Biophilic Design
Americans spend around 87% of their time indoors and an additional 6% in an enclosed vehicle. The physiological issues resulting from human isolation from the outdoors include vitamin D deficiency, high blood pressure, and weight gain just to name a few. Finding ways...
LEED v4.1 A La Carte
In 2019, USGBC released LEED v4.1, the newest version of the LEED green building program. LEED v4.1 takes into account challenges encountered with v4 and provides solutions through updates to performance thresholds and reference standards. If a project team is...
Municipal Energy Benchmarking Updates for 2020
Following the launch of Assembly Bill 802, individual cities have continued to push the envelope with updates to its implementation. These municipal ordinances build on the current energy benchmarking law which requires existing commercial and multifamily buildings...
Green Buildings Make More “Green” For Your Business
According to the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, making even small financial investments in your building’s efficiency can produce great returns for your business. First, energy efficiency reduces your utility bills which increases your bottom line. Simple...
Is Solar Really Mandatory in 2020?
For developers in California, the prospect of building low-rise multifamily and single family residential buildings in 2020 can be challenging for one reason: photovoltaic systems are becoming effectively mandatory according to the California Energy Code starting...
Bridging Regulations, Building Design and Operational Performance
There is no guarantee that a building designed to high levels of efficiency will deliver high levels of operational performance. Occupant behavior and proper controls programming are primary factors that impact a building’s utility bills. Buildings in design must meet...
Top 5 Strategies to Controlling Residential Indoor Moisture
Moisture in buildings can lead to major problems related to occupant health, indoor air quality, and the life of building materials. The buildup of moisture in homes is a result of the infiltration of humid air, rainwater entering the building envelope, and from human...
Commissioning Design Review
What is a Design Review? A Design Review is a process required for certain projects by the California Energy Code, Section 120.8(d). It is carried out in the schematic and design phases as part of building commissioning and involves a Design Review Kickoff, a...