IES Blog

October was a busy month for our North American training road show! Toronto, Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta, and Minneapolis! Over the course of the two-day programs, our IES experts have helped attendees across the country to learn first-hand how to use our sustainability solutions to design more energy-efficient buildings and achieve LEED credits.

Not familiar with our training programs? Starting back in August in Chicago and Denver, we set out on a Road Show across the United States and Canada to conduct two-day training events. Designed for engineers and sustainability consultants, our events aim to give attendees the opportunity to learn simulation techniques and methods to enable more sustainable design practices. The first day focuses on intermediate simulation analysis, followed by advanced and building integrated systems modeling on the second day. In your city, if you’re only available or interested in registering for one of the two training days, that’s not a problem since they can be taken together or separately.

So where are we headed next? After Thanksgiving, our Road Show wraps up the month in Orange County / Los Angeles on November 29th and 30th. On December 13th and 14th, our last two-day training program of 2011 will take place in the Washington D.C. area.

To register or learn more about when we’ll be in a city near you, contact erin.lofstrom@iesve.com and check out http://www.iesve.com/training/events.

We look forward to seeing you!

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Tags:design, Engineers, event, IES, LEED, Modeling, North America, Sustainability, Training

New York City’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC). As the City’s primary project manager for construction projects, they build many of the civic facilities New Yorkers use every day.  And recently, the DDC has been designing and refurbishing libraries, firehouses and museums, bringing new life to old buildings and reviving the city with a renewed look at architecture.

One recent project is the Queens Central Library, referenced in the NY Times article, “New York’s Public Architecture Gets a Face-Lift.”

What I find interesting is the reference the editor makes to Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. These seem like the most un-architecturally appealing buildings, and certainly not a place for intellectual stimulation.

Libraries have also learned from retailers like Starbucks and Barnes & Noble about what people expect when they leave their homes to go someplace public to sit and read. Libraries have become modern town squares and gathering places; they offer millions of New Yorkers employment counseling, English-language classes and, crucially, Internet access.

But the inspiration certainly worked for the library in Jamaica, Queens. Its architectural design is fresh, unique and inspiring, but still fits in with the surrounding low-rises in the area. Looking at this project an architectural eye, I think this revival of sorts demonstrates what can happen when architects, even without a whopping budget, can do if they have an innovative agenda and a supportive client. Applying the basics and designing with the future in mind is something we can’t take for granted – NYC’s DDC is a great example of what a little updating can do to bring buildings into the 21st century.

This sums it up quite nicely.
And it’s the small things, after all — some greenery, good lighting, well-maintained sidewalks and well-made buildings — that shape our perceptions of where we live, whether or not we’re always conscious of them.

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Tags:Architects, Building, design, New York

Zero net energy. It’s the buzzword for office buildings, residential developments, individual homes and schools. And a recent Los Angeles area design firm – The Swift Lee Office – is earning recognition for its public school building prototype.

A recent article in LiveGreen outlines some of the specifics for a school building design completed by the architecture firm, and the various elements the design incorporates in order to achieve a sustainable, zero net energy footprint. What I found most interesting from this article was the fact that Swift Lee considered the entire lifecycle of the building in their design.

A best practices approach will be applied to minimize the amount of waste during construction, the structure will achieve net zero energy while in operation and can be largely recycled once it is dismantled.

I think Swift Lee hit the nail on the head.  This holistic approach is the key to sustainable design. It’s not just about designing for today. Because if we’ve learned anything from the past, it’s that things change. The way we design and create buildings today, while leaps and bounds ahead of where we were even just a few years ago, will likely change again over the next decade. We’ll discover new technologies and ways of designing, and just that like, what was “revolutionary” in 2011 will be obsolete then. But we’ve been given the opportunity to design our buildings to be the complete package, and the ability to use technology to advance the entire design process.

I’m looking forward to following this story and to seeing the completed school projects in Los Angeles. My hope is that The Swift Lee Office model catches on, and that more designers look at the whole picture when designing, not just for today – but for the future.

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Tags:design, Modeling, Net Zero Energy, Schools, Sustainability

Salvador Dalí, best known for his surrealist work, was a versatile artist. Some of his more popular works are sculptures and other objects, and he is also noted for his contributions to theatre, fashion, and photography.

And one of the most comprehensive collections of Dalí work is now housed in the newly redesigned museum bearing his name in St. Petersburg, FL.

So what does Dalí have to do with architecture? Well, this museum was designed with not just the interior in mind. Built to withstand extreme weather conditions (it is Florida, after all) as well as decrease its ecological footprint, The Dalí Museum serves not only as a home for some of the artist’s greatest works, but his art inspired much of the design of the structure itself.

The rough, unfinished concrete walls of the main structure deliver a stark contrast to the sleek elegance of the glass sections, which use geodesic triangulation to imitate the flow of liquids in nature. The reinforced concrete walls and the glass sections can withstand hurricanes (up to a category 5). Hurricane-resistant skylights allow natural light to enter the third-floor gallery space, and the glass atrium brings natural light into the lobby. Automated artificial lighting shuts off when the rooms are unoccupied, reducing unnecessary electricity use, while the exterior lighting is provided by high-efficiency LEDs.

Sustainability played a key part in the redesign of this museum. It serves as a model that design can be functional AND beautiful, while still incorporating energy efficient features. This museum could serve as a model for other buildings that are looking to make upgrades but are afraid of losing their uniqueness.

AOL Travel News named the museum as “One of the top buildings you have to see before you die.” Guess I better plan a trip to Florida!

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Tags:Architects, Art, Building, design, Sustainability

The theme of Greenbuild 2011 is ‘What’s Next?’ It couldn’t be more timely for our company.

What’s next for IES? Glad you asked. Our Founder and Managing Director Don McLean was talking at the booth all day yesterday about our vision – a better vision where IES can impact not only the architectural market, but a range of markets – from VCs to manufacturing, etc. This is certainly an exciting time for us.

As for the show itself, this is the first time USGBC has hosted Greenbuild outside the U.S.  People here seem to think this represents a big move for the USGBC in terms of working with other countries toward a bigger green movement.  And the one thing that everyone here is saying is “Wow, Toronto’s amazing!” The architecture here is pretty cool, a mix of modern and metropolitan. A lot of glass buildings – and in a city that gets such cold winters, energy performance is definitely a relevant topic and good market for Greenbuild.

The halls are split this year – and very far from one another! (My feet can vouch for that!) The North hall has been much busier than the South hall, but the energy in both halls has been high. The show is packed, and that’s exciting to see!

Traffic at the booth has been very busy. We’ve been doing trainings which have attracted some nice crowds. Nathan did a presentation with Peter Doo of Doo Consulting and Ron Moore from Perkowitz-Ruth Architects, where they talked about the Brickstainable Competition and talked about the winning design. (We’re so happy to be involved with Brickstainable – what a fun competition!) The winning design had a zero net energy goal, which is fantastic to see!

So far, so good here in Toronto! For another perspective, take a look at Daily Commercial News and Construction Record’s first-hand account of the show – ‘U.S. Canadian green building councils kick off Greenbuild conference in Toronto.’

I’m headed to the booth (2325N), so stop by and say hi today! And follow us on Twitter for live updates throughout the day.

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Tags:Architects, brickstainable, competition, design, Greenbuild, USGBC

This year’s Greenbuild theme seems particularly appropriate to us. Since our formation in 1994, IES has always been involved in the ‘What’s NEXT’. Back then, we took academic performance analysis thinking and technology, and created the first commercially viable suite of performance analysis software. Our expert consultants also worked closely with early adopters on its implementation and incorporation into the design process; helping to establish the backbone of today’s simulation market.

It was our involvement in these seminal projects which really set the stage for us, projects such as; Heathrow Terminal 5 right from the earliest concept stages, and BA “Waterside” Headquarters near London Heathrow. Since then IES has attained a unique position in the global marketplace delivering world-leading analysis expertise to help produce sustainable buildings.

For almost two decades, we have been pushing the ethos of integrated design and incorporation of performance analysis right from the earliest new-build and retrofit stages as the route to achieving truly sustainable, low-energy structures.

Now as the sustainability market is starting to catch up with this thinking, I’m seeing organisations beginning to understand the value and benefits of the IES approach. Consequently, we find our role changing. Increasingly organisations are coming to IES to help overcome technical or commercial barriers in getting their sustainability products and services to the market.

Consequently, we find ourselves today still working at the leading edge of building science, investigating how analysis plays a vital role in cutting through greenwash to deliver measurable sustainability. Whether that is designing or analysing a product range, regulatory system, building or entire communities/eco-cities.

IES has been approached in this capacity by Governments, ESCO’s, Venture Capitalists, software companies, product manufactures (both building and clean energy), regulation setters, voluntary rating system developers, and those managing large property portfolios.

So what’s NEXT? I certainly see this as the start of a new age in the role of analysis in a low-energy, zero-carbon built environment, as well as in the role of our company. At Greenbuild this year I’m spending a great deal of time discussing these developments and how I think analysis will develop and change the future face of sustainable cities and buildings.

Part of this is presenting at the GreenTech@Greenbuild event this Thursday 6th October. This is an exciting new event organised by the USGBC and Regenerative Networks which is designed to increase awareness and adoption of emerging disruptive technologies that provide exceptional solutions for the building industry.

Featured firms were selected for the significant advances they contribute to green building, so needless to say I was excited by the invitation. Watch this space for a recording of my presentation.

Or come along to our booth #2325N and say hello. I’m more than happy to discuss our innovation and expertise in creating cutting-edge building performance analysis tools, as well as the supply of related consulting and specialist services.

Plus, you can catch up with executives from Halcrow, Doo Consulting, Perkowitz + Ruth Architects, Building Momentum Group and Ambient Energy. Who will share first-hand insight on analysis and integrated design:
Wednesday, October 5
1:15 p.m. – “Analyzing Double Skin Façades for Different Global Climate Regions” (Halcrow)
2:15 p.m. – “Early Conceptual Analysis of the Brickstainable Winning Design” (Doo Consulting, Perkowitz + Ruth Architects)

Thursday, October 6
1.00 p.m. – “LEED Energy & HVAC Modeling of Roosevelt University Vertical Campus” (Building Momentum Group)
1.45 p.m. – “Optimizing an Atrium – Daylight and Mixed Mode Ventilation on Colorado State University Engineering II Building” (Ambient Energy)

Read more about our activities at the show here.

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Tags:Architects, design, Engineers, Environment, event, Greenbuild, IES, LEED, Modeling, Sustainability, sustainable, USGBC

Just adding a few LED lightbulbs and a low flow toilet does not a sustainable building make. Yes, you will save energy and money over the course of time with these eco-friendly choices, but the most important choices are the ones you make before you even break ground on the building.

Consider this:
During the lifetime of a building, the initial investment of construction represents 20 percent of overall cost. A company will incur the heft of the building’s expense — 80 percent — through its operating cost, says Cary Gampher, of AIA and principal architect with The Architects Alliance. To minimize the weight of that 80 percent, utilizing sustainable design for a commercial remodel or construction is about more than making a few environmentally friendly choices.

{Taken from Jefferson City Magazine}

Looking at these numbers, it’s clear that the actual cost to construct a building is small compared to the lifetime of expenses a building owner will incur. Take, for example, natural light within a building. The impact of lighting on energy usage is enormous. Visual comfort, glare, solar irradiance – these are all factors to consider when positioning a building.

Using an early-stage analysis tool such as our VE-Pro can show you the results of positioning at different times of the year, at different times of day under multiple conditions. Looking at daylighting is also an important consideration to LEED requirements (EQc8.1).

Using advanced simulation and incorporating energy analysis into the entire design process, changes to the design of the building can be made early and often. And that’s how building owners will save on the 80% of the building expenses over the lifetime of the building. But you’ve got to do it from the very beginning.

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Tags:Building, daylighting, design, Sustainability, VE-Pro

It is now only 3 days until the first and only World Green Building Week event taking place in Scotland this year. If you have been following IES across any of our social media then you will know that we have been hard at work preparing for the “Environmental Modelling for a Low Carbon Scotland” event. Well now the programme has been finalised, the wine has been ordered and the thought trees have been built (don’t worry, we’ll get to that later).

We have also started to receive feedback from the questions posted in our previous blog that previewed our event taking place next Monday (16th Sep). One delegate believes the main challenge facing sustainable building in Scotland is “the gap between design and operational targets and modelling.  Although IES can do operational modelling, Building Standards still claim that they specify all assets, whereas they only specify elements of the assets - the specification gap arises.  The emphasis of all those talking about projects they have done should be to discuss the actual energy in operation, not the design targets, I have yet to see an architect quote actual energy consumption.  Bring on DECs”

When responding to the question put forward by Urban Realm (How best can Scotland’s existing buildings be retro-fitted to meet 21st century environmental standards), the delegate answered - “The challenge for refurbishment is understanding the whole building. We need to learn the lessons across the new build to understand the limitations of a refurbishment”.

There will also be plenty of opportunity to express your views at the event itself. Dotted around the venue you will see five ‘Thought trees’ which ask key questions to get the debate flowing. It’s easy to get involved – write your views on the tags and hang them on the trees. Each ‘Tree’ poses a different question, with each of your answers forming a crucial part of the post event discussion.

Any other questions or issues you’d like to discuss? Let us know by using our #tag #LowCO2Scot11 or drop us a line at events@iesve.com.

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Tags:Building, DECs, design, Discussion, event, IES, Modeling, Scotland, Sustainability

Following John’s recent blog post about LEED 2012, I wanted to weigh in with my 2 cents. I find anything written about LEED fascinating. Everyone’s got an opinion, and it’s what keeps our industry fresh.

I recently came across this ed+c article - Middle East Architecture — LEEDing nowhere – and found myself applauding the author on multiple occasions.

For example, this particular line really got me.
“Green wants to embrace everything, and everyone wants to embrace green.”

Romi continues, “But when a definition becomes so overarching, it loses all significance. Architects now depend much on intelligent service systems to make up for their folly and neglect in basic building design. It is unfortunate that these rating systems like LEED, BREEAM; have converted architecture into an accounting exercise.”

Is this what architecture and design have become? Merely an accounting exercise? I think that’s taking it to an extreme. I believe that we are now more aware of the orientation of a building or the CO2 output, and can make changes that are positive for the future tenants of the building. Whether or not it is to achieve LEED status is a non-factor. Our awareness when it comes to the way in which we design buildings is what matters.

I thought Romi’s closing brings us to an interesting point.
“The world needs green buildings a lot more than green buildings need LEED certification. If certifications such as LEED, BREEAM continue to cost too much money, time and effort — we will not stop building green projects; we will just stop certifying them.”

What is/was the goal of the USGBC’s LEED program? If it was to increase awareness, well then regardless of whether or not a building is LEED certified, a better building is a better building.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic. I’m always up for a good debate!

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Tags:Architects, BREEAM, Building, design, LEED, sustainable, USGBC

Is LEED outdated? Maybe outdated is the wrong word. But what does it mean to be LEED certified these days? For over a decade, building owners have strived to obtain LEED certification. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in March 2000, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

But recently, there has been chatter that LEED ratings aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Last month, the U.S. District Court in NYC dismissed the $100 million lawsuit brought against the USGBC regarding the rating system. The claim from the plaintiffs was that the USGBC falsely advertises LEED by guaranteeing energy savings and a reduction in carbon emission, among other things, in LEED-certified buildings. The case was dismissed, but the awareness and buzz certainly didn’t seem to fall on deaf ears at the USGBC.

To respond, they are introducing new rules so buildings must continually recertify and measure their energy use against their neighbors.

According to a recent article in Fast Company, “The latest version of the building-rating system, called LEED 2012 – which will launch in November and the go to USGBC members for a vote  next summer –takes advantage of new technology and building practices that make real-time energy and water management commercially viable.”

I found it interesting that on the day I was reading about the new direction of LEED, I read about the 10,000 certified building! In just a few short years, I think this is quite a feat! Regardless, the fact that LEED has encouraged us to reevaluate the way we build buildings is something that can never be taken away, and it’s a positive for the building industry.

Green building expert Rob Watson weighed in with some comments as well, and I agree.
“Milestones like this — 10,000 buildings or the soon-to-be 2 billion square feet of certified floor area or the imminent cumulative 10 billion square feet of projects registered and certified — show the incredible impact that LEED has had on the building market,” Watson said.

What do you think?

PS – The USGBC is hosting a seven-part webinar series on “The Evolution of LEED: Insights into Rating System Updates” and there are still a few sessions left. If nothing else, I think it’s an interesting conversation.

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Tags:Building, design, LEED, USGBC