Nickle Electrical Companies received two safety awards from local contractors associations for exemplary performance over the past year.

On March 12, Nickle was selected as one of the recipients of the 2014 Governor’s Safety Awards for the fourth year in a row. The honor was co-sponsored by the Delaware Contractors Association and the Delaware Department of Labor.

The award is given to contractors that “bring distinction, skill, and integrity to the construction industry.”

On May 7, Nickle was presented with its ninth consecutive Associated Builders and Contractors of Delaware STEP Award for safety. The STEP (Safety Training and Evaluation Process) program is designed to support ABC members with development and improvement of safety and training efforts. The awards are given in five levels based on a company’s safety program and this was the second year Nickle received the top award at the Diamond level.

Nickle Co-Ops Ryan Cooke and Greg Yazidjian also received recognition at the event, accepting an ABC Delaware Student Award. It’s presented to students from the New Castle County Vo-Tech School District who are enrolled in the construction trade curriculum and have shown outstanding academic achievement while successfully completing a co-op program with an ABC member.

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Just as it always is, safety was one of Nickle’s main focuses this year. In February the company sustained its record-breaking streak by reaching the four-year mark without a lost-time accident. Two major programs were implemented to encourage continued safe working conditions. The Safety Shadow Program involves field employees in the audit process on a weekly basis. Each time Safety Director Mike Anderson conducts a job site safety audit, an employee working on that project will walk the site with him. It gives Mike the opportunity to educate employees and answer specific questions regarding OSHA regulations. The Behavioral-Based Safety Program is another initiative established in 2014, which applies the science of behavioral changes to real world problems. It focuses on what people do, why they do it, and a research-supported strategy is applied to improve what people do. Employees are encouraged to observe the behavior of their colleagues, denote good or bad safety conduct, and give advice.

To solidify safety into Nickle’s culture, a contest was held and employees submitted a safety-related slogan that the company would swear by. The winner was mechanic Jordan Tulowitzki who submitted “Nickle Safety … it’s how we’re wired.” He was rewarded with a $1,000 prize and a logo was created to accompany the phrase.

 Nickle was also a recipient of numerous safety awards. In March the company was awarded the 2013 Governor’s Safety Award for bringing “distinction, skill, and integrity to the construction industry” through high safety standards. The honor was co-sponsored by the Delaware Contractors Association and the Delaware Department of Labor. Nickle has received this award for the past three years. And for the ninth year in a row, Nickle was awarded a STEP Safety Award by Associated Builders and Contractors. The Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) is based on approximately 20 key elements of contractor safety programs, such as commitment of company management, responsibilities of safety personnel, and budget. This year the company was presented the award at the Diamond level for the first time from both the Delaware and National chapters. Nickle also received its second STEP Award from the Chesapeake Shores ABC Chapter at the Diamond level.

When Nickle celebrated four years without a lost-time accident in February, management made a decision to expand the Elite group. In the past, the company has recognized the Nickle Elite as employees who have been dedicated to the company for 10 or more years. That Elite group now includes those who have been with the company for five years or more. In the current condition of our economy, sticking with one company for five years is a great feat. To honor the 50+ new and longstanding Elite inductees, each member received a Challenge Coin to carry. And on any employee’s five-year anniversary they are presented with a certificate and coin of their own.

Twice in 2014, Nickle was recognized by outside parties as an outstanding subcontractor. EDiS Company selected Nickle as their Delaware Subcontractor of the Year. The EDiS team voted on a subcontractor in the state that has provided an exceptional level of commitment and service to a project or projects they’re working on in conjunction with EDiS. Additionally, Engineering News-Record Magazine named Nickle in its annual Top 600 Specialty Contractors list. Published at the end of October, it ranks specialty contractors by 2013 revenue. It was the first time Nickle appeared on the famed list.

A number of continuing education classes and retreats for field employees and management were held this year. Numerous changes were made to the National Electric Code this year and in order to maintain their licenses, Nickle electricians attended code classes in January and February. Also, classes that focused on training for RGS and IMC pipe threading were held in-house at our Newark and Georgetown locations. Each employee trained on three different types of machines to learn the intricate details of pipe threading.

