Fastrack July 16, 2008

Hotel Indoor-Air Quality: Balancing Comfort, Health, Efficiency
By John J. Lembo, LEED AP
In the ever-changing, highly competitive hospitality industry, the stakes are especially high, the challenges daunting...MORE

Fastrack Flashback: Controlling Moisture in Schools
By Ronald J. Wilkinson, PE
Published February 2005
The deleterious effects of poor indoor-air quality (IAQ) on health, comfort, and performance are fairly well-known. Perhaps in no other buildings are they more difficult to combat than schools...MORE

Service-Life and Maintenance-Cost Database
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) developed a free online database that focuses on equipment service life and annual maintenance costs for a variety of building types and HVAC systems. The database includes current information on the service life and maintenance costs of typical HVAC equipment...MORE

Maintain to Sustain--Delivering ASHRAE's Sustainability Promise
Read William Harrison's presidential address "Maintain to Sustain--Delivering ASHRAE's Sustainability Promise," which he delivered when he was inducted as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers' 2008-2009 president...MORE

Energy Performance of LEED for New Construction Buildings
The report "Energy Performance of LEED for New Construction Buildings," published by the New Buildings Institute, analyzes the measured energy performance of 121 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction (LEED-NC) buildings. The results show that the energy performance of projects certified under the U.S. Green Building Council program is substantial, better than that of non-LEED building stock....MORE

Career as Engineer Is New Power Job
According to a report posted on Yahoo! HotJobs, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal that engineering careers in the chemical, electrical, mechanical, and environmental fields are projected to grow 11 percent through 2016...MORE

New Requirements for District-Heated or Cooled Buildings
Buildings applying for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction (LEED-NC) version 2.2 or LEED for Schools certification after May 27 are required to follow new guidance, if they will be using district thermal energy...MORE

Take Safety Precautions Around Flooded Equipment
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) published important safety precautions to follow in case of a flood or hurricane. For instance, AHRI recommends all inspection and replacement work on flooded equipment be performed by qualified heating and cooling contractors...MORE

Water Softener Ban in California
The Water Quality Association urges members to contact California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger before he vetoes a ban law on water softeners. Bill AB 2270 gives water boards the power to decide whether towns can ban softeners...MORE

Learn From the Green Gurus at EGB 2008
HPAC Engineering's fifth annual Engineering Green Buildings (EGB) Conference and Expo is dedicated exclusively to designing greener mechanical systems for commercial/industrial/institutional buildings. Also, it is a place where you can network with green experts who will be on hand for two days to provide information and guidance on projects you currently are designing...MORE

The Design/Build Seminar ... Have You Registered Yet?
Commercial Contracting Roundtable & Design/Build Seminar will be held Nov. 12 and 13 at Hilton Atlanta Airport Hotel in Atlanta. This is an important event for design engineers looking to make the most of the opportunities in the commercial HVACR market...MORE