Located on Piers 59 and 60 overlooking Elliot Bay, the historic Seattle Aquarium receives about 700,000 visitors annually. In June 2007, a $41 million renovation—the first major restoration given to the older than 100-year-old building in 30 years—was completed. READ MORE
Darlene Bremer
Freelance Writer
Darlene Bremer, a freelance writer based in Solomons, Md., contributes frequently to ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. She can be reached at 410.394.6966 and darbremer@comcast.net.
Articles by Darlene Bremer
August 2009
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The North Carolina State energy office reports that the typical office spends 29 percent of its electrical energy costs on lighting. Occupancy sensors can reduce these charges by 50 percent or more, at a savings of 5 to 20 cents per square foot. Additional applications for occupancy sensors include increased security and reduced light pollution. READ MORE
July 2009
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Originally built in 1907, the Syndicate Trust Building began its life with one of St. Louis’ major dry goods retailers occupying its lower floors and office tenants on its upper floors. Because of its architecture, considered by many as the greatest example of the Chicago School of Architecture in St. READ MORE
July 2009
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According to the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA), green building, also known as sustainable or high-performance building, is the practice of creating structure and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout the building’s life cycle. It minimizes a building’s impact on human health while maximizing energy efficiency. READ MORE
June 2009
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Building information modeling (BIM) provides object-based parametric modeling and can take an object, along with all of the data describing its components, and place it in a computer model that is a virtual description, rather than a simple geometric description, of the object. READ MORE
April 2009
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In November 2007, Kaiser Permanente’s new $240 million, 340,000-square-foot, 150-bed hospital and 297,000-square-foot medical office building opened in Antioch, Calif. READ MORE
March 2009
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Preliminary findings from a study conducted by McGraw-Hill Construction and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) note a strong demand for sustainable housing at all income levels, even in the current housing market. One interesting trend uncovered by the study indicates that 70 percent of buyers are more inclined to purchase a green home over a conventional home. READ MORE
March 2009
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According to the US Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), daylight harvesting technology can offer significant energy savings by offsetting a portion of the electric lighting load. READ MORE
February 2009
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In economic downturns, businesses and individuals tend to renovate existing facilities rather than invest in new construction. That still presents electrical contractors with many opportunities to keep growing, even through hard times. READ MORE