In October, Chief Financial Officer Neal Donaldson traveled to Arizona for the Construction Financial Management Association Spring Creek Retreat. Neal is the chapter president in Delaware. It’s a non-profit organization that serves the educational needs of construction financial professionals. The trip brought together chapter presidents from around the country to cultivate leadership, team-building, work/life balance, and other topics to excel in the industry. Safety Director Mike Anderson attended the American Society of Safety Engineers conference in Orlando, FL, which included multiple training sessions, attendance by more than 100 exhibitors, speeches and Q&A sessions with high-level national safety executives, and more.

 This year Nickle acquired a business license to perform work in Virginia, expanding its resources geographically to offer its commercial, industrial, residential, and service skills to better serve the entire Delmarva Peninsula. Additionally, a new service was added to our offerings – infrared testing. This process evaluates the health of a building or residence. The test can detect electrical problems through infrared heat before they cause complications and can prevent costly damage. It can be performed in all divisions of construction – residential, commercial, and industrial – and should be performed annually or bi-annually.

 Company-wide events are always a hit throughout the year, promoting camaraderie and solidarity throughout the business. For the first time, Nickle hosted a Tool-B-Que with United Electric Supply, Klein Tools, Thomas & Betts, and Ideal Industries. Employees were invited to browse tools available for purchase while enjoying food and refreshments. Nickle also revived its annual Company Picnic this year, held at Lums Pond State Park. Employees enjoyed games, prizes, barbecue, ice cream, a corn hole tournament, a photo booth, and much more. Other notable events include a Copper Crab Party, DCA & ABC Crab Feasts, ABC Fall Fest and Chili Cook-Off, and an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.

Throughout the year Nickle sponsors and participates in a wide range of community events. Nickle Electrical was a sponsor for the Smyrna-Clayton Little Lass Softball League in the spring. The team was coached by Vice President of Operations Jeromy Newton. In July Nickle supported Delaware Hospice by sponsoring and participating in their 6^th Annual 5k Run & Family Fun Walk. It was a record-breaking event for both the organization and Nickle. There were a total of 296 participants (15 of those from Nickle) more than 100 spectators, 50 volunteers, and 30 sponsors who raised more than $15,000. Proceeds from the event help the non-profit organization provide end-of-life education and support families and patients. For the third year in a row Nickle sponsored the Ronald McDonald House 5k in Lewes, DE. The non-profit organization provides a home for the families of children who are receiving care at local hospitals. To support and raise money for Easter Seals, Nickle employees participated in the 2^nd Annual Walk With Me Delmarva event. The walk raised more than $25,000 for the non-profit organization, which assists children and adults with disabilities.

Also this fall, six Nickle teams ran the Delaware Mud Run to benefit the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware. In total all teams – Full Muddy Jacket, GI Janes, Red Jaguars, Shockers, Beardos, and Wire Nuts – raised $4.695.

A few other events and charities Nickle donated time and money to include Hagley Museum, Sussex Technical High School, Milton Irsh Eyes St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Delaware Hospice Beef & Brew, EDiS Institute/Leadercast, ACE Mentor Program, Sussex Family YMCA, Georgetown Boys & Girls Club, Bike to the Bay, Ironman, DelTech Alumni & Friends 5k Run/Walk, Apple-Scrapple Festival, St. Margaret of Scotland, Sunday Breakfast Mission, Salvation Army Bell-Ringing, and Toys for Tots.

One of the most popular events of the year (and almost every year) is the annual Associated Builders and Contractors Excellence in Construction Awards dinner. Nickle submitted three projects and all received praise. Hologic DET and Delaware City DMV received Excellence awards and Woodbridge High School received a Merit award. With the addition of these, Nickle now has 31 total Excellence in Construction Awards.

If you’d like to keep up with Nickle news throughout the year, please e-mail Laura to receive our quarterly newsletter, or visit our website and subscribe to our e-mail list. The company also joined Twitter and Instagram this year if you’d like to follow along on social media.

