Jeromie Winsor, Web Editor

Constant Variables

The design of HVAC pumping systems has been greatly affected by the advent of variable-frequency drives (VFDs). These devices have created a multitude of design options for engineers and arguably helped increase energy efficiency. In this month's M/E Roundtable, our panel of HVAC design experts discuss the effects of VFDs, some design considerations and the shape of things to come.

Reports From the Field: Open Controls

Well over a decade ago, concern about the proprietary communications methods for building control systems led the industry to ponder a change. At the time, many building owners—and system designers—felt that they were at the mercy of particular vendors for the installation, maintenance and upgrade of building automation systems.

M/E Roundtable: Building Consensus on BAS

Specifiers and BAS developers thresh out the current state of building control technology and applications

Keeping Track of Conductive Polymers

Plastics that are capable of conducting electricity—electrically conducting polymers—were the accidental result of an experiment in the late 1970s. At the time, the discovery that certain plastics could actually change their traditional "insulating" properties to conductive ones offered a future bright with possibilities.

Specifier’s Notebook: Keeping Track of Conductive Polymers

Plastics that are capable of conducting electricity—electrically conducting polymers—were the accidental result of an experiment in the late 1970s. At the time, the discovery that certain plastics could actually change their traditional "insulating" properties to conductive ones offerered a future bright with possibilities...

Building Consensus on BAS

Editor's Note: In the past, participation in CSE's monthly M/E Roundtable has generally been limited to consulting engineers. This month, CSE begins a new trend, calling on product manufacturers—in this case, BAS developers—to give their insight on technical issues relating to their products.

Bank on it

Global banker Mellon Financial Corporation is no stranger to the shores of the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. In fact, its primary operations were housed for years in a cluster of facilities in downtown Pittsburgh, the heart of this "Golden Triangle." The separate high-rise structures, however, did not mesh well with a key functional requirement of Mellon's modern banking operati...

Rising Sun

The sun, of course, lies literally at the center of our solar system. Figuratively, one could also say it lies at the center of our universe. And although the sun is approximately 93 million miles away from Earth, it bestows upon us more energy—in the form of light and heat—than we could ever possibly need.

The Remote Possibilities of Fiber-Optics

While fiber optics are revolutionizing the communications industry, their adoption into general lighting applications have been slow at best, especially in the U.S. The reasons behind this lack of exploration are varied, with the most common factors being a high initial cost, a general lack of standardized data and difficulty of simply finding quality components.

Space and Flexibility

Commercial and industrial clients are constantly transforming their roles and paradigms. Flexible companies need flexible facilities and—as the electrical engineers in this month's M/E Roundtable can attest—these facilities need power systems that can adapt and grow with them.CSE: What type of client typically changes the most over the life of a facility? Are there certain f...