November 2010
Fanning away the heat
Construction of a new campus recreation facility for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, called for the installation of Big Ass Fans to provide elevated air circulation within the facility. » more
Talking yourself up
Engineers have a reputation of being less-than-great communicators, but selling energy-efficient design requires a keen ability to paint a verbal picture about your capabilities. Here are some tips. » more
Leading the charge
Meet Robert Linder, PE, a mechanical engineer with a focus on commissioning, retrocommissioning, energy audits, and overall problem solving. » more
Communicating so others hear
Communication skills are critical to your career and will help you see things from the other person’s point of view. » more
How to select a VFD
These guidelines dispel the confusion about matching variable frequency drives (VFD) and motors to fans and pumps that are typically encountered in commercial building applications. While the... » more
Prepare for the Smart Grid surge
Get your brain around the Smart Grid with three key documents. » more
Firestopping exposed wires and cables
An “almost perfect” firestopping system isn’t good enough when a fire starts in a building. There are several reasons for providing firestopping for wires and cables. It may be a requirement of the... » more
Choosing LEDs for indoor use
Here are practical evaluation criteria for selecting LED lighting for indoor, ambient applications. » more
The economics of improving power factor
A better understanding of power factor, harmonics, electrical distribution systems, and the utility’s billing practices will help reduce electric bills. » more
Enabling smart service with remote data
Suppose you are a generator service organization, maintaining customers’ equipment scattered across your state. Let’s further suppose you have extensive knowledge of the historical performance of... » more
Robust power to the rescue
Lewis & Clark Regional Water System (LCRWS) of Sioux Falls, S.D., is a consortium of 20 members: 15 cities and 5 rural water districts in southeastern South Dakota, northwestern Iowa, and... » more
MVP Health Care
In the midst of a facility expansion in March 2007, MVP Health Care (MVP), Rochester, N.Y., decided that a reliable mode of standby power was required to ensure smooth operations and to keep all of... » more
The how and why of specifying resistive load banks
In specifying load banks as part of a backup power application, one should start with answering the “why” portion first. » more
HMI monitoring and control: Building blocks of a SCADA system
When it comes to equipment operation, user interface is the most visible system component. The user interface can include anything from the steering wheel and instrument cluster on a vehicle’s... » more
Meeting the next T4 challenges
This article outlines the changes to the allowable emissions under the Environmental Protection Agency standards. » more
Fanning away the heatConstruction of a new campus recreation facility for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, called for the installation of Big Ass Fans to provide elevated air circulation within the facility. » more
Talking yourself upEngineers have a reputation of being less-than-great communicators, but selling energy-efficient design requires a keen ability to paint a verbal picture about your capabilities. Here are some tips. » more
Leading the chargeMeet Robert Linder, PE, a mechanical engineer with a focus on commissioning, retrocommissioning, energy audits, and overall problem solving. » more
Communicating so others hearCommunication skills are critical to your career and will help you see things from the other person’s point of view. » more
It’s all about relationships
It’s relationships, both personal and professional, that are so important. » more
It’s relationships, both personal and professional, that are so important. » more
How to select a VFDThese guidelines dispel the confusion about matching variable frequency drives (VFD) and motors to fans and pumps that are typically encountered in commercial building applications. While the... » more
Prepare for the Smart Grid surgeGet your brain around the Smart Grid with three key documents. » more
Firestopping exposed wires and cablesAn “almost perfect” firestopping system isn’t good enough when a fire starts in a building. There are several reasons for providing firestopping for wires and cables. It may be a requirement of the... » more
Protecting nonstructural systems in earthquakes
The performance of nonstructural systems—like mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components; architectural components; and contents—is generally not given sufficient consideration, except in... » more
The performance of nonstructural systems—like mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components; architectural components; and contents—is generally not given sufficient consideration, except in... » more
Choosing LEDs for indoor useHere are practical evaluation criteria for selecting LED lighting for indoor, ambient applications. » more
The economics of improving power factorA better understanding of power factor, harmonics, electrical distribution systems, and the utility’s billing practices will help reduce electric bills. » more
Enabling smart service with remote dataSuppose you are a generator service organization, maintaining customers’ equipment scattered across your state. Let’s further suppose you have extensive knowledge of the historical performance of... » more
Robust power to the rescueLewis & Clark Regional Water System (LCRWS) of Sioux Falls, S.D., is a consortium of 20 members: 15 cities and 5 rural water districts in southeastern South Dakota, northwestern Iowa, and... » more
MVP Health CareIn the midst of a facility expansion in March 2007, MVP Health Care (MVP), Rochester, N.Y., decided that a reliable mode of standby power was required to ensure smooth operations and to keep all of... » more
The how and why of specifying resistive load banksIn specifying load banks as part of a backup power application, one should start with answering the “why” portion first. » more
HMI monitoring and control: Building blocks of a SCADA systemWhen it comes to equipment operation, user interface is the most visible system component. The user interface can include anything from the steering wheel and instrument cluster on a vehicle’s... » more
Meeting the next T4 challengesThis article outlines the changes to the allowable emissions under the Environmental Protection Agency standards. » more