To Filter or Not To Filter…..

By Bob W.

Cooling towers and condenser water systems are high maintenance systems.  They get dirty quickly, and if you do not keep up with the cleaning, the dirt can accumulate in your cooling tower basins and get drawn into your condenser water piping system.  Once the condenser water is contaminated, it can reduce the operating efficiency and…

Still Want an EPA Energy Star Rating for 2017?

By Bob W.

If you do, then the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest Energy Star announcement should be great news!  The EPA has decided to extend the deadline for submitting applications for a 2017 Energy Star Certification to Friday, December 15, 2017.  That is much later than the normal end of year deadline.  Applications received by December 15th, provided…

Writing Skills? I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Writing Skills!

By Bob W.

While working at San Jose State’s Career Center, in the heart of Silicon Valley, at a very technically competitive time, I would have to argue with engineering students to turn in neat, presentable, error-free, well-written, and grammatically correct resumes and cover letters. Their response was always the same, “I am going to be an engineer;…

Do or Do Not, There is no Try

By Bob W.

This simple piece of wisdom imparted to Luke by Yoda has significant meaning in today’s world focused on “result oriented” and “bottom line” meanings of productivity. Yoda is talking about effort and the value of taking pure and simple actions to do what must be done; he is talking about taking action even when we…

VFDs – Are You Missing an Opportunity for Savings?

By Bob W.

Variable frequency drives (VFDs) used to be expensive, long-lead time items that were only used in systems where the air flow rate or water flow rate was varied or modulated. Now that competitively priced VFDs are readily available, most systems can benefit from this technology and you could be saving energy even in applications you…

Interviewing MEP Engineering Firms

By Ken Notaro

The majority of the construction budget for renovations and infrastructure upgrades is usually associated with the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems. Therefore, the selection of the MEP Engineering firm should be an important consideration to ensure quality documents that satisfy the client’s technical and financial goals. Engineering services are professional services and thus the…

Energy Conservation Codes at a Glance

By Chas Lowe

“Green” – that seems to be today’s buzzword.  If someone is not talking about “going green”, they are usually talking about “saving green”.  Contrary to popular belief, our energy codes strive to do both.  Unfortunately, the old adage “You have to spend money to make money” also applies to the energy codes, as compliance may only…

If Walls Could Talk

By Bob W.

In 2016, The Washington Post left the building that was its home for over half a century and moved to greener pastures. The old building at 1150 15th St. NW was where Princess Diana came to see her friend Katherine Graham and where presidents and prime ministers pushed their issues with editorial writers. This is…