| Energy Analysis |
2008 Energy Analysis Roundup
The newly formed ConnectPress Infrastructure team presents a Special Report on Energy Analysis, featuring a collection of articles, case studies and an accompanying Vendor's Directory, which lists specialized analysis tools for testing energy efficiency.
Engineers, designers and architects alike have many options when it comes to conducting energy consumption tests. Most commonly, designers create the model first and then analyze. However, a growing trend stemming from the green phenomena takes into consideration energy consumption before the design phase begins, therefore shaping the process.
Companies like Autodesk and Bentley Systems are also increasing their portfolios by acquiring energy analysis software firms in an attempt to help architecture engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals meet sustainability goals.
ConnectPress has brought together a selection of articles on recycling energy, eliminating carbon from buildings, solar energy power system usage and other processes for analyzing energy measurements, plus specific examples of successful LEED-certified projects - and much more.
Eying Solar Energy Analysis by Marilyn Pitts, ConnectPress Editor - One component of energy analysis is evaluation of potential solar energy power system usage. This feature looks at how analysis of solar energy plays a part in energy-efficient green building design.
Rethinking Buildings by Staci Matlock, ConnectPress Staff Writer - Energy efficient buildings are more critical in addressing climate change than fuel-efficient cars, says Santa Fe architect Edward Mazria, founder of Architecture 2030. Learn about the no carbon initiative proposed by Mazria in this feature.
Recycled Energy and Co-generation Could Power the Future by Staci Matlock - Find out how Thomas Casten, chairman of Recycled Energy Development (RED), has been lobbying for better energy efficiencies and decentralized power for 30 years.
Chartwell School Goes Platinum by Rita Stange, ConnectPress Senior Editor - Find out how the commitment to build the best learning environment led the Chartwell School to achieve LEED Platinum certification.
Energy Analysis Tools Boost Efficiencies by ConnectPress Staff Writers- Energy analysis software tools consider the interaction between many factors, from lighting to weather data, in determining a building's total energy use. See what tools are available for performing these energy analysis tasks.
The Importance of Measuring Building Energy Use by Brandi McManus, energy services manager, TAC, a supplier of integrated building management systems. - According to McManus, the U.S. Green Buildings Council estimates that commercial office buildings use 20 percent more energy than necessary. In this column McManus explains how by partnering with an energy specialist, the CFO can get actionable information to help reduce operating expenses.
Flomerics Software Helps Bronswerk Develop Groundbreaking Air-Cooled Coolers and Innovative Fans with Environmental Impact by Flomerics - Bronswerk Heat Transfer used EFD.Pro, an easy-to-use general purpose engineering fluid dynamics software from Flomerics, to develop new air-cooled coolers and innovative fans. The potential energy savings worldwide of this new design can be staggering as their product can save 15 percent of the electricity it uses.
Burt Hill: Sustainable Strategies on Educational Center Facilitated by IES Ltd's Software by Integrated Environmental Solutions - In this case study architectural consultants Burt Hill uses IES software and Revit Architecture to meet demanding budget and schedule constraints, in addition to achieving LEED certification, on the Springfield Literacy Center project.
Optimizing Energy Analysis Functionality by Rita Stange - This feature looks at current Autodesk energy analysis tools and how Autodesk attempts to strengthen energy analysis options with the Carmel Software acquisition and the pending acquisition of Green Building Studio. |
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2008 Energy Analysis Guide
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| Sheet Metal Design |
2008 Solar Energy Design Roundup
Welcome to the Special Report on Solar Energy Design brought to you by ConnectPress. With a focus on the latest buzz in the solar energy design industry, this report runs the gamut, from hot new passive solar energy freeware to solar power services. Like all of our special reports, the SED roundup includes a Vendor's Directory, compiled by ConnectPress staff, featuring software tools and services offered by many vendors and universities. Get a feel for the free and commercial tools being used in the architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) industry, in addition to learning about the implementation of passive solar, solar energy design projects and more.
