. Tickets for those who will drive to the game are $5.
The White Sox will play the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, June 8. All tickets are $11 and include bus transportation.
Tickets will be sold in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria on weekdays from Monday, April 27, through Friday, May 8.
Argonne participated in the Environmental Protection Agency's "Warm Up to Earth Day" event April 8 on the Federal Plaza at Dearborn and Adams in the Chicago Loop.
Despite the damp, chilly weather, the many visitors stopping by to learn about the alternative-fuel vehicles warmed up to the cars as they learned of the potential benefits to the environment.
Three students with the University of Illinois at Chicago displayed the white 1998 Chevrolet Malibu their team converted to run exclusively on E85 fuel, which is 85 percent ethanol. The car will compete with those from a dozen other universities at the 1998 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge May 25-June 2 at General Motors Milford Proving Ground, Milford, Mich. Argonne organizes the 1998 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge for DOE.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison team displayed a Ford Escort wagon. A hybrid-electric vehicle, the Escort is powered by both gas and electric engines. It competed in the 1995 Hybrid Electric Vehicle Challenge.
The team is currently converting a Dodge Intrepid into a hybrid-electric vehicle for the FutureCar Challenge June 3-10 at the Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills, Mich. The competition challenges students to modify a family sedan to achieve a nearly emission-free 80 miles per gallon while maintaining affordability, performance, utility and safety.
Argonne's Dave Livengood (ES) supplied an ultra-low emission minivan powered by compressed natural gas that is part of Argonne's alternative-fuel fleet.
Argonne organizes college-level alternative-fuel car competitions for DOE and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research -- a research venture of Chrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. Argonne's Transportation Technology R&D Center works with government and industry to develop clean and efficient technologies for small engines up to diesel locomotives and to spread the word of the value of alternative fuels for transportation and the environment.
-- Evelyn Brown
The full text of the Human Resources Policy and Procedure Manual is now available to Argonne employees on the World Wide Web.
The electronic version can be found on the Argonnet home page (click "Argonnet" at the bottom of the Argonne home page at www.anl.gov, then click "Employee Manuals and Handbooks"), on the Human Resources Home Page at www.hr.anl.gov/ or through the Argonne home page by clicking on "Divisions," (located under the heading Research, Facilities and Capabilities), then Human Resources, then HR Policies and Manuals.
Individual policies or procedures can be printed. Paper copies will continue to be available at Argonne libraries.
For more information, contact Leslie Osborne at ext. 2-2939.
The mandatory second surgical opinion provision in CIGNA's medical plans will be eliminated May 1.
This provision required that those undergoing certain surgical procedures had to secure a second opinion to determine the need for the surgery before it would be covered under the medical plan.
Second surgical opinions will no longer be required; however, if an individual wishes to have a second opinion for any surgical procedure, the charge for the second opinion will be treated as any other medical service for coverage and reimbursement purposes.
Also on May 1, services provided by Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) will be covered under CIGNA medical plans. By including LPCs, Argonne is expanding the coverage available for mental health services.
For more information on these changes, call Human Resources at ext. 2-2991 at Argonne-East or ext. 3-7227 at Argonne-West.
Laboratory policy has been changed to specify that terminating employees will not receive severance pay unless they sign a "Separation Agreement and General Release, Waiver and Covenant Not to Sue" form.
The new policy will be effective for employees who are notified of their pending separation from employment after April 24.
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Argonne has changed the length of time that disability benefit payments are made under Argonne's long-term disability plan. For those individuals who become disabled on or after May 1, the maximum length of time that long-term disability benefits will be paid will be based on the schedule at right, which shows age at disability and maximum benefit duration: Coverage for those who become disabled and have elected supplemental life insurance will be continued without the payment of premium based on the same schedule . |
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Teams are needed for a three-on-three basketball tournament that will be held at Argonne-East Monday, June 1.
The half-court games will last 15 minutes, or until 11 baskets are scored, whichever comes first. Games will begin at noon at the courts in the 600 lodging area.
Teams must sign up by May 22. Page Johnny Reed (ESH) at ext. 4-1963 to register.
Argonne's retirement-plan vendors will send representatives at Argonne-East to answer employee's questions about retirement plans or retirement plan assets.
To schedule a half-hour appointment, call the number listed.
| Vendor | Day | For Appointments, call: |
| TIAA/CREF | Thursday, May14 and Friday, May15 | Appointment Desk, (800) 842-2005 |
| Prudential | Wednesday, May 20, Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22 | Cheryl , (847) 619-3519 |
| Fidelity | Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28 | Appointment Desk, (800) 642-7131 |
Classified ads on the Argonne News World Wide Web site will be restricted to on-site readers starting Friday, April 24.
Those who have "bookmarked" the ads may receive an error message. Links to the classified ads can be found on the Argonne News Web site at http://www.anl.gov/news.html.
Weight Watchers will hold a free open house meeting at Argonne-East on Tuesday, April 28, at 11:30 a.m. in Building 200, Room J183.
For more information, or a free "Best Summer Ever" booklet, call ext. 2-2813.
A minimum of 18 members is needed to continue the Weight Watchers series at the laboratory.
Electronics and Computing Technologies will offer classes in office computer software in May.
Unless otherwise noted, classes will be held in Argonne-East's Building 221, Room A142, are limited to eight participants and cost $135. For information about enrollment procedures, call Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153 or send e-mail to dkcavazos@anl.gov.
Complete class descriptions and schedules are available online at: http://www.anl.gov/ECT/courses/.
* Windows NT 4.0 Fundamentals (ECT327) -- Wednesday, May 6, 9 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Class size limited to 12. Cost: $195.
* Introduction to Internet Using Web Browsers (ECT330) --Thursday, May 7, 8:30 a.m. _ 11:30 a.m. Building 201, Room 167C. Class size limited to 10.
* Windows NT 4.0 Intermediate (ECT328) -- Wednesday June 3, 9 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Class size limited to 12. Cost: $195.
* Introduction to Windows 95 (ECT300) -- Tuesday, May 12, 8:30 a.m. - 1130 a.m., or Tuesday, May 19, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
* Word 7.0 Everyday Tasks Made Easier (ECT324) -- Tuesday, May 12, 1:30 p.m. _ 4:30 p.m.
* Excel 7.0 Managing Workbooks (ECT326) --Wednesday, May 13, 8:30 p.m. _ 11:30 p.m.
* Intermediate PowerPoint Version 7.0 (ECT308) -- Wednesday, May 13, 1:30 p.m. _ 4:30 p.m.
* Intermediate Access Version 7.0 (ECT309) -- Thursday, May 14, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cost: $195.
* Word Version 7.0 Advanced Formatting Features (ECT319) -- Tuesday, May 19, 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
* Advanced Excel Functions (ECT320) -- Wednesday, May 20, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
* Introduction to PowerPoint Version 7.0 (ECT303) -- Wednesday, May 20, 1:30 p.m. _ 4:30 p.m.
* Advanced Access Version 7.0 (ECT314) -- Thursday, May 21, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cost: $195.
* Beginning Unix (ECT564) -- This class consists of two, three-hour sessions for a total of six hours. First session: Tuesday, May 26, 9 a.m. _ noon. Second session-Thursday, May 28, 9 a.m. _ noon. Class size limited to seven. Cost: $245.
ECT has scheduled a special class on Microsoft FrontPage 98.
The two-day course, ECT331, will be held Monday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 2, in Argonne-East's Building 221, Room A261 from 9 a.m. _ 5 p.m.
The cost is $495. Class size is limited to 12. Cancellation notification required by Monday, May 18. For enrollment information, see the web page at http://www.anl.gov/ECT/courses/