Commercial HVAC systems must comply with ASHRAE Standard 62.1: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, which establishes minimum ventilation requirements to support acceptable IAQ.
In recent decades, healthcare facilities have reduced energy intensity. Following lighting upgrades, advanced controls, and filtration improvements, hospitals that once operated at 300-500 kBTU per square foot annually now often operate in the 200-400 range.
Across the country, K-12 school districts are navigating a tough, familiar equation: aging buildings, rising utility costs, and intense pressure to stretch every tax dollar. HVAC systems, particularly central energy plants, often sit at the center of that challenge.
Earlier this year, global design firm HKS launched a new Regenerative Design team, reinforcing its commitment to systems thinking to create net positive outcomes for people, ecosystems and the built environment. The initiative shifts focus from minimizing harm to actively restoring ecological and community systems.
The conversation around sustainable building in education has shifted dramatically. No longer a niche consideration for progressive districts, LEED certification has become a strategic tool for school systems seeking to enhance student outcomes, control long-term costs and demonstrate community leadership.
The U.S. Green Building Council has updated LEED v5 to recognize wood sourced under three major chain-of-custody certification standards, a move the organization said is designed to expand the use of sustainably sourced wood in construction and interior projects.
Facilities leaders across K–12 school districts and higher education campuses often face a familiar challenge: how to best allocate maintenance dollars before a fiscal year resets.
The Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion (SAOP) embodies interconnectivity and sustainability, integrating with the urban waterfront and highlighting the connection between people and marine life at home and around the world.
Architecture, engineering and construction professionals strive to build sustainably, but there are always valid reasons why a project falls short of initial north star sustainability goals.
