A lot is asked of a lighting control system. When you flip a switch or adjust a dimmer to achieve a desired effect, there’s a litany of design, material and labor choices that go into making sure the system behaves correctly. As a project manager,...
James Watt contributed so many engineering advancements in the late 1700s that we named the “watt” after him: a single unit of power. The Scottish engineer and inventor patented the first steam engine in 1769 and the association of watts with the...
While no two HVAC efficiency projects are the same, energy optimizations often encounter the same four, primary mechanical functions. For the third and final blog in our three-part series on the four fundamentals of HVAC equipment, we wrap up the...
Modern life requires electricity. Whether charging a device or using your stove, you’re utilizing “the grid.” The electric grid is a framework made up of a network of transmission and distribution facilities that create and distribute power for...
Heating and cooling buildings (excluding electric heating) usually involves a fluid (liquid or gas) flowing through ducts or piping. Understanding fluid movement in HVAC systems is part II of our series, HVAC Overview. Roof Top Units (RTUs) and Air...
You see the term tossed around all the time: find the right ESCO. Here’s a list of the best ESCOs. How to choose an ESCO. And on it goes. Usually you get the next level of definition as well: ESCO (Energy Service Company). But that’s where...
The COVID-19 crisis has the majority of Americans working from home in numbers never seen before. The crisis is impacting organizations differently by industry. Many of the buildings where employees work are now standing empty (or near empty) while...
First off, we hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy! Like many people and industries, the energy efficiency community is getting hit hard by COVID-19 or “coronavirus.” We, over here at Fairbanks Energy, are working remotely and...
Let’s face the facts: you probably have LED lighting installed in your building. To what extent, which fixtures and whether you’re getting utility money to cover the cost is another story. But LED lighting has grown in such prevalence over the last...
Ever explain HVAC systems to someone and watch their eyes glaze over? Ever try to wrap your head around HVAC and what makes it important? HVAC, or Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems are complex and custom-engineered to serve their own...
The Human Brain: A Comparison The human brain stores a lot of data. The brain has the potential to store as much as a petabyte of information. A computer with that capacity would weigh 293 lbs which is still over 4 cubic feet of space. We do it in...
Live here, work here, been here, you know how it is: there’s no space in Manhattan. This makes major building equipment upgrades – like rooftop units or boiler replacements – challenging depending on the building’s layout and location. Many are...
Everybody’s doing it: from MIT’s energy initiative to Colgate University’s carbon neutrality, colleges and universities all over the US are prioritizing energy efficiency and getting to net zero. Whether for sustainability or financial reasons,...