At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, energy and facilities engineers are familiar with ASHRAE's guidelines for mitigating the risk of infection spread. These can be broken down as filtration, mitigation, and dilution. Dilution, or adding additional fresh air, is the best "bang for the buck", especially in facilities that feature a modern Building Automation System. There are a few different sequences of operation that can be implemented by your BAS contractor to dilute the air of recycled air in your facility.
Dickinson College ranks in the top 10 in Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges.
10.29.20| commissioning, Energy Management, RECs and Offsets, renewable energy, Sustainability
The Princeton Review has issued its 2021 Guide to Green Colleges, and once again Dickinson College has been ranked in the guide's Top 10 Green Colleges. The guide recognizes the nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges based on each institutions' sustainability-focused policies, practices and programs. A total of 416 higher education institutions were recognized this year, and Dickinson has received honors every year since its inception in 2010. The Stone House Group has provided a variety of energy management, building commissioning, LEED administration, retro-commissioning, and sustainability consulting services to Dickinson since our firm's founding 1999.
LEED Adapts to the Age of COVID-19
10.20.20The US Green Building Council remains at the helm as a model of good practices, earlier this year releasing four pilot credits to target the spread of infectious disease. Collectively named the Safety First Pilot Credits, these credits could be pursued by projects pursuing LEED certification or used as a guideline for all others:
The Shoulder Season and Energy Savings: What It Means For Your Facility
10.08.20| cost savings, Energy Costs, Energy Pricing, The Shoulder Season
Fall has arrived, and along with it, more temperate weather across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The shoulder season, as we call it in facilities operations, exists between peak cooling season (late May through mid-September) and peak heating season (mid-October through March). With decreased demand for cooling, and only mild heating demand, the forthcoming weeks bring an opportunity to curb energy consumption by taking advantage of favorable outside air temperatures.
Eighteen organizations, comprising of businesses, colleges, and universities, have signed a letter to the Pennsylvania general assembly urging lawmakers to support policies that combat climate change, including investing in renewable energy and pollution reduction measures.
We are proud to announce that our very own Alex Popp is officially certified as a TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Advisor! TRUE Certified facilities set a high bar for sustainability and sustainable practices. TRUE does not focus on the amount of materials diverted from landfills, but emphasizes the importance of upstream policies and practices that make true zero waste possible.
Schools have always been known to conduct quantitative assessments to understand their student's grasp on the curriculum, while simultaneously pushing students to be creative. Assessing the qualitative aspects of creativity has always been challenging.
Our Managing Principal, Larry Eighmy, served as Moderator for the YWCA's "Great Decisions" preview panel on October 16th. Members from each of the Lehigh Valley's biggest cities, Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, spoke about what each of their municipalities are doing to tackle the largest problem facing the global population today.
What comes to mind when you hear the term "energy audit"? If you're like most facilities managers, nothing good. The idea of closely examining your building's energy needs and operating efficiency seems bound to stir up trouble, especially if things are going smoothly as-is.
Part III of a three-part sustainability series by Managing Principal Larry Eighmy. Published by The Huffington Post and Maria Rodale's Farm Country Kitchen website.