Increasingly companies are looking at sustainability, not just at the systems that they design and the impact those can have of customers’ energy use but also at the way that they run their own organisations. So it is not surprising that Colt, whose products are concerned with making the built environment more sustainable, has embarked on this journey.
Read MoreTopics: sustainability
With winter approaching, rising energy costs and environmental concerns put factory managers under constant pressure to optimise their facility’s energy performance. This doesn’t need to be a daunting task, so here are some ways to reduce energy costs this winter.
Read MoreTopics: Factory Survey, Energy saving, sustainability, Heating, Air Leakage
In March a joint CIBSE/ASHRAE event on Sustainability and Smoke Control was held in London by John H. Klote, known throughout the world as an expert on smoke control. Here are his top nine takeaways from the event:
Topics: Smoke Control, Smoke Containment, Webinar, sustainability
Last September we wrote about a project to develop a bioreactive façade using micro-algae: this is now a reality at the BIQ house, the world’s first pilot project to showcase a bioreactive façade at the International Building Exhibition (IBA) in Hamburg.
From theory to practice: the micro-algae façade is in place
Topics: Energy saving, sustainability, Solar Shading
As a factory manager you may find that in spite of having done everything to keep your mechanical ventilation system in perfect condition, the temperature in your plant or in parts of it is getting higher. Over the years, the use of your factory building may have changed: for example, with the introduction of lean manufacturing practices, there may be a higher density of production machinery with consequent higher heat load in some areas of your facility, so that the system as it was originally designed and installed is not as effective as it used to be.
Topics: Energy saving, sustainability, Climate Control, Evaporative cooling, Industrial ventilation
Rising energy costs and environmental concerns put factory managers under constant pressure to optimise their facility’s energy performance. This doesn’t need to be a daunting task.
A good starting point is an analysis of the factory’s energy use graphs based on half-hourly meter readings, which most suppliers of industrial electricity will provide on request. Looking at the patterns in the factory’s energy consumption and analysing how they match the activities being carried out in the plant at the time can reveal easy paths to lower energy use. In most cases some minor changes to operating procedures or staff culture, such as encouraging employees to switch equipment off when leaving, can result in significant savings.
Topics: Energy saving, sustainability
How long will it be until buildings consume no energy? Judging by a current project in Germany, it won’t be long at all. As part of the development of the BIQ House for the International Building Exhibition (IBA) in Hamburg, micro-algae are being used to create a so-called bio-adaptive facade. Such a system will provide both solar shading and generate renewable energy using a novel application of an established technology.
The bio-adaptive facade comprises bio-reactors filled with live micro-algae. When the sun shines more strongly, the algae grow at a faster rate, which in turn provides more shading for the building. Thus photosynthesis enables the facade to react dynamically to changes in solar intensity.
Topics: Energy saving, sustainability, Solar Shading
Do we fully understand sustainability and what is involved? Do we really know the consequences of our actions today on tomorrow?
Topics: Energy saving, sustainability