Here is an overview of each of the articles that make up this special report:
Banking on Solar: A Passive Solar Energy Basics Primer by Marilyn Pitts, ConnectPress Editor - Thereʼs nothing ʽpassiveʼ about passive solar energy designʼs potential energy cost savings. This primer takes a look at the basic elements of passive solar design and how paying attention to features like building orientation, building structure materials and lighting concerns yields big payoffs.
Tool Spots: Spotlight on Passive Solar Energy Freeware by Marilyn Pitts, ConnectPress Editor - From passive solar energy basics to the energy effect of lighting and different shading devices, thereʼs a variety of freeware tools available on the Internet via the click of a mouse. Find out what freeware is available and check it out for yourself.
Harnessing the Sun: Georgia Tech's Solar Home by Marilyn Pitts, ConnectPress Editor - Inspired by a desire to build a structure of light, the Georgia Institute of Technology created a solar home titled “Icarus” for the 2007 Solar Decathlon. The home's design utilizes light to transform and open up a living space while also exploring the uses of light for energy.
Zeroing in on Solar Tools by ConnectPress Staff Writer Staci Matlock - Creating zero-energy buildings is the latest buzz in the industry. Making the best use of passive solar elements is one of the keys to meeting the zero-energy goal. Software tools like APACHE, Energy-10, EnerCAD and SolarPro 2 make the job of integrating and analyzing passive solar elements efficient, cost effective and pleasurable.
Glowing With Green Success: Yale's Sculpture Building and Gallery by Staci Matlock - The University of Yale's Sculpture Building was named one of the American Institute of Architects' (AIA) Committee on the Environment's Top Ten Green Projects for 2008. Kieran Timberlake Associates of Philadelphia, Penn., used Autodesk Revit to anticipate coordination issues prior to construction and to visualize the project three dimensionally— in addition to a number of software tools to track solar exposure for the site before determining the best way to orient and light the building.
Quest for the Passive: A New Mexico Home Uses Passive House Design to Achieve High Energy Efficiency by Staci Matlock - A passive house is a house that uses 10 percent of the energy required by a conventional built-to-code home for heat. Taos, N.M., architect Joaquin Karcher provides insight on what it takes to design a passive house by incorporating passive solar elements.
Solar Power Services: How PPAS are Changing the PV Value Chain by Greentech Media - Get a glimpse of key findings in this introduction to a report authored by Jon Guice, PhD and John D.H. King, MS MBA, which takes a look at how the emergence of power-purchasing services are driving solar industry growth and development, particularly photovoltaics (PV) and how they are being used by commercial and institutional facilities—financed with power purchasing agreements (PPA's). |
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2008 Solar Energy Design Guide
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| Certifications & Standards |
2008 Green Building Standards and Certification Roundup
Compiled by ConnectPress Staff
Welcome to this Special Report on Green Building Standards and Certification brought to you by ConnectPress. In addition to nearly a dozen articles, this roundup includes a special Directory compiled by ConnectPress staff that provides a useful list of organizations in the standards and certification sector as well as vendors offering green building products or services that feature various certifications and meet numerous standards.
As the green building industry grows, so does its increasing need for its own unique certifications and standards that take into consideration specific sustainable design building requirements and materials. Certification programs such as LEED, Green Home Building Guidelines and Green Globes are one way industry professionals measure the “greenness” of a building, and this roundup features a number of articles addressing the advantages and challenges of these green building certification programs.
Further, the road to sustainable design typically involves various parties including local, state and federal entities; architects; builders; local green organizations; and other interested parties. The ways in which green buildings successfully meet certifications, standards and codes help serve as a role model for others in the industry. To that end, this special report includes articles, whitepapers and reports that look at how leaders in the industry are developing and fulfilling certification and standard requirements.
The following overviews give a snapshot of each of the articles included in this special roundup:
Surviving the Green Building Certification Maze By Staci Matlock ConnectPress Staff Writer
Navigating the intricacies of green building certification programs can be confusing. This review looks at three major certification programs—Green Home Building Guidelines, LEED and Green Globes—and evaluates their features, costs, differences and challenges.
Green Acronym Soup: Certification and Standards By Marilyn Pitts, ConnectPress Editor
LEED, Green Globes, ANSI, FSC, ASHRAE, NABCEP—these are just a few of the many green building standards and certification acronyms and “green” titles. This primer “translates” and explains over 25 of some of the more commonly found examples.
