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...

Design Briefs: Building Simulation
A few building simulation runs early in a project can lead to design solutions that, though they appear simple, significantly improve building energy performance. Summary: Computerized building energy performance simulation is a powerful implement for the virtual toolboxes of architects, engineers, and developers...

Design Briefs: Options & Opportunities
Not all energy-efficiency measures are appropriate for all building types, but some are especially useful for particular buildings. This Design Brief reminds designers and builders of opportunities they should consider in each of their projects. Summary: When focus is placed on the largest energy uses in a particular type of building, incorporating pertinent enhancements in a standard design can readily improve energy efficiency...

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...

Case Studies: Innovative Mechanical Designs in the Sierras
The Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences (TCES) is a three-story, 45,000 ft2 building on Sierra Nevada College’s Lake Campus. Located in Incline Village, Nevada, the building serves as a research laboratory for scientists and students working in the Lake Tahoe watershed region, and includes lab space, offices, classrooms, teaching labs, and various support spaces...

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: Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Design
By properly designing the exhaust ventilation system for a new commercial restaurant, significant operational savings, energy efficiency, and environmental improvements can be achieved.Summary:At the outset of a new construction project, the building owner wants to limit design and installation costs...

Design Briefs: Skylights with Suspended Ceilings
Traditionally, skylight wells in large, low-rise commercial buildings have been custom designed and site built, an expensive and labor-intensive process. This design brief explores the benefits of a better alternative: splayed modular skylight wells specifically designed for use with suspended ceilings...

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...

Case Studies: Building Case Study - A Biotech Lab and Office
The Pharmaceutical Research Institute in La Jolla, California, is a 123,000-square-foot laboratory and office building completed in 1999. Among the energy efficiency measures included in the building are systems for limiting energy waste associated with its 92 fume hoods and its air handling, space conditioning, and lighting systems...