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The Importance of MEP Coordination

Can a project manager overcome the desire to suspend belief in physics and common sense?

April 26, 2013

By Rebecca Thatcher Ellis, P.E.

No Comments

Last month, I addressed the challenge faced by new construction project teams to build faster and cheaper. In the normal project delivery process, this responsibility falls on the construction manager and/or general contractor (CMGC).

Chillers Past, Present and Future

A couple of industry pros weigh in on how past ‘best practices’ sometimes get in the way of current potential, and on where technology might point.

April 26, 2013

By Fred Berry, chiller solutions senior program manager, Johnson Controls and Adam Meddaugh, director of positive displacement chillers, Daikin-McQuay

No Comments

We had an idea to try something different this month — invite chiller manufacturers to give us their insights on one of two topics. We invited them to either talk about common errors in project design/installation/O&M, with an eye toward helping readers get the intended performance out of their equipment. Or, they could write about what they see happening in this sector in the future. In a stroke of good luck, we had one response to each question. – Ed.)

Commissioning

FASTER + CHEAPER ≠ Better

Can a project manager overcome the desire to suspend belief in physics and common sense?

March 29, 2013

By Rebecca Thatcher Ellis, P.E.

No Comments

My recent columns have been puzzling through the question of why owners are accepting unfinished construction projects as substantially complete.

Commissioning

Substantial Completion & Knowledgeable Owners

January 29, 2013

By Rebecca Thatcher Ellis, P.E.

No Comments

The readers weigh in. In my December 2012 column, I solicited reader feedback regarding substantial completion and the trend of owners accepting buildings as substantially complete when the mechanical and electrical systems are not complete, fully integrated, and functioning properly.

Editor’s Note

Net-Zero News From The Windy City

January 2, 2013

By Robert Beverly

No Comments

Chicago takes the year off from AHR but is staying busy with unusual projects.

Why Are Owners Taking This?

January 2, 2013

By Rebecca Thatcher Ellis, P.E.

One Comment

There are some good explanations for a bad trend.

Commissioning

When “Substantial Completion” Is Insubstantial

November 26, 2012

By Rebecca Thatcher Ellis, P.E.

No Comments

A concept created for special circumstances has become a sad S.O.P.

How The Culture Of Inefficiency Is Outfoxing LEED®, ASHRAE, And Efficiency Programs

November 9, 2012

By Peter Kleinhenz, MS, P.E., Greg Raffio, MS, P.E., Charlie Schreier, MS, P.E., John Seryak, and Franc Sever, MS

3 Comments

How many energy-efficient or certified buildings are not living up to the label? Very, very many, if this Ohio commissioning/auditing firm’s experience is close to typical. They report on common weaknesses in efficiency strategies and on real-life patterns of upgrades gone wrong across an array of equipment types. While flaws in well-intentioned processes remain, a more careful investment of human energy can still yield the desired reduction in building energy.

Commissioning

Data Integration During Construction

October 31, 2012

By Rebecca Thatcher Ellis, P.E.

No Comments

The commissioning agent can steer this to avoid data paralysis later.

Building Automation

Controls Specification Development

October 19, 2012

By Paul Ehrlich, P.E. and Ira Goldschmidt P.E.

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The right amount of detail is a moving target.

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Risk and Reward within Reason – Identifying Data Center Best Practices via Lessons Learned and CFD Analysis

On-Demand The presentation will be a discussion of current and emerging mechanical best practices informed by real world experience and project based analysis.

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