Company

HESM&A is committed to fostering sustainable practices in every aspect of our engineering design and corporate operation. One such measure we have implemented is a rebate program for the employee purchase of any new or used fuel efficient vehicle.

Qualification details:
A combined fuel efficiency rating better than 25 mpg as listed on www.fueleconomy.gov.
Primary commute transportation for full-time HESM&A employee.
Vehicle use must be maintained by employee for a minimum of 12 months.

Rebate details:
For every mile per gallon of fuel efficiency over and above the benchmark standard a one-time rebate of $100 is provided to an employee. Vehicles that incorporate alternative technology such as electric hybrid, fuel cell hybrid, or compressed natural gas plug-in hybrids receive an additional $500 provided they meet the benchmark MPG rating.

We encourage our employees to participate in the rebate program to benefit themselves and the Earth. This is just one of the ways that HESM&A is embracing green values.

By now, you have all read much about the onset of Building Information Modeling, or BIM, within the Construction industry. Many of you have dabbled in it; many use it selectively; and many others still have fully committed to BIM as the primary design methodology for your practice.

All of you, however, have probably reached the same frustration with BIM adoption: what about the MEP systems? Whether you are using Autodesk's Revit product or one of the competing software packages such as Bentley Architecture, a common complaint has been that MEP systems are not being captured in the building model. Therefore, the full coordination capability of such software is not being realized. HESM&A understands these issues and stands ready to be your BIM partner.

Regardless of how far along your firm is with BIM adoption, we can work with you to realize a coordinated product. HESM&A currently utilizes Autocad MEP 2009 for all new projects; drawing intelligent objects in 3-D for major systems. Our Autocad MEP drawings can be coordinated with any number of platforms used for Architectural and/or Structural through the use of Autodesk's NavisWorks program. NavisWorks will bring files from different software packages into a common model for the purposes of running clash detection. HESM&A can run clash detection on your project prior to issuing our MEP drawings to you.

Additionally, we are currently training our key staff on Revit MEP. We have already started using Revit models to provide better input into our mechanical load and energy software. Although the MEP content (the intelligent block representations of equipment) is not yet fully realized, HESM&A is working to get the most out of the current software. Often, this may involve utilizing Revit for initial stages of work, and then completing the construction drawings with 3-D Autocad. Again, whichever combination of software tools is ultimately used, the final clash detection can be run via NavisWorks.

The key to making this transition, as always, is our people. While we have our key technical cad people working with the software, our project managers will be communicating with our clients throughout the project process. The key to the adoption of any new system is constant communication with our client to ensure that project deadlines are not compromised. As we continue to address our client's needs, we will move closer and closer to the ideal BIM delivery model.

Many engineers have elected to wait to adopt BIM technology until after the content is further developed and the bugs are worked out. At HESM&A, we believe that the future is now and that our client's needs are now, so we are committed to working with you to make this future a reality - NOW.

If you have been involved in a LEED project in the recent past, you know that LEED NC v2.2 makes energy savings a requirement, not just an option for additional credits. All LEED projects registered after 6/26/07 must receive at least 2 credit points under E&A Credit 1, Optimize Energy Performance. This requires energy savings of at least 14% above code minimum performance for new buildings, 7% for existing building renovations.

To demonstrate the level of savings, energy models must compare the actual building design to a base code compliant model. As energy codes have gotten significantly more stringent in recent updates, the base line bar is set relatively high.

