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Is EU listening to industry about heating and cooling strategy?

Andrew Gaved Facilities & Grounds

I first wrote back in February about the EU's proposal for a heating and cooling strategy — intended to focus on energy reduction from HVAC in buildings, which account for half of the EU’s energy consumption. Now, seven months later, the strategy has been formally adopted by the European Parliament, which has issued its own report paving the way for member states to look at putting it into practice. But the adoption has drawn a mixed reception from leading cooling and heating groups, who believe some of the fundamental ways our industry can contribute have been overlooked.

10 exciting new (or newly expanded) museums in the US

Dave G. Houser Recreation & Leisure

It seems hard to believe, but America is home to more than 35,000 museums — double the number from just 15 years ago — and they just keep coming. Museums are a vital part of the American cultural and educational landscape. They are places where we all can go to pursue the discovery of art, history, science, technology and the natural world.

The environmental and social legacy of the Rio Olympics

Dr. Spiro Doukas Sports & Fitness

Each Olympic Games has its own legacy — many are positive, but some stand out as negative. Stadiums remaining from the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, are now in disuse and neglected. Terrorist events occurred during the Games in Munich in 1972 and in Atlanta in 1996. The 1980 Moscow and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games experienced boycotts from various countries' teams.

Paving paradise to a smarter parking lot

Julie Bernhard Sports & Fitness

Football season is on the horizon. In a few short weeks, Saturday and Sunday nights — and Thursday, Friday and Monday for that matter — will be dedicated to the most celebrated sport in the U.S. The thrill of the game and the camaraderie keeps fans returning to the stands year after year, but sometimes the fight to the stadium is enough to keep even the most dedicated fan at home. Some new technology, however, has managed to turn that frown into a touchdown.

Energy-efficient roofing materials for green clients

Erin Vaughan Construction & Building Materials

You don't need an MBA to know green means big business. When Neilsen studied consumer behavior in regard to eco-friendly products, they found that two-thirds now prefer to buy sustainable products over conventional materials.

There’s something in the water

Andrew Gaved Manufacturing

The UK should know a thing or two about water. It is an island for a start and, therefore, many of its towns are built by the sea. It has plenty of rivers and lakes — and man-made canals for that matter — and then there is the rain. So it is not too surprising that the potential for harnessing these resources to drive heat pumps is something of real interest to the UK HVAC industry.

Red, white or blue: Which light is right?

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

Recognition that the built environment can have a profound effect on human health and well-being is reshaping the building industry. Builders, engineers, architects and designers are rethinking every aspect of a built space for how it might either positively or negatively impact occupants.

How to win the battle against rust on your trucks

Alan Kelsky Distribution & Warehousing

Rust is a major concern for small business owners who depend on their trucks for their livelihood as well as fleet owners for whom trucks are a major investment. Trucks with corrosion damage can lead to lost income as well as high repair bills.

Why designers should use the Principles of Universal Design

Susan Mulholland Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Have you ever gone somewhere with your extended family and noticed how everyone deals with the space? We have a variety of age groups using the same space at the same time. The idea that our built environments have unseen obstacles is why many who study human behavior and ergonomics believe that, as our population continues to grow and ultimately age, we need to view every space people use as a place where easy accessibility is necessary. This will become more evident in the next few decades, when we will see a noticeable increase in people who are over the age of 50.

Is a refrigeration revolution in the air?

Andrew Gaved Manufacturing

It is not too often that the world of supermarket refrigeration has played host to major technological change. Apart from the debate over whether chiller cases should have doors on them, recent years have been more about evolution than revolution. But now, retailer Asda, part of the global giant Wal-Mart, has signaled what could be one of the most radical changes in modern retail refrigeration by opting to replace conventional display cases cooled by piped refrigerant with versions cooled by air from a central plant.

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