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: 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: 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...

Design Guidelines: Skylighting Guidelines
The Skylighting Guidelines are a collection of documents intended to help architects and engineers use skylights to maximum advantage in commercial and industrial buildings. These guidelines: Describe opportunities for energy savings and good lighting design Explain how to integrate skylights with other building elements Show how to estimate energy and dollar savings Help designers avoid costly mistakes The Skylighting Guidelines are comprised of seven documents: Introduction to Skylighting Designing with Skylights Skylighting Specification Choices Daylighting Controls Optimizing Your Design SkyCalc Users Guide Skylighting Guidelines Appendices Complete Guidelines Archives in Zip Format - 4...

Software: SkyCalc™
Skylights can save a great deal of energy – as long as they are sized correctly, and as long as appropriate controls for electric lights are used in conjunction with skylights. An undersized skylighting system cannot justify the cost of lighting controls and never attains the pleasing visual effect of a well-daylit space...

Case Studies: Skylighting Helps a Manufacturing Company Retain Employees
REMO, one of the world's largest manufacturers of drums, was concerned about losing long-time employees when it moved to a new 199,000-square foot plant 25 miles from its original location. Ensuring a pleasant work environment in the new location was a high priority because management realized that this would help retain employees...

Case Studies: Choosing the Right Photocontrol System for a Warehouse
Timberland, a manufacturer of boots and outdoor clothing, opened its new distribution center in a 400,000-square foot warehouse near Ontario, Calif. This warehouse came equipped with skylights, and lighting controls were installed during tenant improvements...

Case Studies: Tortilla Manufacturing Produces Energy-Saving Opportunities
Energy-saving procedures at Mission Foods’ new Production Facility in Rancho Cucamonga have helped the company save more than $300,000 per year in operating costs. Plans indicated that the plant’s food processing and refrigerated storage equipment would consume more energy than any other equipment in the facility...

The Newsletter: Let the sun shine!
When Potter Roemer Company designed their new TriStar manufacturing headquarters, they aimed to improve the operational efficiency of the facility. To enhance the interior environment, the building designers integrated a state-of-the-art skylighting system into their new 110,000-square-foot headquarters in Santa Ana...

The Newsletter: One way to get it all in...
When Staples, Inc. began the design of a new distribution facility in Southern California, they made a conscious decision to make energy efficiency and sustainability a high priority. Realizing that the building design would impact not only ongoing operational costs, but also the comfort and productivity of their workers, they chose to investigate these issues thoroughly before the design was finalized...