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One of the projects given an award at the Excellence level was Hologic DET. The facility, located in Newark, manufactures medical imaging systems for women’s health examinations such as mammograms. The nearly 10,000-square-foot addition doubled product and output at the existing facility with cutting-edge technology. Team members: Estimator Dave Spittle, Project Manager Eric Webb, Foreman Jim Wills

The second Excellence award was given to the new, state-of-the-art Delaware City DMV facility. Nickle successfully designed and built the electrical systems for this 48,000-square-foot project serving New Castle and Kent County Delaware. Team members: Senior Estimator Matt Healy, Project Manager Brandon Cale, Foreman Brian Morgan

The third award was given at the Merit level to Woodbridge High School. This project was almost half a century in the making. The new 160,000-square-foot facility opened its doors to more than 600 students in September with modern, state-of-the-art features to educate today’s youth. Team members: Project Manager Dave Schreffler, Foreman Ed Starkey

“Congratulations to all the employees who worked on these projects,” said Nickle President/CEO Steve Dignan. “It’s a reflection of all the hard work everyone puts out on every project both big and small.”

Nickle now holds a total of 31 ABC Excellence in Construction Awards. The honors were presented at an awards dinner on November 20 at the Chase Center on the Wilmington Riverfront.

For more information on these award winners and future Nickle news, please subscribe to our email list. Or you may email Laura at ldignan@nickle.email to receive a hard copy of our quarterly newsletter.

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Let’s start with our old friend the incandescent light bulb. Thomas Edison’s handiwork. Light is created when the tungsten filament inside the bulb is heated by electricity until it glows a warm, yellow light. In 2007 the EISA demanded that incandescent bulbs become more efficient and only emit a certain amount of light per watt. You can buy incandescents with an average of 40-150 watts and the typical bulb burns out after about 1,000 hours or one year.

One alternative is the halogen, which is still an incandescent light bulb but with halogen gas trapped in the filament. Halogen gas helps to recycle the tungsten back into the filament, making this bulb a big more efficient. This gas isn’t hazardous and is a great alternative for consumers who are ready to take the first step towards energy-efficient lighting. Halogens range from about 30-72-watts and last the same as an incandescent bulb – about 1,000 hours or one year.

Let’s go to the opposite end of the spectrum and focus on light-emitting diodes or LEDs. With only 4-22-watts on average these bulbs can last up to 50,000 hours. Energy is released in the form of photons (light) when electrons and their counterpart, electron holes, come together. Because the wattage is so small compared to incandescent bulbs, LEDs are significantly more energy-efficient and cost-effective. You can save an average of $250 for each incandescent bulb you replace with an LED. And yes, 50,000 hours equates to decades upon decades of use. These standards are created by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), which creates the testing procedures manufacturers use for LEDs. Because these bulbs haven’t been around long enough to substantiate these claims, there are some skeptics. But many manufacturers provide warranties.

Compact fluorescent lights came into play before LEDs but aren’t quite as popular, though they are equally as energy-efficient. You probably recognize them as the swirl-shaped bulb. CFLs tend to have a very harsh, white light and most aren’t dimmable. It may also take a few second for them to light up after you flip the switch. Using CFLs for short periods at a time can rush their life expectancy and many of them aren’t made for outdoor use. And though it’s a very small amount, CFLs do contain mercury, which creates potential for pollution if not disposed of properly. But technology improves every day and new, better features for CFLs have been introduced over the past few years. Their life expectancy falls in between incandescent and LED, sitting at about 10,000 hours. Despite their flaws, these bulbs are a great alternative when you want to save money and energy.

Just like nutritional facts on food, the Federal Trade Commission requires manufacturers to put a lighting facts label on their packaging, which contains information like lumens, wattage, yearly cost of the bulb, color, temperature, etc. Remember, wattage is how much power the bulb will use and lumens are how much light the bulb puts out. The more lumens per watt, the more energy-efficient the bulb is.

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The new assortment still contains some traditionally significant projects such as PS DuPont Middle School, Delaware Hospice, Dover Air Force Base Mortuary, and the Amtrak Wilmington Station.

Those of which are now mixed with new, state-of-the-art projects Nickle has completed including Red Lion Energy Center, Howard High School, Seeds of Greatness Bible Church, and the Amazon Warehouse in Middletown, DE.

Check out our projects page for more information and click here to download our new portfolio.

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Over the past six years we’ve donated more than $4,500 between the 5k event, the annual golf outing, and a memorial donation to support the non-profit’s mission. Delaware Hospice aims to provide high-quality health care services and serves as a trusted partner in end-of-life education and support.

