HKS Trace Paper

COMFEN is a tool designed to support the systematic evaluation of alternative fenestration systems for project-specific commercial building applications.  Developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for architectural façade designer, COMFEN provides a simplified user interface that focuses attention on key variables in fenestration design.  Under the hood is Energy Plus, a sophisticated analysis engine that dynamically simulates the effects of these key fenestration variables on energy consumption, peak energy demand, and thermal and visual comfort.  The results from the Energy Plus simulations are presented in graphical and tabular format within the simplified user interface for comparative fenestration design cases to help users move toward optimal fenestration design choices for their project.

HKS DesignGreen is beginning to assist design teams in analyzing façade options with this software and believe that it will be a very promising tool in the near future.

HKS’s commitment to the 2030 Challenge, spawned innovative changes to our standard C401 Agreement with our MEP Consultants.  These changes are catching the attention of the AE community (including the AIA) for their ability to promote greater integration of engineering innovation into the architectural design process.

In essence, the agreement requires our consulting engineers to assist our design teams in achieving aggressive energy budgets for our projects and to proactively inform our design teams of energy efficiency measures appropriate to achieve these targets.

The specific details of the requirements can be found in sections 3.1.14 of the Agreement.  There are also other requirements regarding water conservation and LEED Certifications in the subsequent sections. Click here to access our master C401 agreement.

Energy is the hospitality industry’s second greatest operating cost.  Studies have shown that for every degree of thermostat setback, approximately 3% of the guestroom energy is saved. In addition to temperature, automated systems can be used to control guestroom lighting, window treatments and even plug loads.

These systems typically have two different levels of control; the first level is through the property management interface, which adjusts the settings immediately when a guest checks-in and can even be tailored to specific guest-history information. The second level of system interaction is a magnetic strip at the guestroom door or a guestroom keycard switch which signals entrance and exit activity during the guest’s stay. Motion detectors in the entrance corridor, living and bath areas also signal when a guest is in the room. The system can detect when a guest’s room is empty through these two detection systems and modify the room settings accordingly.  Between guests, rooms can be set to an energy saving mode even when motion is detected by cleaning staff.

Guestroom automation systems have been used in HKS projects such as City Center’s Aria Hotel and The Montage Beverly Hills.

Click here to access the DesignGreen blog to comment and for archived info.

In 2009, textiles accounted for 5.2 percent of the municipal waste stream and only 13.8 percent were recycled. That means about 10.8 million tons of clothing and textiles ended up in the landfill.  The thing is, much of the clothing that ends up getting tossed can actually be reused or salvaged by non-profile organizations like Campus California to raise money for good causes.  The organization collects clothing and shoes via green boxes placed strategically throughout California in parking lots and business centers.

Last year, the organization collected over 7 million pounds of clothing, which after it was sorted, processed and sold, raised $213,000 for two other non-profits that placed volunteers in projects in Africa and South America.

“The positive environmental effects come from savings in water usage, pesticides and a number of toxic chemicals commonly used to grow cotton and in the process of producing the fabric,” …. “Additionally recycling creates many times the number of jobs compared to disposal, in collecting, sorting and re-selling of used clothing.”

Read more at:    http://earth911.com/news/2011/07/25/campus-california-clothing-recycling/

A new high rise is going up in Miami’s design district, and its a lean, green, eco machine. A collaboration between Chad Oppenheim architecture + design, energy consultant Buro Happold, and structural engineer Ysreal Seinuk, the $40 million, 25-story, “COR” building will incorporate mixed-use residential and commercial space, integrating green technologies including wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, and solar hot water generation. The building’s exoskeleton is a hyper-efficient structure that provides thermal mass for insulation, shade for residents, and architectural elements such as terraces and armatures that support turbines.