Energy in Action! — buildings

Commercial & Institutional HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems play a crucial role in maintaining comfortable and healthy indoor environments while managing energy costs. Optimizing these systems is essential to strike the right balance between providing acceptable occupancy comfort or process function and minimizing energy requirements. In this article, we will explore the key aspects of optimizing HVAC systems to achieve these goals. Commercial HVAC systems aim to maintain indoor comfort levels, ensuring that temperature and humidity are within acceptable ranges. Simultaneously, these systems must provide adequate ventilation and indoor air quality (IAQ) to support occupant health. All of...

Lighting plays a crucial role in our daily lives, affecting not only our comfort and productivity but also the bottom line for businesses and building owners as they grapple with higher expenses including energy costs.  In recent years, advancements in lighting controls and the adoption of LED lighting have revolutionized the way we illuminate our spaces, enhance workspaces and ergonomics and bolster the value of a building or facility. Let’s explore how these innovations are revolutionizing the way we live, work, and play. Advancements in Lighting Controls Smart Lighting Systems:  Modern lighting controls have evolved into intelligent systems that can...

Measurement & Verification Planning is conducted in the Energy Efficiency Planning, Install, as well as Maintain Phases of and energy savings project lifecycle.  Attendees to the course Energy Savings Measurement & Verification (M&V) and IPMVP (International Measurement Verification Protocol), will explore various energy management and building operation techniques which can be used by building owners, operators, energy managers, energy engineers, M&V data analysts, facility managers and energy efficiency project investors to bolster energy efficiency implementation and for the following value-added purposes: Increasing Energy Savings and Energy Efficiency Implementation:Accurate determination of energy savings gives building owners (end users), and facility managers...

What a fantastic solar energy, Cleantech, energy policy and disruptive technologies panel and discussion hosted by United Consulting.  Led by Georgia Public Service Commissioner, Tim Echols, the presenters represented a cross section of stakeholders in the industry - Alicia Case, Southeast Region Lead of Sustainability with JLL, Wilson Mallard, Director of Renewable Development with Georgia Power, Southern Company and Kaveh Kamooneh, Owner with Better Solar Tomorrow.   Some key takeaways - - Georgia is on the move with leading edge companies building factories to support the Cleantech industry. The Georgia Department of Economic Development working with policy makers, Georgia Power and local communities have landed some major...

A microgrid is a small scale electricity grid that can operate independently from the main power grid. It is typically used to provide power to a small community or a single building, and it can incorporate a variety of different energy sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and fossil fuel generators.  It can utilize battery storage to add to the Microgrid’s resiliency. There are several different types of microgrids each with its own unique characteristics and applications.One type of microgrid is the stand alone microgrid which is not connected to the main power grid. These systems are often used...