Originally published on October 23, 2019 by BNP Media through the Building Enclosure Blog. It is regarded as one of the most important federal policy mechanisms to support the growth of renewable energy in the United States. The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) was established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and has become a critical component of making on-site renewable energy systems economic for building projects. The ITC is currently a 30% federal tax credit claimed against the tax liability of….
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Applets for Energy and Environmental Design
Originally published on July 10, 2017 by BNP Media through the Building Enclosure Blog. Newsflash: There are a lot of great (and free) online resources for design professionals. When I am having exchanges about energy and environmental design analysis with colleagues and students, it seems like I am constantly referring them to any number of small, accessible online utility programs for performing simple – yet highly sophisticated – functions. Some would refer to these small programs as applets. Below, I have….
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Photograph property of Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects Case Study: Lincoln Heritage Public Library Chrisney Branch Originally published in the Summer 2014 issue of High Performance Buildings (HPB) magazine, a publication of ASHRAE. By Daniel J. Overbey, AIA; and William M. Brown, AIA For the people of Chrisney, Ind., opportunity for social and economic investment has not been knocking. This community of fewer than 500 has been in a gradual economic decline over the past several decades. Having already lost….
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Using Renewable Energy in LEED v4
Energy efficiency is the starting point for any high-performance building. After reducing overall energy needs through building-related energy conservation measures, the next step is to invest in passive systems and high-efficiency HVAC systems. Smart controls can help a building operate even more efficiently. But in the end, there will always be a need to purchase or create energy for the building. On-site generation of renewable energy or the purchase of green power allows buildings to source the remaining energy needs without….
Read MoreMegawatt, Gigawatt, Watt is What?
The Aldo Leopold Nature Center in Baraboo, WI The LEED Platinum facility features a 39.6 kilowatt (kW) solar electric (photovoltaic) system on its roof, the second largest in Wisconsin. Image property of Daniel Overbey There have been a flurry of headlines lately announcing large-scale renewable energy plans. Here are just a few of the recent news clips: Fast-Track Solar Development Zones Identified: The U.S. Department of the Interior has published a “Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement,” which, among other items,….
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