Insight Articles

Re-Prioritizing in a Tough Economy

If your business is like most today, your construction and operating budgets have been drastically reduced, or maybe even eliminated. The capital equipment upgrades that you were planning for this year have been put on hold; and instead, your focus has turned to reducing operating costs and avoiding layoffs. If you are in the fortunate … Read more

Project Closeout Starts at the Pre-Construction Meeting

Project closeout should be one of the most celebrated phases of any construction project. The design team can see their knowledge and planning put to actual use; the construction team can pack up their equipment and “turn over the keys” and the owner can finally achieve functional use of the building or area that they … Read more

HVAC Planning for MRI Systems

When planning for an MRI suite, it is important to understand the substantial coordination requirements and other challenges associated with designing an HVAC system to support MRI equipment. Due to the unique and complex nature of these systems and the critical space requirements associated with them, it is important to involve an HVAC engineer versed … Read more

Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

You may have heard about geothermal, or ground-coupled, water source heat pump systems as an alternative to oil and electric heat, but you may be wondering if it is the right type of HVAC system for your project. This guide brings together four key areas to help you determine if a geothermal heat pump system … Read more

How Does Your Chiller Plant Measure Up?

Now that temperatures are falling and central chilled water plants are going offline, it may be time to measure how your plant performed this past summer. Were you able to distribute chilled water at design temperatures throughout your building or campus? Were you able to maintain the designed temperature splits? Were the spaces served by your central … Read more

Incandescent, Compact Fluorescent or LED’s – Which Lighting Method is Best?

All lighting sources are not created equal, and simply providing the proper lighting level in a space is not always enough. Quality of light, efficacy, lamp cost (initial, replacement and life cycle) and environmental impacts are all key factors to consider when choosing the appropriate lighting source for a specific application. A proper lighting source … Read more

Is Your HVAC System Prepared for Winter?

The sun is setting earlier, football season is underway, and cooler temperatures are here. It’s time to think about preparing your HVAC system for the heating season. Including the following steps in your fall maintenance plan can help you save money and prevent common problems throughout the winter season. For more information on things you … Read more

Balancing Energy Conservation, Comfort and Productivity

Energy Conservation is a topic that is on everyone’s mind as energy prices continue to rise and climate changes ensue. As many of you know, adjusting the temperature in your building to a slightly higher setting in the cooling season and a little lower in the heating season is one easy way to consume less … Read more