This year’s race took place on Wednesday, July 9 and the Nickle team also had a record turnout with 15 participants! First-year participant and Nickle Mechanic Brett Stinson received a medal for finishing second in his age group and eighth overall with a time of 22:05.

We’d like to thank all Nickle employees and family who participated and all Delaware Hospice representatives who continue to put on a great fundraiser.

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We’d like to thank the vendors that participated and all employees who attended. We hope you had a great time and hopefully we can look forward to doing the same next year.

Please visit our Facebook page for a full album of pictures from the events.

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The company was selected as one of the recipients of the 2013 Governor’s Safety Awards for the third year in a row. The honor was co-sponsored by the Delaware Contractors Association and the Delaware Department of Labor.

Mike Berardi, DCA President and Vice President of Wohlsen Construction, said in a letter to Nickle President/CEO Steve Dignan that the award is given to contractors that “bring distinction, skill, and integrity to the construction industry.”

The Governor’s Safety Award was presented at a luncheon on March 7 at Timothy’s on the Wilmington Riverfront.

Earlier this month Nickle was presented with its eighth consecutive Associated Builders and Contractors of Delaware STEP Award for safety. The STEP (Safety Training and Evaluation Process) program is designed to support ABC members with development and improvement of safety and training efforts. The awards are given in five levels based on a company’s safety program – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. This was the first year Nickle received the top award at the Diamond level for both the local Delaware chapter and the National chapter.

The awards dinner was held on May 1 at Cavaliers Country Club in Newark.

“These awards would not be achievable if our employees did not make safety a part of their everyday routine,” said Nickle Safety Director Mike Anderson. “Our employees are a big part of our safety program and I’m truly grateful to each and every one of them for their safety efforts.”

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The increasingly popular movement of “going green” doesn’t only encompass electric cars, forgoing bottled water, printing less, and buying smart. There are multitudes of ways to reduce your carbon footprint. The following seven energy-efficient tips will not only better the earth, but also put a little “green” back into your pocket.

Unplug

Have you finished toasting your bagel and pouring that cup of coffee this morning? Is your cell phone battery fully charged? Unplug these appliances and electronics. Even though they may be off and not in use, these devices still use electricity.

Check Labels

More and more consumer products are striving to earn the Energy Star label. This symbol is placed on products that meet government-supported energy-efficient criteria such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. These labels make it easy for consumers to identify “green” products.

Upgrade

LED light bulbs can last more than 10 times longer than an incandescent 60-watt bulb. They reduce energy use by up to 80 percent and also have lower carbon dioxide emissions. While they may cost more to begin with, the money saved on energy and the amount of bulbs you purchase in general is well worth it.

Go Natural

Try keeping blinds and shutters open throughout the day. Let natural sunlight brighten your home or office before flipping the switch. If or when you turn on the lights make sure you turn them off when you don’t need them. It may sound simple but it’s surprising how many people will keep the lights on when it’s unnecessary. If you (or most likely your teenagers) happen to be forgetful, use timers to power down automatically.

Use Shade/Fans

While natural light can save electricity, it can also quickly heat up your home. Closing the blinds on the sunny side of your house during the day can prevent the air conditioner from overworking during the summer. Utilizing ceiling fans can also help cool a room and reduce the need for constantly running AC.

Seal and Insulate

Your heater or air conditioner may also run unnecessarily if your home contains air leaks. Identifying and sealing these outflows, normally found around doors and windows, will prevent your appliances from overworking.

Improve Your Laundry Routine

High efficiency (HE) and front-loading washers conserve energy and save money compared to regular top-loaders. They can cut electricity and water use almost in half. Though some clothes are best washed in warm or hot water, washing with cold water is also more efficient.

These simple and effective guidelines can all be implemented on your own. But there are plenty of other ways Nickle Electrical can help. We offer energy saving solutions such as occupancy sensors, lighting controls, dimming, daylight harvesting, LED fixture upgrades, and tenant space metering. Nickle can also help install ceiling fans and solar energy components.

For more information about how Nickle can help you “go green” and save money, please call our Newark office at 302-453-4000 or our Georgetown office at 302-856-1006.

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