ALWAYS OPEN
Kavárna u Rotlevů
Univerzita Karlova vybudovala kavárnu v historickém domě, který je v dobových pramenech připomínán jako dům „U bílého kamzíka“ či „U tří panen“ a jeho historie sahá až do 13. století.
Energy 200
Starting 2023 we break down our coverage of education community energy codes and standards into two tranches. Energy 400 covers the catalog of titles for intra-building energy systems -- i.e energy delivery networks between buildings. Energy 200 covers titles within any given building envelope.
Building Environment Design
The highest level of standardization for the built environment on educational settlements originates in ISO Technical Committee 205 which develops policy templates for the design of new buildings and retrofit of existing buildings for acceptable indoor environment and practicable energy conservation and efficiency. At an annual clip of over $110 billion the education industry is the largest publicly-owned non-residential building construction market in the United States and the world.
The Seven Sins of Greenwashing
Professor Pascual Berrone: "Many companies highlight one green positive aspect of their product or service, and hide the true impact that its production has on the environment”. With more and more NGO’s act as public watchdogs, "the consequences of getting caught can be, in terms of reputation but also economically, severe”.
Quadrivium: Spring
Educational settlements are the closest many people come to feel at home in beautiful surroundings. The catalog that informs the safety and sustainability of these "cities-within-cities" changes 100 to 1000 times per day. By design titles are unstable, time-sensitive and copyright protected. We explore the action continuously; assign priorities, then schedule a separate teleconference to formulate responses to public consultations. Daily colloquia topics appear on our CALENDAR.
Energy Standard for *Sites* and Buildings
To paraphrase Marc Andreessen: "Building standards are eating the world and ASHRAE is eating standards." Just when you thought ASHRAE's claim to energy regulation could not get any larger, it has recently appropriated everything *between* buildings in its scope. At least two energy/building enclosure related redlines are open for consultation through May 27th.
Gallery: Other Ways of Knowing Climate Change
"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary." -- H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)
Rightsizing Electrical Power Systems
For decades, application of the National Electrical Code resulted in oversized building power chains. Catalyzed by the University of Michigan, with collaborators at the University of Houston, the 2014 NEC was revised to permit "rightsized" lighting supply circuits; saving 10's of millions of dollars annually for the education industry and others. Continuation on doing the same for services and plug loads has proved just as challenging. Public consultation on the 2026 NEC closes 28 August 2024.
Fenestration
The word "fenestration" comes from the Latin word "fenestra," which means "window" but in the modern era of architecture in building design, its use has evolved to mean any openings in a building's envelope -- i.e. windows and doors. Building codes and regulations in many countries now require specific fenestration standards to ensure buildings are energy-efficient and provide safe entry and egress.