Tag Archive for ‘LEED’
The Six Components of Successful Daylighting Part III
Presented today are the last two components of successful daylighting: Integrate the daylighting scheme into the architecture Integrate the daylighting scheme with building systems These final two points remind us that architecture is synergistic, that is it becomes more than the sum of its parts. They tie the entire daylighting strategy together and their implementation [...]
Off Grid Home Trends
Now completed, the Schuler Residence in Lake George is a log home that is completely off grid due to it’s remote location in the mountains of Colorado. The home has a photovoltaic (PV) array with a full battery storage system as well as a propane tank and a site managed water and wastewater system. This [...]
Passive Solar Cooling – Solar Chimneys & Cool Tower
Passive solar cooling may seem like an oxymoron to many. After all, the sun is hot and we’ve learned that radiant energy heats up everything on earth that it strikes? That is true and we can use it to our advantage. Keeping things cool The first step in passive solar cooling is to simply keep [...]
LEED VOC MSDS SCAQMD
Part of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is to provide better environments for building occupants. Something we do every day but don’t think about much is breathing. Our lungs are very sensitive to contaminants and dust. If you have ever walked into a new building or been in a new car you [...]
The Components of Solar Hot Water – Collectors and Circulation
In the world of solar hot water there are many names for systems that are identical or do similar things. It is important to know the basics and general components of any system one is working with. Once the basics are understood and mastered then it is possible to have intelligent conversations about a subject [...]
The Six Components of Successful Daylighting Part II
Last week we talked about the first two components of successful daylighting. This week we follow up with the next two: Assess lighting needs for typical visual needs Use of apertures to create focus and mood These two components are somewhat advanced strategies the breathe life into the space and make it more dynamic, all [...]
Insurance for Design Professionals
I spent the morning in an session put on by XL Insurance, the provider of our professional liability insurance. It was of course about contracts and liability so not the most exciting way to spend a morning but there were several interesting facts: Less than 20% of firms surveyed consider themselves to be experienced with [...]
Waiter, There is a Fly in My Concrete!
The concrete that is used today typically consists of five materials; air, Portland cement, gravel and crushed stone, sand, and water. Roughly 10-15% of that mixture is cement. Cement is a very energy intensive product to create. The creation of cement requires approximately 6.5 million BTU’s of energy per ton. The cement industry is resonsible [...]
Phase Change Materials
Anyone who lives in the Denver area is familiar with the large difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Designing a home with proper solar orientation and thermal mass can help protect the interior of a home from these severe swings. In the summer thermal mass is shaded from direct sunlight so it doesn’t get hot. [...]
Consider LED Outdoor Lighting to get LEED Points
It’s no surprise that LED lighting has made a significant impact on the energy use for lighting applications with it’s extremely low energy use per footcandle. New ground is being broken in all lighting uses and we are seeing LED lighting in everything from decorative lighting to task lighting. I recently toured the National Renewable [...]
Entries(RSS)