With new generation capacity becoming both more difficult to get approved and expensive to finance, electric utilities are looking at more creative strategies for squeezing inefficiency out of customer-side distribution systems. One idea gaining attention—direct current (DC) distribution—actually represents a step backward to practices common during the days of Thomas Edison. However, new standards and [...]
A More Direct Approach
A Smart Start: Metering
Large commercial, industrial and institutional building owners have been tracking their energy use for years, knowing that even the smallest efficiency improvements can make a big bottom-line difference in facilities of their scale. Now the same energy auditing and monitoring capabilities are being developed for owners of individual buildings and homes, and these new tools [...]
Onsite Power
The next big idea in renewable energy: Small-scale installations producing power that can be used onsite. Building-integrated systems are evolving from promising to practical, and standards developers are creating the necessary specs required for distributing onsite-generated electricity to specific building systems. This article ran in the March 2010 issue of Architectural Products magazine. The link [...]
Financing the Future
Renewable-energy technology is advancing at a rapid clip. What’s not widely known is that financing options for those who wish to own/operate solar, wind and other energy-generating equipment are evolving just as quickly. Making sense of your financial choices takes some homework, though, and likely more than a few phone calls, including at least one [...]
EIFS Gets Some Relief From Critics
EIFS (Exterior insulating finishing systems) can no longer be called “alternate” exterior cladding products. With their recent acceptance by the ICC and high-performing test results in energy efficiency and moisture resistance, these products are making a comeback.
This article originally ran in the June 2009 issue of Architectural Products magazine.
EIFS Gains Some Relief From Critics
Passive Solar Design: A Cool Idea for Hot Savings
Solar panels are getting a lot of attention lately as a way to turn the energy of the sun into electricity we can use in our homes. With another solar technology, passive solar design, builders also can create homes that require significantly less energy to heat and cool. This article was published originally in April [...]
Your Solar Energy Options
Even if you’ve never previously thought about solar (PV or thermal) as an option for your building, it’s a good time to investigate your solar-power options.
This article is one of a continuing series in the Electrical Design Library published by the National Electrical Contractors Association.
Your Solar Energy Options
Sustaining Your Business With Sustainable Design
There’s no doubt that green building is in the black, even as the overall housing market hemorrhages red ink. The value of green-building construction climbed from $10 billion in 2005 to between $36 billion and $49 billion in 2008, according to a recent McGraw-Hill Construction report. Builders in the field agree with this assessment, but [...]
Green Building Design Is in the Details
Environmentally sensitive and energy efficient construction is a hot topic among potential homebuyers today. In fact, a recent McGraw-Hill Construction report predicts the green-building market could triple by 2013. According to the report, the burgeoning green market could reach a potential value of $96 billion to $140 billion, indicating a possible bright spot in today’s [...]
Begin Boosting Efficiency With an Energy Audit
Energy-efficient upgrades offer all of us the opportunity to cut both energy related emissions and energy bills, without the fuss of installing and learning to operate a new technology. An energy audit is an important first step to understanding which of these upgrades will pack the biggest energy-savings punch. This article originally was posted on [...]
