We're beginning to experience the cost of gasoline the rest of the world is all too familiar with. Check this out and count your blessings:
 
Gas Prices in:
France, Germany, UK: $8+/gal.
Norway: $8.73/gal.
Japan & Canada: $5/gal.
However, Saudi Arabia stands out, selling at $0.45 a gallon!  

Let's put it on a scale:
 - Starbucks latte: $23/gal. 
 - Bud 6-pack: $11/gal.
 - decent perfume: $6,400/gal.
 
Tips for better gas mileage:
 - dropping from 70 to 60 mph improves fuel efficiency by an average of 17.2 percent
 - Every 10 mph you drive over 60 is like paying 54 cents per gallon more for gas!
(based on your average 4 cylinder family sedan)
 
Tailgating means constant acceleration and deceleration. Acceleration is the moment of most fuel use. 
 
An idling motor burns about a half-mile worth of gas every minute. Todays fuel injected motors do not waste gas on startup. 
 
Common facts and misconceptions about fuel efficiency:

Does using your A/C burn more fuel?  A/C makes extra work for the engine, increasing fuel use. But car A/C's are much more efficient today than they used to be. In around-town driving, using the A/C will drop fuel economy by about one mile per gallon. On the other hand, driving at higher speeds with the windows down greatly increases aerodynamic drag. As speed increases, drag multiplies incrementally and burns much more fuel. It is more fuel efficient at high speeds to close your windows and turn on the A/C. The best choice - temperature and humidity permitting - roll up the windows and use the fan to blow in air from the outside. 

 
Does pumping up your tires increase MPG?  Under-inflated tires are dangerous, as are over-inflated tires.  Keep your tires properly inflated.  According to on-the-road driving tests by both Consumer Reports and auto information site Edmunds.com, under inflated tires reduce fuel economy by increasing drag.
 
Does changing your air filter increase MPG?  Having a clean air filter is beneficial, but it isn't going to save you any gas. Newer engines have computer sensors that automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture when less air to the motor flow is detected.  While engine power will decrease slightly as the air filter becomes clogged, a lack of performance or an increase in fuel consumption will be negligible, Consumer Reports says.
 
If BP, Mobile, Texaco or whomever could add a fuel additive to their gasoline and get you further per gallon, they would be doing it.  
 
Fill your tank in the morning?
The theory is - fluids are more dense at lower temperatures, so a gallon of cold gas actually has more gas molecules than a gallon of warmer gas.  If this were a real concept it would then do the reverse in your tank later in the day!
 
Use premium fuel only when required - check your manual.  Newer cars for which premium is "recommended" - but not "required" won't suffer with regular fuel. When engine sensors detect regular instead of premium fuel, the system automatically adjusts spark plug timing. The result is an unnoticeable reduction in horsepower and little or no reduction in fuel economy.
 
View full article at www.gasstations.com

Conners Quickstop: 

 

Construction is underway on a combination convenience store and restaurant in Corbin Kentucky. The design was based on replacing a previous facility that was burned by fire. The store will feature high margin self serve items in the store and provide sit down and carry out food service. Check back in a future publication for pictures. 
 
Buffalo's Southwest Cafe:

Permitting is currently underway for a ground up Buffalos Southwest Café located in a Walmart outparcel in Stockbridge Georgia. This facility will provide sit down menu service for over 250. 
 
Dunkin Donuts:

 

MRP has begun work on five sites located in the Cayman Islands (this is another project I think MRP needs to send me out to)! :o)  The sites will include a remodel to an existing production facility and four new sites located in various existing retail centers. MRP has been providing A/E services to corporate and franchisee projects for over ten years now. 
 
Popeyes:

 

Currently in development, this 48 seat standard prototype facility located in Buford, SC is being modified architecturally to meet with local architectural requirements. 
 
 Yum! Brands:

 

Construction has begun on a combination convenience store and Taco Bell / Pizza Hut in McDonough, GA. The site also provides auto fueling and a drive thru window for quick service.  

BP: 

 

MRP has just completed development of a second prototype for BP. The facility which is intended for franchisee development nationwide is developed as a smaller version of the standard 2900 building previously developed. These facilities will market under the AM/PM brand currently being taken across the U.S

 

 

"How would you feel,"
the astronout replied,
"if you were stuck here, on top of 20,000 parts each one supplied by the lowest bidder?"
 

Part Two 

 

In the last newsletter, I discussed the need to reduce energy consumption in lighting design and the codes that ensure that this reduction actually occurs. It is now necessary to determine what lighting options will allow you to provide an adequate design while still complying with the energy codes.
 
Lamp technology is driving a significant portion of energy efficient design and Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) lighting has become an outstanding solution to help address those needs. There are other technologies that are available to address the energy code (such as fluorescent and LED sources), but, so far, CMH lighting has become the preferred light source for commercial, retail and display lighting applications. CMH fixtures can offer a wide range of solutions to help you meet the challenges of achieving peak energy efficiency, premium optical performance, enduring reliability and maximum value.
 
Typically, CMH fixtures are chosen to replace halogen fixtures on a one-for-one basis. Equivalent light output is readily achievable with much lower wattage CMH lamps. For example, a 20W CMH T4 fixture provides greater output that a standard 75W Halogen PAR30 lamp while also increasing the lamp life from 3,000 to 12,000 hours.
 
Replacing halogen with CMH can yield up to 75% less energy use, which translates to lower operating costs, while also significantly reducing energy calculations. In addition, CMH lamps offer 3-4 times greater life than their halogen counterparts.
 
The Juno Lighting Group offers the most comprehensive family of CMH fixtures in the industry. If you need assistance in generating a design that meets the energy code and is visually appealing, please contact Stewart Shannon, National Accounts Manager for the Southeast for the Juno Lighting Group. He can be reached at 1-800-382-5866 x2009 or sshannon@junolightinggroup.com.