Design Briefs: Design Details
In a typical building, providing design details can save an owner approximately 5% - 15% in energy costs. Summary: Building owners are spending more money on complex building systems than ever before and yet many find they have building system problems...

Design Briefs: Design Review
Through design review, owners can maximize a building’s energy efficiency and save both capitaland operating costs. Summary: Energy-efficient design can be improved by design review. A process of review both enhances design and fosters communication between designers, owners, and builders...

Design Briefs: Field Review
To assure a project’s success, the design team needs to be involved in the construction process. Summary: Developing well-detailed construction documents is an important first step in achieving energy and resource efficient projects. However, projects are not successfully completed until the building and its systems are constructed, commissioned, and fully operational according to the design intent...

Design Briefs: Building Commissioning
In projects all over the country, building-industry professionals are finding that commissioned buildings are more energy efficient, more comfortable, and easier to maintain. Summary: Commissioning is a quality-assurance process that increases the likelihood that a new building will meet the client's expectations...

Design Briefs: Improving Mechanical System Energy Efficiency
Tight design timelines can compromise the design team’s ability to consider factors like life cycle cost, distribution efficiency,access, maintainability, and system integration. Summary:Technological advances and economic pressure frequently join forces to reduce the design and construction time for building projects...

Design Briefs: Integrated Design for Small Commercial HVAC
By using recommended design methods for rooftop heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, significant improvements in operational savings, energy efficiency, and indoor comfort can be achieved. Summary: Small HVAC systems are the workhorses of the light commercial building market, which represents more than half of the annual commercial new construction floor area in California...

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...

e-News for Designers: e-News #15: Design Quality Assurance Into Your Project With Building Commissioning.
Building commissioning helps ensure that building systems operate efficiently, meet the needs of the end user, function as designed, and maintain occupant comfort. The initial costs of commissioning are recovered many times over through increased operating savings, improved staff performance, and avoidance of costly construction problems...

e-News for Designers: e-News #18: Underfloor Air Distribution Offers Energy Efficiency and Much More!
The common practice of running air ducts through the ceiling may be, well, upside-down. Putting air systems under raised flooring can reduce building operating costs and improve HVAC equipment efficiency and occupant comfort. This strategy is most effective in new construction, but it is also appropriate for major retrofits...

Design Briefs: High Intensity Fluorescent Lighting
New high-intensity fluorescents outshine their high-intensity discharge competitors. They are often more efficient and feature lower lumen depreciation rates, better dimming options, instant start-up, and better color rendition. Summary: High-intensity-discharge (HID) light sources, such as metal halide and high-pressure sodium lamps, have long dominated the market for lighting indoor spaces with high ceilings...