HVAC systems depend on efficient transfer of energy from a main source, such as a furnace, throughout a building or facility via a transfer medium. A hydronic heating system uses water as its medium, providing excellent energy transferability, thermal comfort and a cost-effective heating solution. Here’s a look at how hydronic heating systems work and the benefits it can bring to your building or facility. Read more at THERMA >>
Geothermal Heating and Cooling: Sustainable Energy for your Facility
While renewable energy holds appeal to homeowners and businesses, it can be daunting to understand how different systems work and what benefits they provide. Geothermal energy has been harnessed by humans for thousands of years, and the technology that utilizes geothermal today is ever-evolving. In this article we’ll take a look at geothermal heating and cooling: what it is, how it works and when it makes the most sense to choose geothermal as a primary HVAC system. Read more at THERMA >>
How to Protect Your Business from Flooding
Extreme weather events have costly impacts on the built environment. Damage from wind, rain and flooding also have devastating effects on local, state and regional economies where resources channel into recovery and rebuilding. Weather events such as Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy and the 2021 Texas Winter Storms have had widespread impacts on building codes, zoning regulations and power infrastructure regulations intended to improve resiliency in the built environment. Read more at THERMA >>
Maintenance Tips to Optimize Semiconductor Fabrication Equipment
The U.S holds 48% of the $340 billion semiconductor industry global market. The semiconductor fabrication market is highly competitive with global annual sales expected to exceed $600 billion in 2022. The current volatility of global supply chains and the increasing market demand make optimization of semiconductor fabrication equipment a top business priority. Read more at THERMA >>
Why AFUE Ratings Matter for Furnace Efficiency
A building’s annual operating costs are often at the mercy of external factors such as fuel prices, weather conditions or occupancy levels. While some factors are variable, other components and conditions can be controlled. One of these is the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of your building’s furnace. Read more at THERMA >>
CAFM Software: A Way To Meet Facility Operation Goals
Digital systems have infiltrated most aspects of daily life, including building operations. Computer aided facility management (CAFM) software allows facility managers to efficiently plan and monitor operations including space allocation, fleet and asset management, preventative maintenance and employee and customer services. Integrating existing building and business systems, CAFM software streamlines facilities management for reduced energy costs, reduced maintenance costs and improved workspace management. Read more at THERMA >>
USP Controlled Room Documentation and Compliance Strategy
The United States Pharmacopeia guidelines call for specific temperature conditions that ensure the integrity and efficacy of medications and vaccines. Both adhering to USP controlled room temperature requirements and documenting any fluctuations is crucial to compliance, and you can learn how to do so with ease in this article. Read more at PRIMEX >>
Building a Temperature and Humidity Policy with Automated Monitoring
Accurate hospital humidity and temperature control are essential to patients, staff, and visitors’ health and comfort. Air humidity also plays a role in safety by protecting electronic hospital equipment from electrostatic discharges and decreasing the risk of flammable materials igniting. For these and other factors, the management of environmental conditions in healthcare facilities depends on precise hospital temperature and humidity policies to be part of effective operating strategies. Read more at PRIMEX >>
The IoT is Coming for the Education Industry. Is Your Facility Ready?
Our everyday lives have become dependent on interconnected data sources, both official and informal. In 2015, there were more than 13.4 billion devices connected globally and that number is expected to triple by the end of 2020. The Internet of Things (IoT) now enables us to connect our built environment to the digital world. This capability can be harnessed by the education industry to create safe, efficient campus environments. Read more at PRIMEX >>
Tate Modern's Energy Efficient Redesign by Herzog & de Meuron
Herzog & de Meuron set about designing the Tate Modern Extension in 2006 with a modern, glass-filled aesthetic that contrasted the museum building’s origins as a former power station. A recently unveiled redesign of the addition has brought a pyramid shaped brick structure to this anchor point of the museum. The new program not only fits the museum’s needs better, it is poised to set a new standard for sustainability in the UK.
The 2008 redesign uses industrial features from the old power station as a base for the addition, mainly old oil tanks which will become unique gallery spaces. The brick scheme also allows for a more consistent aesthetic between the old building and the extension. The changes reflect a more integrated appearance, but will also allow a significant reduction in energy use.
Herzog & de Meuron’s new design for the Tate Modern Extension will bring about a 40% savings in energy and cut carbon emissions by 35% more than regulated standards. The efficiency will be a result of heat recapture systems and passive design principles.
The project is slated for completion by 2012, with £70 million in funding in place from the government, London Development Agency and private donations.
