Originally published on June 13, 2018 by BNP Media through the Building Enclosure Blog. It is one of the intimidating charts for any building design professional: the psychrometric chart. At first blush, the “psych chart” looks very complicated. There are layers of axes and curved reference lines. However, a closer examination will reveal that – at its essence – the chart is visually conveying the answers to two related questions: How much sensible (dry-bulb) heat is in the air? (See….
Read MoreDry-Bulb Temperature, Wet-Bulb Temperature and Enthalpy
Originally published on May 9, 2018 by BNP Media through the Building Enclosure Blog. There is energy in the air all around us. Some of it exists in the form of thermal energy that one can sense – heat in air that impacts one’s perception of thermal comfort. But there is also an energy embodied in the vapor present in the air. While this “hidden” heat is not experienced as warmth, it certainly has a bearing on thermal comfort as….
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Interior Design Leader Combats Poverty Housing Crisis by Joining Women Build
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – In Monroe County, one in five people are living in poverty, the highest percentage in Indiana, according to a Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County statistic. In an effort to support the community she lives in, Lacey Causseaux, Browning Day’s Director of Interior Design, is trading in her laptop for a hard hat and joining the next Women Build. The Habitat for Humanity Women Build promotes the involvement of women in the construction of Habitat houses. The….
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Earth Day: A Reminder for Stewardship of Our Resources
As landscape architecture, architecture, planning and interior design professionals, our designs are sensitive to the environment as we orchestrate nature and man-made open spaces to create a symphony of experiences for the people who occupy them. Earth Day, which is on Sunday, April 22, should remind us of the role that we, humans, have for stewarding the Earth’s living resources as part of the created order. We should seek to live in harmony with nature and find more creative ways….
Read MoreDefining Humidity Ratio and Relative Humidity
Originally published on April 4, 2018 by BNP Media through the Building Enclosure Blog. How does a hot-air balloon rise? Fire up the burner and the temperature of the air captured within the balloon increased. The molecules of the air take on the thermal energy and become more excited. The excited molecules create more space between them. As a result, the air expands as its temperature increases. Thus, one pound of air at 80-degrees Fahrenheit (°F) is a larger volume than….
Read MoreThermal Dynamics: Visualizing Sensible Versus Latent Heat
Originally published on March 12, 2018 by BNP Media through the Building Enclosure Blog. It’s the first law of thermodynamics. The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another. This is the foundation of phase change in the physical environment. Molecular activity requires energy. The activity does not just magically happen. Phase Change When a material changes its state or phase (e.g., going….
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Understanding the SITES Initiative and its Benefits
Architects have been known for creating beautiful and functional buildings all while thinking about what materials can be used that are sustainable to our environment. Over the past several years, several robust green building standards have emerged in the marketplace, including LEED, WELL, Fitwel, and the Living Building Challenge. This commitment to sustainability in building design and construction is now spilling over into the landscape architecture arena, largely as a result of the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES). WHAT IS SITES?….
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Browning Day Partners with Parks Groups to Re-Design Indy Park
As we continue to celebrate our 50th year, Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf is honored to have the opportunity to give back to our community by leading the design of the Sandorf Park revitalization project. In 2017, Browning Day was selected by the Indianapolis Parks Foundation and IndyParks to re-design Sandorf Park as part of the 2018 National Recreation and Parks Association’s (NRPA) Parks Build Community program; a key component of the 2018 NRPA National Congress, which will bring between 7,000-10,000….
Read MoreFive Diagrams Every Design Team Should Know
Originally published on February 7, 2018 by BNP Media through the Building Enclosure Blog. They might be considered cliché; however, they might also be very true. The following are five diagrams that frequently work their way into slide decks about green building design and construction. You should be familiar with all of these. Let’s unpack each one briefly – going back to primary source material and acknowledging attribution. Read more…
Read MoreTracking Energy Efficiency Improvements in ASHRAE Standard 90.1
Originally published on January 17, 2018 by BNP Media through the Building Enclosure Blog. It may be the most well-known standard in the building design and construction industry: ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings, Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (or more commonly, ASHRAE Standard 90.1). It serves as the basis for many energy codes across the U.S. It is also the energy standard referenced by LEED and other green building certification systems. Every few years, Standard 90.1 is updated by….
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