Energy

The guys over at Autodesk made this cute animation to drive the point home The Buildings Sector accounts for about 40% of U.S. Energy, 72% of Electricity, and 34% of Natural Gas use. Building energy costs totaled $390 billion in 2006. The Buildings Sector accounts for about 40% of U.S. Energy, 72% of Electricity, and [...]

Continue reading about Attention general public : Buildings have the greatest energy footprint, not cars

I have a BS ED, which is a science that encompasses the junction between engineering and architecture. My expertise is in buildings and how they work. I focused all my career on design of the built environment and building systems. I was educated in energy conservation, neighborhood preservation, and solar energy in the 1970s. I [...]

Continue reading about THE LAST ENERGY CRISIS- 1970s and a B.S. Environmental Design

noel on January 10th, 2010

I would like to share this 2006 excerpt from the Building Design and Construction magazine white paper on the bottom line of building commissioning. To put some solid numbers on benefits of commissioning, Evan Mills, PhD, and colleagues at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Portland Energy Conservation, and Texas A&M University (Energy Systems Laboratory) reviewed published [...]

Continue reading about The bottom line! Building commissioning today

noel on January 4th, 2010

What if? Energy independence, green jobs, deal with peak oil , have healthier children, cleaner air and water, save the rainforests….

Continue reading about What if global warming is actually a hoax?

noel on December 2nd, 2009

This is a bit of deja vu about energy. Like the last energy crisis. But now they say it is different. This New York Times article, “A Surplus of Energy That Might Even Last” is provocative. It says this may be an inflection point in our economy and its dependence on energy. I can only [...]

Continue reading about U.S. Energy Use pattern is changing

noel on September 19th, 2009

Corporate geothermal or (ground-coupled or pond-coupled ) HVAC systems are eligible for tax credits under the same law as renewable energy measures tax credits. Renewable energies (wind and solar) and combined heat-power systems get a 30% tax credit. A new geothermal /geocoupled heat pump investment will garner a 10% tax refund, which improves an already [...]

Continue reading about Corporate Geothermal is a Renewable Energy tax credit…

noel on September 12th, 2009

I just love this subject. Do you know whether your building is sucking or blowing? Did you know that even a new building, built to the usual building methods, will leak air? In a new project, the key is to make allowance for that, and design, build and validate accordingly. On an existing building, it [...]

Continue reading about Building Air Leakage and Air

noel on September 12th, 2009

Noel Susskind, PE, LEED AP is an experienced mechanical engineer and building energy expert ready to serve you. Commercial, government, educational and healthcare facilities are a focus. He will: Serve as a high level resource on the latest science and art of building, or introduce you to one. Knowledge includes minimizing building energy (carbon) footprint [...]

Continue reading about Energy Engineering for your world

Concerns brought up by Howard McKew of Engineered Systems magazine in the July 2009 issue. He said “Owners, Please Demand More from your IPD team” (Integrated Project Delivery ) McKew cites the fact that the new IPD approach being promoted by the AIA is possibly a lawyers dream to make money in this economic downturn. [...]

Continue reading about Owners: Demand more Energy Modeling for the bottom line

In my opinion, “The 8th habit”, by Stephen Covey, (Free Press, 2004) should be required reading for all business people, including building owners, managers and designers. He said that successful team work includes all of the following: Focus on the wildly important Create a compelling scoreboard Translate lofty goals into specific actions Hold each other [...]

Continue reading about Accountability and measuring performance: Metering to assure energy savings

Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes