Design Briefs: Glazing
With so many factors influencing glazing selections, whole-building lifecycle analysis is the best tool for determining the most costeffective solution. Summary: Few decisions that a designer makes have more impact on the appearance and utility of a building than the glazing selection...

Design Briefs: Design For Your Climate
By understanding climatic conditions that are specific to a project’s location, design teams are able to develop climate responsive building designs. The result is a building that utilizes less energy and provides a high quality and comfortable environment for the occupants...

Design Briefs: Building Integrated Photovoltaics
Using building integrated photovoltaic technology, design teams may supply solar energy to building systems, integrate the technology seamlessly into the building design, and provide an economical renewable energy source for building owners. Summary: A sustainable technology that provides the opportunity for generating electricity and replacing conventional construction materials is building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs)...

Design Briefs: Integrated Building Design
Using the integrated energy design approach, designers can cost-effectively lower building operating costs while improving workers’ comfort and boosting productivity. Summary: The integrated energy design process helps building owners and designers to economically reduce building operating expenses, while improving comfort and productivity for the building's occupants...

Online Tools: EDR Charette
EDR Charette is an online tool that allows you to quickly investigate the energy impacts of various design scenarios on a typical building, and then review the analysis graphically in an easy to understand web-based format. It enables you to quickly "draw" building components with drop down menus, and estimate how different design choices will affect energy use, energy costs, and the surrounding environment...

Design Briefs: Radiant Cooling
Radiant cooling systems are more efficient, more comfortable, more attractive, and more healthful than systems that circulate air. Summary: Unlike most cooling systems in California, which circulate cold air to maintain comfort, most radiant cooling systems circulate cool water through ceiling, wall, or floor panels...

Software: eQUEST
eQUEST® is a sophisticated, yet easy to use building energy use analysis tool which provides professional-level results with an affordable level of effort. This freeware tool was designed to allow you to perform detailed analysis of today's state-of-the-art building design technologies using today's most sophisticated building energy use simulation techniques but without requiring extensive experience in the "art" of building performance modeling...

Case Studies: Public Agency Demonstrates Resource Efficiency Through Innovative Design
A 35-foot tall "water tower" feature dominates both the exterior and interior of the single-story Victor Valley Water District Administrative Facility. Located in a high desert climate, this building has 12-inch-thick exterior walls with solid-grouted concrete masonry...

e-News for Designers: e-News #32: Button Up That Overcoat: Exterior Insulation and Finishing
Heading into what promises to be a long, hot California summer, most people are putting their thick outerwear into storage. But it's important to remember that for commercial buildings, an airtight covering of insulation saves on energy costs by fending off heat transfer from the hot outdoors and by keeping conditioned air from leaking out...

e-News for Designers: e-News #24: Heat On A Cool White Roof: The Energy Efficiency Benefits of Reflective Roofing Materials.
Communities around the Mediterraneanhave used them formany centuries . . .and in modern times building researchers are quantifying their benefits. Now California's new Title24 standards (see article at left) offer credit for them. Its time to take another look at cool, reflective roofs that can improve our communities and the environment in the future...