For most commercial buildings, the HVAC cooling loads are determined by five major contributing factors:

1. Building "process" loads (people, computers, printers/copiers, elevators, etc.) (~25-30%)
2. Building envelope thermal performance (~25-30%)
3. Building outside air loads (~20-25%)
4. Building lighting system efficiency and controls (~10-15%)
5. Building HVAC system inefficiencies (friction losses and motor heat) (~5%)

Since the HVAC system must condition all of these loads, the actual energy usage for most commercial buildings is consumed by three major components:

1. Building HVAC system including building envelope and outside air (~55-60%)
2. Building "process" loads (people, computers, printers/copiers, elevators, etc.) (~25-30%)
3. Building lighting system (~15%)

Typically, the amount of energy savings that can be realized for process loads is limited and difficult to manage and control once the facility is in operation. Most any savings must be designed into the operation, such as Energy Star rated equipment and appliances. Company programs such as encouraging the use of stairs in lieu of elevators for travel between 2 to 3 floors, can also provide some savings.

Lighting can realize some significant energy savings with proper design. The two major components are lighting density (Watts/sq. ft.) and controls.

Lighting density savings beyond code requirements are becoming more difficult to achieve as code requirements become more strict with each issue. Currently, the default average lighting density for offices is 1.0 W/sf, which is difficult to achieve with traditional fluorescent fixture layout. Typical 2x4, 3 lamp T8 fixtures on an 8'x10' grid is 1.1 W/sf, depending on ballast efficiency. Proper fixture selection and spacing are critically important, not only for E&A Credit 1 on New Construction (LEED-NC), but also for E&A Credit 1.1 on Tenant Improvement projects (LEED-CI).

Lighting controls can offer further savings with occupancy (motion) sensors, time clock controls with overrides and day-lighting sensors. Some form of automatic control is required by all codes, so energy models must include at least code minimum requirements. Motion sensors, typically being the most cost effective, are the most common application, though they must be properly applied in large open areas. Day-lighting controls are dependent on the architectural design (whether perimeter areas contain open or private offices). Day-lighting control effectiveness also depends on the type of controls applied. On/Off or stepped level type controls are the most cost effective, but tend to be distractive to the occupants; dimming type controls are typically more expensive, but provide the best function.

The HVAC system can offer several options. Energy recovery between the exhaust air and outside air is the most typical application. As outside air is one of the major load components, this typically provides the best functionality for the system with the shortest pay back period. On larger systems with central cooling plants, water side economizer heat exchangers and chiller heat recovery for domestic water preheat are good candidates. On smaller systems utilizing packaged equipment, options are somewhat limited; outside air economizer cycle packages are the most typical application.

The Building Envelope design can provide the largest single impact to the energy usage as it is a major load component and has the most design flexibility. Some simple guide lines can be applied. The building should be oriented with its long axis east-west to limit the western solar exposure whenever the site constraints will allow. Including overhangs and fins provides solar shading. However, the largest impacts can be obtained by increasing the wall and roof insulation system R-values and glass thermal performance.

For human comfort and perception, more glass provides more views which relates to more LEED points for occupant environment; but for energy conservation, more glass requires more energy use which yields fewer LEED points. The architect and engineers must work together to determine the optimum mix of glass vs. wall that maximizes occupant comfort and minimizes energy consumption and, in the process, maximizes LEED points. For example, an all glass building might get 2-3 IEQ points for day lighting and views, but no E&A points for energy conservation; the same building and same mechanical systems but with less glass may get only 1-2 points for day lighting and views, but may achieve 6-10 points for energy conservation and provide significant and real operational savings to the owner without significantly compromising occupant comfort or perception.

Energy codes, like other portions of the building codes reflect the needs of communities to protect their standards for way of life and infrastructure to support that, and code requirements get progressively more stringent with each update. Following that trend, LEED requirements will also get progressively more stringent and LEED 2009 is expected to reflect that. The design teams will have to become even more creative to achieve performances above code minimums. It will become increasingly important for the entire design team to work in a collaborative effort beginning in the conceptual or schematic design phases to identify the most effective means for implementing energy savings into the design. Such collaboration will result in the best outcome for the project, the client, the users of the facility, and the community.

Bank of America on Thursday said it will build a 32-story office tower next door to accommodate a burgeoning Charlotte work force. The $450 million project, across the street from the bank's headquarters, will include a glass-enclosed atrium and retail shops.