Tighter air regulations and and abundance of trees have paired up to fuel the move toward hybrid biomass boilers in these Canadian hospitals. Read about the upgraded systems’ differences and the considerations for trading fossil fuels for sawdust, wood chips, and bark.

We often think of news as focusing on what just happened, but the mixed-use building housing the New York Times’ headquarters puts the emphasis squarely on what’s possible right now and where smart design is headed. The ability to go off-grid when it wants and a sophisticated daylighting system coordinated to heighten HVAC performance are just two exceptional components, not to mention Manhattan’s first high-rise UFAD system. The air distribution design for floors serving the newspaper’s offices is even more advanced, so come on in and let the story unfold. 

The ICC doesn’t own the building housing its new offices. However, between the site’s location and a considerable commitment by both the owner and the ICC, their unusually shaped building points toward good design and environmental responsibility. See how the HVAC and controls perform alongside the other sustainable elements of the project to deliver a LEED® Silver space.

In an era where a press release about the next green  product arrives faster than we can say “sustainable  building practices,” we wondered how many manufacturers are walking the walk in their own operations. These stories represent a sampling of companies who are greening the industry from the inside out.

Record rainfall in November, gale-force winds in December, snow in January … Mother Nature pulled out all the stops last winter in British Columbia. That made humidity control all the more critical at the site for what will be the province’s largest and Canada’s only LEED Silver hospital. With a financial interest in project punctuality, the team engineered a formidable short-term solution to keep the work on track and the drywall from becoming wetwall.

When Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas (DCMCCT) in Austin opens its doors this month, medical professionals as well as pediatric and adolescent patients will have reason to celebrate.

Fighting past some preconceptions (and through a few floors for new exhaust), Essex County College supports its academic course load by handling its chiller load with a dual-fuel retrofit. Improvements are an ongoing process at the New Jersey school, as on any campus. While piping improvements and other projects remain, the staff knows the newfound chiller flexibility will pay off regardless.

Led by a forward-thinking operations manager, this Toronto shopping center implemented wholesale changes on its retail HVAC to provide a beautiful energy budget makeover. See how the team changed chillers and controls, upgraded pumps and drives, and “chased” rewiring options to conserve $120,000 annually. By Joanna R. Turpin

Displaying artwork and artifacts can involve some quite specific moisture control requirements, but those specifics can also vary depending on the particular exhibit. One Ohio museum employed 21st-century humidification and controls in preparation for 200-century-old Dead Sea Scrolls material. Read about that process, including how a little antacid jump-started the system’s steam production for fast relief.

An effective K-12 retrofit using UFAD and displacement ventilation requires everything from load calculations to Cheerios. Overcoming initial skepticism, these engineers have fine-tuned their designs, figured out where architect involvement is critical, and improved IAQ on the road to reducing energy costs throughout this Kansas school district.