Specifying Piping Systems
Engineers are under pressure like never before to generate mechanical designs that are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Of course, first...
Existing-Building Commissioning
Accounting for about 40 percent of energy consumption in the United States and contributing more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than entire nations,...
Greenbuild Exhibitors Weigh in on Future
Former Vice President Al Gore spoke to an audience of more than 28,000 during the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC's) eighth annual Greenbuild International...
Greening Your Cooling Tower
In commercial and institutional buildings, cooling systems are not exactly top of mind when it comes to conservation and the use of technologies. Yet...
Building Information Modeling
Editor's note: The following article is based on the session Sustainable Design and Energy Retrofits: A Collaborative Digital Workflow, presented by the...
LEED and O&M Budgets
Across the United States, owners are looking to have their existing buildings certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System without bankrupting their operation-and-maintenance budgets. The only way for them reach that goal is to meet the requirements of LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (O&M) 2009. ...
The Cost-Effectiveness of Building Green
Editor's note: The following article was adapted from the paper “Busting the Myth That Green Costs More Green,” presented during HPAC Engineering's sixth annual Engineering Green Buildings Conference and Expo, held Sept. 24 and 25 in Nashville, Tenn....
The New Era of Energy-Efficiency Management
Waxman-Markey, cap and trade, smart-grid infrastructure, real-time pricing, demand response, on-site energy storage — never has there been a more fascinating — or challenging — time to pursue the field of energy or facility management, as we are experiencing the convergence of three long-gestating trends that will forever change the way we purchase, manage, and consume energy....
Energy-Saving Opportunities in Green Buildings
The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System provides many paths to certification, some of which result in a more energy-efficient building than others. Thus, just because a building is LEED-certified does not mean significant opportunities for energy savings cannot be found. As the case studies at the end of this article show, savings usually can be had for little or no capital investment by fine-tuning the operations of a building. ...
Other LEED O&M Points
Following are other opportunities related to ventilation to earn points under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (O&M)...
Tax Incentives for Geothermal
With the current national emphasis on renewable-energy systems, we find ourselves on the brink of great opportunity, yet frustrated by the constraints...
Finding Energy Savings With a Biomass Boiler
The story has become increasingly common in the current economic climate: An organization must address its aging infrastructure and building equipment while trying to manage ever-tightening operating budgets. ...
Utility Shows Off LEED Platinum HQ
Great River Energy, an electric generation and transmission cooperative serving the Upper Midwest, opened the doors of its headquarters in Maple Grove, Minn., to members of the trade press April 16, showcasing the first building in Minnesota to be certified Platinum under Version 2.2 of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction and Major Renovations Green Building Rating System....
Keeping Score
Great River Energy's headquarters received 56 points under Version 2.2 of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction and Major Renovations Green Building Rating System...
Energy Codes and Building Controls
Reversing the upward trend of the country's energy consumption...
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