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The article reports on the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification received by the AVA 55 Ninth high-rise apartment building located in San Francisco, California. It provides overview of the features of the building which featured a domestic hot water (DHW) system and tankless water heating with sustainable package designed and installed by ACCO Engineered Systems Inc. It also outlines the advantage of the technology which helped it earn the recognition.

The article focuses on the work of IBE Consulting Engineers in designing an energy-efficient building for Claremont McKenna College in California. It notes that the IBE team has improved the building's overall thermal comfort while reducing energy consumption. It also cites the use of a software program to determine the total solar radiation on surfaces of a 90-degree structure. Moreover, it mentions that the building features a high-performance lighting system and daylight harvesting sensors.

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.

Features the Natural Resources Defense Council's (NRDC) new office in Santa Monica, California which has a forward-thinking sustainable design. Showcase of the building on green construction and maintenance that demonstrates NRDC's philosophy in action; Structural design of the building built from recycled or recyclable materials and utilizes most of natural light and sea breeze to minimize the need for artificial lighting and cooling; Details of information on the conservation and utilization of the building on other natural resources.

Features the office complex of Toyota Motor Sales Inc. in Torrance, California. Achievement of the facility with the U.S. Green Building Councils's LEED Gold Rating; Lighting system of the complex; Success of the complex's construction. INSETS: Team-based approach identifies return fan capacity shortage...;The LEED™ Green Building Rating System.

Discusses the guidelines of the Commissioning Process School Adoption Guide developed by the Division of State Architect for the procurement of schools in California. Involvement of a commissioning authority in the design and construction of schools; Documentation of the construction phase; Importance of a predesign meeting on the creation of a project design.

Reports the efforts of the Donald Bren Hall on the University of California Santa Barbara on designing a building minimizing environmental impact of the ecosystem in the U.S. Compliance of building and energy code requirements; Design of Donald Bren Hall; Installation of automated building control system to reduce electricity usage.

Details findings of a study by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's (LADWP) Marketing and Customer Services group about energy-improvement options for commercial and industrial buildings. Benefits of energy efficiency; Potential market for energy-efficiency products; Capabilities of the Pentech Energy Recovery Controller from Pentech Energy Solutions Inc. INSET: Product designed to make monitoring easy..

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 reports that Val Verde Unified District has installed the Quiet Climate 2 of Geary Pacific to reduce the overall decibel levels of the classrooms in Perris, California. According to the author, the HVAC unit provides operating sound levels that are 20 to 35 times quieter than a standard wall-mounted heat pump. He added that the installation has helped reduce the overall ambient noise level from 58 to 37 decibels.

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 upgrade of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system at the Harvey Mudd College's (HMC) dormitories in Claremont, California. It says that board facilities director Tom Shaffer talked with representative from Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating to know the company's variable refrigerant flow (VRF) zoning technology. It notes that the college installed the VRF system in the oldest residence hall in August 2007 and the east hall in August 2008.

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.

Focuses on California State University officials' efforts to restore the school campus in Northridge, California. Damage caused by an earthquake in 1994; Formation of the Office of Energy Management; Office's partnership with Siemens Building Technologies Inc.; Impact of the partnership on campus operations; Installation of heating systems in school buildings.

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.

Provides information about the Getty Center in West Los Angeles. Center's expected number of visitors a year; Purpose of the center; Projected construction cost; Details on its operational control.

Reports on the energy and cost savings capabilities of the `BACnet Data Communication Protocol for Building and Automation Control Networks'. Approval to test BACnet in government buildings in California; Compatibility with multi-vendor system environments.

The article provides an overview on the concept of fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) in building automation systems (BAS). Changes in the California State Energy code are highlighted which require rooftop units above 4.5 tons to be equipped with FDD systems. According to the author, FDD systems improve operations and efficiency.

The article highlights the different renovations and upgrades to school buildings to save energy up to 70% in California district. According to the author, co-founder of M/E Systems Engineering Engineer Keith Ritter has installed the AERCO KC1000 and Benchmark 2.0 boilers for it can deliver thermal efficiencies up to 99%. He added that the upgrades that improved service in the classroom consisted of new transformers, switchgear and distribution panels.

The article focuses on the expected highlights of the building automation industry event BuilConn in Palm Springs, California on May 16-18, 2006. The main speaker will be Anto Budiardjo, the winner of AutomatedBuilding.com's "Newsmaker and Industry Shaker of the Year" award. The event will also feature the Cisco Connected Roundtable, "Mapping the Future of Building-IT Convergence," a by-invitation-only meeting for key stakeholders in the industry.

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.

Focuses on installation of a cost-efficient air conditioning system at Sacramento City College's North Gym in Sacramento, California. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning design by Al Heitz; Strategic installation schedule by mechanical contractor Bangar Contractors Inc.; Utilization of a fabric duct air distribution system manufactured by FabricAir Inc.

Discusses how the problem on heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of the Capitol Bank Center in Sacramento, California was resolved. Overview on the problem; Individuals responsible for solving the problem.

Describes the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system project in a 22-story office building in San Francisco, California. Updating and retrofitting of direct digital controls based on the BACnet network; Contractors in the project; Estimated amount of energy cost savings per year.