Corporate Environments OFDealer Profile
Corporate Environments has been profiled in the January 2010 issue of the OFDealer eZine from OFDA. The article, written by Alicia Ellis, discusses what tools and techniques we are using to expand our products and business offerings to our current and future clients in a down economy. You can read the issue in pdf version here
Bretford Manufacturing, Inc., manufacturer of dependable furniture products that improve how people work and learn, is the first to offer multi-surface antimicrobial finishes on more than 50 different tables and carts for learning and training environments. Bretford’s new Microbe Barrier Technologies™ antimicrobial surface protection reduces the growth of bacteria, mold, mildew and fungi by 99.99 percent for the life of the product. Available for order now, the Bretford tables and carts with these finishes are intended to help prevent the spread of germs and contribute to the health and well-being of children and adults. (more…)
ASHRAE design guide aims to simplify energy efficiency design for K-12 schools
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009, provides significant funding and financing opportunities to modernize, renovate, and repair public schools. Under the “State Fiscal Stabilization Fund,” up to $48.3 billion can be allocated to schools. An additional $25 billion in eligible bonds also have been authorized.
To help Building Teams meet energy efficiency design goals, ASHRAE and other building industry organizations have developed the Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings. The guide provides recommendations for achieving 30% energy savings over the minimum code requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999. Estimates show that a full 16% of schools districts’ controllable costs is spent on energy.
“Beyond energy savings, by implementing the recommendations, schools may benefit from an improved learning environment, reduced operating costs, reduced environmental and climate impacts, and enhanced teaching opportunities on the environment,” ASHRAE President Bill Harrison said.
The recommendations in the guide allow those involved in designing or constructing school buildings to easily achieve advanced levels of energy savings without having to resort to detailed calculations or analysis. All of the energy-saving recommendations for each of the eight U.S. climate zones are summarized in a single table. Additional recommendations point to other opportunities to incorporate greater savings into the design of the building.
More than 14,000 free copies of the Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings were sent to school systems in the United States last spring. Copies of the guide are available for free download at www.ashrae.org/freeaedg; Print copies may be ordered from the ASHRAE Bookstore at www.ashrae.org.
Details on the stimulus funding for educational facilities can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery.
