As heat densities and cooling costs rise, data center professionals are looking for more efficient cooling solutions. A cold aisle containment retrofit can be implemented easily and quickly, carries a payback time from weeks to a few months, and can reduce cooling related energy costs by as much as 30 percent.

Unfortunately, many fleets simply take a reactive approach to vehicle maintenance. In a widely distributed fleet, that could mean costly repairs, not to mention vehicle downtime. Fleet managers need to be able to monitor and collect data on the “health” of their vehicles to fix problems early and reduce costs.

The Mechanical Contractors Education and Research Foundation recently released a new study  that describes green building technologies being implemented in Europe that could be used in the United States, especially chilled beams and active or dynamic façades.

The St. Cloud (Minn.) Municipal Athletic Center (MAC) found a way to go green and save taxpayer dollars in the process. With the installation of a new GeoExchange system, the MAC is using the earth to maintain the arena ice and heat the facility, saving electricity and gas as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The previously distinct systems within buildings are converging on standard platforms, applications, and infrastructures. And the synergy created by that convergence is translating into lower construction costs along with increased efficiencies in operations and energy usage.

Combined heat and power (CHP), also known as cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat from a single fuel source. CHP is not a single technology, but an integrated energy system that can be modified depending upon the needs of the energy end user.

Many businesses face a new challenge that may take them by surprise: Keeping the heat-sensitive IT equipment in their server or telecom closet cool during cold-weather months, when the building is heated. The equipment is susceptible to malfunctioning or damage due to overheating, so keeping it cool is essential.

Every manufacturer of an HVAC digital control system uses the DDC to perform pretty much the same functions. The catch is that each DDC system has different ways of letting you use these functions. If you are used to operating computers, you have the basic knowledge required.

Exposure to fine particles impairs breathing and increases the risk of serious illness. So, what is the best way for a person to reduce their exposure to fine particles of outdoor origin? The answer is to lower the concentrations of these fine particles that seep from the outside into the indoor air of their home.

About one-third of the electric motors in the industrial and commercial sectors use belt drives. Belt drives provide flexibility in the positioning of the motor relative to the load. However, certain types of belts are more efficient than others, offering potential energy cost savings.