You can reach McKew at hmckew@bss-consultant.com for business development planning advice and and D-B/IPD facilitator services. For more online publications, visit www.buildingsmartsoftware.com.

Articles

ARTICLES

Back 2 Basics

Energy Retro-Cx

Based on Cx-3 ATC/FPT and TAB-3 software

June 1, 2013

By Howard McKew, P.E., C.P.E.

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MONTH 3- The Energy Conservation Opportunity: Water-Source Heat Pump System Application - Solution Implementation and Monitor, Measure, and Benchmarking

Tomorrow's Environment

Designing A Central Chiller Plant Equipment Room

It turns out that heat stroke, difficult access to equipment, and concussion are all detriments to good maintenance.

June 1, 2013

By Howard McKew, P.E., C.P.E.

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Here are a few interesting things to keep in mind when designing an equipment room. First, these spaces usually take up 7% of the gross floor space when located within the building or on the roof.

Tomorrow’s Environment

Can Someone Design a Mobile Manager Software Program?

Handheld project management will soon be an expectation, not a bonus.

April 26, 2013

By Howard McKew, P.E., C.P.E.

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Here is a good idea for a frustrated HVAC person who likes to dabble with computer technology. It seems to me that now just about everyone (except me) uses a handheld device of some kind and is drawn to endless hours of using it analogous to drawing a moth to a flame to its screen.

ventilation system, calculated conditiong

Back 2 Basics

Based on Cx-3 ATC/FPT and TAB-3 software

April 26, 2013

By Howard McKew, P.E., C.P.E.

No Comments

Last month, we tested readers on commissioning three of the many automatic temperature control (ATC) sequences of operation associated with outdoor air ventilation, space cooling, and also no mechanical heating or cooling required.

Tomorrow's Environment

Make Your Meetings Work

Why not have the subcontractors run the weekly coordination meetings?

March 18, 2013

By Howard McKew, P.E., C.P.E.

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When I have sat in on trade contractor field coordination meetings over the years, the prime contract (either a general contractor or construction manager) will have his project manager and/or mechanical and electrical coordinator facilitate these weekly meetings.

Tomorrow's Environment

Solar Heat & Electricity: What's The Problem?

January 29, 2013

By Howard McKew, P.E., C.P.E.

One Comment

In some settings, the old excuses don’t hold water anymore.

The Power Of Positive Thinking

January 2, 2013

By Howard McKew, P.E., C.P.E.

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Its payoff can extend to your revenue, too.

Tomorrow’s Environment

A Woman's Perspective On Work

November 26, 2012

By Howard McKew, P.E., C.P.E.

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A casual survey and personal experience generate some candor and surprises.

Tomorrow’s Environment

Company Of One, Cont'd Consider A Mentor

November 1, 2012

By Howard McKew, P.E., C.P.E.

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You’re never too old for practical words of experience.

Less Capacity Is The Coolest

October 31, 2012

By Howard McKew, P.E., C.P.E.

One Comment

Sometimes, what seems like a need for more cooling capacity could be the need to take a hard look and fine-tune the existing chiller plant. With a hospital expansion coming up, the team on this UMass Memorial Health Care project avoided adding up to 120 tons of capacity with tactics that included attacking inefficiencies in piping, valves, cooling towers, and controls.

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3/20/13 2:00 pm EST

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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This series from longtime columnist and chronic forward-thinker Howard McKew covers a lot of ground -- from retrocommissioning to systems training, on toward checklists for drawings and tips for meeting minutes. Click HERE to be taken to the podcast page!