Photovoltaic (PV) modules are among the most iconic of all building components. They make a visual statement of environmental consciousness and can substantially offset a building's use of finite resources, all while saving money on monthly utility bills. You may have seen PV systems appearing on roofs in your neighborhood or heard about how much PV prices have dropped. Is it time to consider PV for your own home or business? What's happening with solar technology and is now the right time to invest in PV?

We need light outdoors at night for safety, security, productivity, and enjoyment. Guidelines and technologies available today can help meet these lighting needs while providing good quality lighting that minimizes light pollution, conserves energy, and enhances community ambience, including the effect on wildlife and our view of the starry night sky.

Benchmarking is the act of comparing performance data for an organization or process, usually with the goal of motivating its improvement. Benchmarking requires the use of a common metric to allow comparison between entities, or else to a minimum standard or best-practice goal. Building energy performance is typically measured in equivalent units of consumption, over a consistent period of time, for a given unit of area

Welcome to the EDR Project Showcase!
Here you will find numerous examples of SAVINGS BY DESIGN and other high-performance new buildings and retrofit projects. Meet the leading edge property owners, developers, and design professionals that are blazing a path to the Zero Net Energy buildings of the future.

The 'Office of the Future' video presents case studies of two exemplary pilot projects in existing buildings that are yielding measured energy savings of over 50% and 66% respectively.

California will require all new residential construction to be zero net energy by 2020 and all new commercial construction to be zero net energy by 2030. In order to achieve this and other goals, we must understand how to define and quantify ZNE, approach ZNE by project type, and move forward with ZNE.

Guidance on energy requirements for residential HVAC changeouts is presented in a visual, easy to understand format in this quick reference document.  Determine which requirements apply to your project, including mandatory measures and HERS verification by downloading it.  Helpful hints for completing compliance documentation is also included.

Creating energy efficient high performance buildings is a symphonic process. This Emmy and Telly award winning movie explores the integrated design strategy used to plan, build and commission Santa Barbara's strikingly innovative Casa Nueva new office project.

At the University of California at Davis, student participants in the EDR DesignShift™Charrette worked in teams of five over two days to collaboratively create a zero-net energy building using a series of methods and tools to develop and quantify their energy savings.

The HVAC Simulation Guidebook Volume I (2nd Edition) has been updated to cite new research and reflect recent changes in the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24 2008). It contains three chapters with step-by-step instructions on how to simulate the following advanced HVAC technologies:

• Underfloor Air Distribution
• Energy Efficient Chillers
• Advanced Control Sequences

At the California Science Center, Los Angeles (near USC), students of the EDR DesignShift™ Charrette worked in teams of five over two days to collaboratively create a zero-net energy building using a series of methods and tools to develop and quantify their energy savings.

This two page factsheet is packed with basics you need to know about meeting energy requirements for residential fenestration designs.  Performance requirements per climate zone, helpful hints in completing compliance forms and direction on presriptive vs. performance approach are highlighted.

Radiant heating and cooling systems are more energy efficient compared to traditional forced air systems for several reasons.  But let's start at the building occupant since their comfort is one of the main reasons we have the built environment.

BIM is the process of building a 3D data-rich model of all architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical systems in the building. The model is not only used to design the building and document it for construction, it's also used as the primary tool to create and coordinate design solutions.

Supermarkets, grocery stores and convenience stores have the second highest energy consumption of major building types in California, with electricity representing over 80% of this, and with energy-intensive refrigeration consuming the greatest fraction of electricity.