MAZDA Unveils Fuel Efficient Crossover Car
Mazda recently announced that it will unveil it’s Kazamai crossover vehicle at the Moscow International Motor Show in August. Specifics on the sporty vehicle’s environmental performance will be revealed next month, but to date the car maker is touting this ride as a car that will “deliver exciting driving dynamics, frugal fuel consumption and greatly reduced CO2 emissions.”...read more at Inhabitat
Stunning New Sustainable Landmark for London’s Southbank
London-based Sheppard Robson architecture firm is bringing a new green office building to the shore of the River Thames at One Westminster Place in Southbank. With sustainability driving the design, the structure’s eye catching glass facade will reflect sunlight in a rainbow of colors creating a crystal like effect. The layers of glazing will also give occupants great views of the surrounding city, including Parliament Square and Westminster Bridge, and boost the building’s energy performance to an excellent BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) rating, the British environmental standard for buildings...read more at Inhabitat
BEAUTIFUL BUILDING REUSE: The Barn House in Belgium
Building reuse is often overshadowed by the long green shadow of new high performance architecture. But the intrinsic nature of repurposing and bringing second life to an otherwise discarded structure is a sustainable idea we can’t ignore, especially when it’s done as gracefully as this old barn redux in Belgium. Architect Rita Huys of Buro2 skillfully transformed this agricultural icon into a beautiful, modern dwelling known simply as The Barn House.
The Barn House beams with clean, updated lines that emphasize the structure’s surrounding natural setting. The indigenous building principles of the barn – to both protect from and connect to weather and nature – are brought into a new light with daylight filled living spaces that boast inspiring views. Openings at either end of The Barn House frame the bucolic landscape, while operable sections of the shuttered facade swing open to let daylight and natural breezes into the home.
With it’s fantastic fusion of old and modern ideas, The Barn House stands out among sustainable reuse building projects.
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PREFAB FRIDAY: Greensburg 547 Community Art Center
We checked in on the green rebuilding efforts in Greensburg, Kansas when Planet Green’s docu-series premiered last month. We found plenty of interesting developments, but this prefab from Studio804 of the University of Kansas School of Architecture is definitely one of the most memorable. Built as the community art center, this innovative building uses modular design with the length of long truck trailers as the defining width component measure - an outside the box thinking that makes larger prefab buildings possible....read more at Inhabitat
Modern Eco Villa for Southern Spain by Diseño Earle
Diseño Earle is an international architecture firm known for unique, and often ecologically minded, projects around the world. Their latest design responds to a brief “to design and build a large and modern zero carbon footprint villa” in Southern Spain. The result is The Eco House, a modern luxury villa that holds up its name with a variety of environmentally friendly features including a chemical free canal that facilitates cooling....read more at Inhabitat
PREFAB FRIDAY: Prefab Takes Up Residence At The MOMA!
Prefab is taking center stage this summer at The Museum of Modern Art in NYC with the Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling exhibit opening on July 20th. As part of the exhibit, five renowned architects will bring a mix of existing and prototype prefabricated designs to full form on a exterior lot adjacent to the museum...read more at Inhabitat
Shipping Container Playground by Phooey Architects
This children’s playground made from recycled shipping containers takes the cake for one of the most imaginative examples of shipping container architecture we’ve seen. Known as the Skinners Playground, this kidscape puts four discarded shipping containers to use as the primary spaces for childhood adventures. Designed by Phooey Architects, the children’s activity center reconfigures the containers into a fun-filled park for the young imagination....read more at Inhabitat
US Freeze on Solar Energy Projects Lifted
Just as things were really heating up in the solar energy sector, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) pulled the plug on new solar power plants. Last week the New York Times reported that “the federal government has placed a moratorium on new solar projects on public land until it studies their environmental impact, which is expected to take about two years.”...read more at Inhabitat
Tesla Announces New 225 Mile Range Sedan
We get revved up whenever we hear any news about Tesla Motors, and the latest just sets the maker of electric-powered roadsters into an all new green vehicle fast lane. Tesla Motors just announced plans to start building the Model S - an electric sedan with a 225-mile range - in the Bay Area with plans to get the five passenger vehicles on the road in two years time!...read more at Inhabitat
Voltaic's Super Solar Powered Backpack
We’ve been impressed with Voltaic’s products from the get go, and with their ongoing efforts to amp up the sustainability factor in their bags like boosting the power in their Generator laptop bag and going to 100% post-consumer recycled PET plastic based fabrics. One of our all-time favorite bags is the durable Voltaic Backpack which just may be the ultimate sustainable summertime sidekick and a must have for the eco-geek on the go....read more at Inhabitat