Richard Koval, PE, LEED AP

Don’t Let Lead Times Create Bad Times

If you are considering a new building or a major renovation in 2024, you are already too late.  You may even have difficulty finishing in 2025.  For structural materials, mechanical equipment, electrical gear, and many other critical building components, the time from when it is ordered until it arrives on site has increased dramatically since … Read more

Emergency Responder Radio Coverage Systems

In an emergency, firefighters rely on good communication to coordinate their efforts and keep each other safe. They may approach a fire area deep within a building and realize they need additional personnel or equipment. If your building is especially large, has thick concrete walls, or has a lot of equipment that creates interference, the … Read more

Cover Your Assets: Why You Need Surge Protection

Electronic devices are everywhere – in our pockets, on our desks, in our homes, in our cars, and in our facilities. Technological advances that make our lives simpler and more productive are made possible by countless electronic devices. The water, gas, electricity, air, and even the information that flows in and out of our buildings … Read more

Lighting and Controls in High Performance Buildings

The Energy Policy Act of 2005, defines a high performance building as one that “integrates and optimizes all major high-performance building attributes, including energy efficiency, durability, life-cycle performance, and occupant productivity.” (EPACT 2005, Section 914) One of the simplest ways to incorporate these attributes into any building is through the use of high-efficiency lighting and … Read more

Portable Power Distribution Center

When looking for a quick, temporary way to distribute power to several devices one might use a power strip. But what if you need a quick, temporary way to distribute power to an entire facility? When Penn State University began a project to build 18,000 square feet of temporary lab space within 24 trailer units, … Read more