Category Archives: Energy Conservation
Posted in Architecture | Building Systems | Energy Conservation | Innovative Solutions | Sustainable Design by Serena Wray, LEED AP+ (Brand Architecture) on January 3, 2013
© Poofy
When I was a little kid, I was a tree-hugger. Literally. My mother recalls that at age four, I occasionally wrapped my small arms as far as they could go around my favorite tree in the backyard.
As the years went on, I became enamored with recycling in elementary school, energy efficiency in high school, and building reuse in my college architectural classes. Now, with “green” as the buzzword heard on every TV channel and seen in every store, you’d think I’d be in my glory.
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Posted in Alternative Energy | Communities | Current Events | Economic Development | Energy Conservation | Innovative Solutions | Politics by Marty Muggleton (VP Client Development & Marketing) on August 17, 2012
Barcelona, Spain–”It isn’t a crisis, it’s a scam.”
When he said “just like America”, I began to think.
In the last three years, I have been fortunate to spend time in both Greece and Spain. These are beautiful and stimulating cultures, and are valuable sources for understanding other views of the world. I can’t speak more than a few phrases of each language, but I can learn by talking (in English) with locals. In these countries there are plenty of opportunities, since people tend to be friendly and enthusiastic conversationalists.
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Posted in Alternative Energy | Communities | Energy Conservation | Innovative Solutions | Site Design & Land Development | Sustainable Design by Jillian Ibbs (Marketing) on June 12, 2012
The Laurel Hill Wind Energy Project is a Duke Energy Corporation initiative, located along Laurel Hill Ridge in Jackson and McIntyre Townships in northern Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Upon completion, the facility will consist of thirty individual wind turbines within a seven-mile long lease corridor. Altogether, the turbines will produce 69 megawatts of electricity.
Larson Design Group handled the land development design for the project, including boundary and topographic survey, Geographic Information System (GIS) base mapping, zoning application preparation, construction observation, erosion control plans, post-construction stormwater management plans, water/wastewater design, permitting, site re-vegetation plans, and alignment studies. LDG is also assisting Duke Energy with full-time construction management tasks.
The turbines are impressive structures. Manufactured by Siemens, they measure 424 feet tall at their highest point and run at any wind speed between approximately 8 and 55 miles per hour. A new two-mile long, 34.5-kilovolt overhead electric transmission line will convey electricity from the turbine corridor to a new switchyard and substation, which was designed and is being constructed in accordance with PenElec’s specifications. The switchyard will be turned over to PenElec for operation and maintenance after project completion. The turbine blades, which are 163 feet long, are fitted with serrated edging to aid in noise reduction. Each rotor blade automatically pivots in its socket to ensure it will catch maximum wind power from any direction.
The wind farm is expected to be completed in October of 2012. The electricity they will produce has been sold to Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, which serves over 100,000 residents and businesses.
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Posted in Alternative Energy | Blogging | Communities | Current Events | Economic Development | Energy Conservation | Initiatives | Innovative Solutions | Marcellus Shale | Natural Gas by Jillian Ibbs (Marketing) on April 17, 2012
Larson Design Group (LDG) is currently designing a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station in conjunction with the City of Williamsport. The station will be located at the River Valley Transit (RVT) garage on West Third Street in Williamsport and will be open to the public.
Why Natural Gas?
The price of CNG fluctuates between a half and a third of the price of gasoline. Maintenance costs for natural gas-powered vehicles (NGVs) are equal to or less than those of gas or diesel. Combined with government grants, significant savings can be an expected result of CNG-powered fleets. In fact, RVT has already received a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and a $400,000 grant from the Department of Environmental Protection to help fund both the fueling station and the purchase of four CNG buses. RVT expects an annual savings of over $400,000 once the natural gas station is completed.
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Posted in Building Systems | Codes & Regulations | Energy Conservation by Steven M. Beattie, RLA (Senior Project Manager) on February 8, 2012
Don’t buy your 2012 International Code Council (ICC) books just yet. It seems that the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council recommended that the state not adopt the 2012 I-Codes according to Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) January 30, 2012 edition. You may remember all the uproar concerning the automatic passage of the 2009 code with its residential sprinkler mandate caused some big changes in Pennsylvania. House Bill 377 of 2011 was passed, which requires a 2/3’s vote from the Review and Advisory Council in order to update the statewide building code during each code cycle.
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