The EMerge Alliance ā an open industry association leading the rapid adoption of safe direct-current (DC) power distribution standards for commercial buildings ā today announced the formation of a new Campus Microgrid Technical Standards Committee at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2012 National Convention and Design Exposition.
Chaired by Guy AlLee, of Intelās Energy Research and Sustainability Labs, the new committee will focus on establishing a standard for the integration of DC microgrids throughout a building or campus.Ā The standard will focus on improved efficiency of integrated on-site power generation, storage, distribution and use by capitalizing on the utilization of native DC power. With input from member organizations, the new Campus Microgrid standard will integrate the other EMerge Alliance standards that enable the use of DC power at various levels and in a variety of spaces. The resulting set of standards will further advance the Allianceās mission to help building designers and owners achieve greater flexibility, sustainability and savings.
According to EMerge Alliance Chairman Brian Patterson, the Alliance has been working toward a vision of DC microgrids in four key areas ā occupied spaces, data and telecommunications centers, building services and outdoor applications ā since the organization was founded in 2008.Ā
The Campus Microgrid Technical Standards Committee is open to all Alliance members at the Governing and Participating levels, and will include consideration of power, infrastructure, peripheral device and control applications required to operate a building using DC power. The group is inviting other innovative organizations in the commercial building industry to join and contribute to this groundbreaking standards development effort. +
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
PBK, DLR Group among nation's largest K-12 school design firms, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the TopĀ 75 K-12 School Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Turner Building Cost Index dips nearly 4% in second quarter 2009
Turner Construction Company announced that the second quarter 2009 Turner Building Cost Index, which measures nonresidential building construction costs in the U.S., has decreased 3.35% from the first quarter 2009 and is 8.92% lower than its peak in the second quarter of 2008. The Turner Building Cost Index number for second quarter 2009 is 837.
| Aug 11, 2010
AGC unveils comprehensive plan to revive the construction industry
The Associated General Contractors of America unveiled a new plan today designed to revive the nationās construction industry.Ā The plan, āBuild Now for the Future: A Blueprint for Economic Growth,ā is designed to reverse predictions that construction activity will continue to shrink through 2010, crippling broader economic growth.
| Aug 11, 2010
New AIA report on embassies: integrate security and design excellence
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) released a new report to help the State Department design and build 21st Century embassies.
| Aug 11, 2010
Section Eight Design wins 2009 Open Architecture Challenge for classroom design
Victor, Idaho-based Section Eight Design beat out seven other finalists to win the 2009 Open Architecture Challenge: Classroom, spearheaded by the Open Architecture Network. Section Eight partnered with Teton Valley Community School (TVCS) in Victor to design the classroom of the future. Currently based out of a remodeled house, students at Teton Valley Community School are now one step closer to getting a real classroom.
| Aug 11, 2010
High-profit design firms invest in in-house training
Forty-three percent of high-profit architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms have in-house training staff, according to a study by ZweigWhite. The 2008-2009 Successful Firm Survey reports that only 36% of firms overall have in-house training staff. In addition, 52% of high-profit firms use an online training system or service.