Knowing Your Stuff: Getting Certified in the Green and Solar Worlds By Rita Stange, ConnectPress
This feature looks at some of the certifications available for individuals in the green building and solar industries, including LEED-AP and PV Installer Certification.
LEED Certification - What's It All About? By Staci Matlock
There's a lot involved in obtaining LEED certification. Find out the pluses and challenges of LEED, and what changes have occurred in the process since its inception.
Top Green States Regulate LEED Standards By Staci Matlock
From federal agencies and school jurisdictions to states, counties and cities, an increasing number are instituting green building codes. This overview looks at who's joining the green building bandwagon.
Encouraging Green Incentives: AIA's Sustainability Report By Marilyn Pitts
AIA's “Local Leaders in Sustainability - Green Incentives” report provides insights into today's green building incentives, looking at the incentives being offered in a variety of municipalities nationwide. Find out what cities as diverse as Seattle, Chicago, Cincinnati, Santa Monica, Calif., and Arlington, Va., are offering to promote green building.
Greener Counties: AIA Report Highlights Sustainability Leaders By Marilyn Pitts
AIA's "Local Leaders in Sustainability: Green Counties" explores the spread of green building programs. Learn how counties have developed and adjusted their sustainable building policies.
The Economics of LEED-EB: A White Paper Looks at the Costs By Leonardo Academy
Leonardo Academy's white paper evaluates the costs of obtaining LEED-EB. Find out about low-cost and no-cost sustainability actions.
Going for Green Not LEED: Garthwaite Center for Science and Art By Staci Matlock
Garthwaite Center for Science and Art—an AIA COTE 2008 Top Ten Green Projects award winner—followed LEED guidelines, achieving enough points to be eligible for LEED Platinum certification, but did not apply. Find out what made this facility so green and why they opted not to go for LEED.
Tomorrow's Green Neighborhood: The Development of Porchscapes By Staci Matlock
Porchscapes is a planned Low Impact Development (LID) and one of the neighborhood projects the USGBC is tracking as part of a LEED for Neighborhood Development pilot program. This overview details the unique design features and the resulting challenges faced in creating this neighborhood of the future.
Turning Green: Santa Fe, NM Reenergizes Building Codes By Staci Matlock
Santa Fe, N.M., is currently working on drafting a set of building codes that will encompass some, if not all Architecture 2030 goals. Find out how the nation's oldest capital city is now working on making it one of the greenest.
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2008 Certifications & Standards Guide
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| Wind Energy |
2008 Wind Energy Roundup
ConnectPress presents its first-ever special report on Wind Energy highlighting this year's features presented throughout the year, including wind reports, wind turbine projects and more. Plus, take a look at the Vendor's Directory, a resource guide featuring wind turbine manufacturers and Wind organizations.
Wind Energy Blows Strong Around the World by Staci Matlock, ConnectPress Staff Writer- ConnectPress presents an overview of some of the latest wind energy projects and key players.
A Small but Mighty Wind: AWEA Report Looks at the Small Wind Industry by Marilyn Pitts, ConnectPress Editor - The U.S. small wind turbine market grew 14% and deployed 9.7 MW of new power generating capacity in 2007, according to an AWEA wind industry report.
Crediting Wind Growth: AWEA 2nd Quarter Report Looks at Wind Industry by Marilyn Pitts, ConnectPress Editor- The U.S. is the world leader in wind energy generation but delays in extending the federal tax credit are impacting the 2009 project pipeline.
Collegiate Winds: Turbines go to College by Staci Matlock ConnectPress Staff Writer - Almost 40 college campuses around the U.S. currently have wind turbines; Wisconsin's Northland College was among the first.
Tracking Wind: Berkeley Lab's US Wind Power Report by Marilyn Pitts, ConnectPress Editor- Berkeley Lab's new report on the US wind industry reveals that wind power capacity increased by 46 percent in 2007. |
This Report is in PDF format. Right click a link below and select Save Target As. Browse to the preferred location on your hard drive and click OK.
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2008 Wind Energy Guide
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