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The article highlights the conceptual design of a new chiller plant for the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California. According to the author, to furnish, design and install the new plant, EMCOR Services and Mesa Energy Systems, Inc. have been selected by Mission Inn. He added that due to the fast-track nature of the project and the unique site, the modular solution has been selected.

The article reports on the Public Interest Energy Research Program (PIER), which was funded by the California Energy Commission to conduct computer simulations to find out the conditions where demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) is cost effective. It was found that areas with extreme climates will benefit the most from DCV. Tips for the application of economizers, sensor placement and on conducting customized analyses are provided.

Describes the retrofitting of the chilled and domestic water systems at the Lerdo Correctional Facility in Kern County, California. Selection of Noresco to handle the retrofit project; Installation of custom programmable logic controls to control the domestic water well pumps; Advantages of showerheads and water closet controls in reducing wastewater flow.

The article focuses on the complexness of Heating Ventilation and Conditioning (HVAC) design which becomes a challenge in design process. It relates the cases study of knottiness encountered in the construction design of the Valley Performing Arts Center in California State University. It provides information on the use of such design as well as notes the things to consider on the construction process. Moreover, the project is expected to be completed by early 2010.

The article focuses on the aim of StopWaste.org to have a LEED Platinum rating for its environment friendly building in Oakland, California. To achieve the performance points, the agency is to convert its heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems far more efficient than a standard building. Through this process, the agency emphasizes the significance of energy modeling, which optimizes its energy performance.

The article presents information about variable frequency compression technology. The 12,000-sq-ft Oxnard Civic Center Professional Building's, in downtown Oxnard, California, thirty-something HVAC system was requiring constant repairs with bills often exceeding $10,000 annually. In spring of 2003, Steve Dishman of Kaiser Air Conditioning advised the building's owner Manuel Lopez to replace his worn-out equipment with state-of-the-art technology, a cooling and heating system that could provide individual zoning controls for each one of the building's retail and office tenants.

The article reports on the opening of the Mitchell Park Library & Community Center in Palo Alto, California. Information about the building's Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD) Design and its contribution to the project's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification is discussed. The design team is also mentioned including consulting engineering firm principal Tunde Munz, associate Jonathan Hartman, and project manager Tony Guminsky.

This article reports on cooling systems in buildings. It is informed that a five-story building in the South Pasadena area of Los Angeles County had comfort system which comprised of a double-duct A/C system with DX cooling and two duct furnaces. The system was centralized in a penthouse equipment room that housed the DX cooling coils in an air handler, which in turn was served by two 40-ton reciprocating compressors. Due to repeated failure of cooling systems in the building it was recommended that the existing compressors should be replaced with new equipment.

Describes the installation of individual boilers and chillers in various buildings at the Air Force base in Sacramento, California to convert it into a commercial area for retailers and businesses. Initial decision to close the McClellan Air Force Base; Maintenance costs; Dehumidification systems installed; Mechanical contractors involved in the conversion.

Features Philip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco which is the largest `BACnet' installation utilizing the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) communication standard. Lot area and height of the building; Aim of the Phase II installation of BACnet; Approximate number of air-handling units that serve the federal courtrooms. INSET: 450 Golden Gate Project.

The article highlights the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau's Fifth Annual Conference which will be held in San Jose, California on May 18-20, 2006. Workshops on building commissioning and customer service are slated within the said event. Sessions will involve international speakers who will discuss issues on natural ventilation and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design/Green Buildings.

Focuses on the ventilation system of Semper Fit Fieldhouse at the California Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton. Use of fabric duct system for value engineering of the project.

Reports on how the installation of E-PAK Trane Chiller coupled with ice thermal storage tanks has reduced the energy costs of the Canlis Administrative Building in San Joaquin County, California. Advantages of off-peaking cooling system using Calmac Manufacturing's IceBank over water-cooled chiller; Comment of county energy manager David LaLonde regarding the energy savings incurred by the county by adapting an off-peak cooling system.