BSUG Blog

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The intent of the blog is to have an continued conversation about past topics of interest as well as to discuss new and emerging technologies.

  • The Future of Lighting Controls

    DECEMBER 2021

    		 Building energy codes and standards set minimum requirements for energy efficient design and construction of new buildings as well as additions that impact energy use and emissions for the lifespan of the building. Standards or codes impact the market by creating demand that must be met with new practices or technologies from the built environment and its practitioners. The practice of lighting design has made a resurgence in recent decades where both daylight and electric light are considered for buildings and space types. In addition, returning to an old practice there have been significant efforts to modernize the practice of lighting design as a science (Lighting Levels, LPD values, and Glare Index).

     

  • Additive Manufacturing and Construction

    SEPTEMBER 2021

    		 Additive manufacturing, better known as 3D printing, is one among several emerging technologies that some have claimed will usher in a 4th industrial revolution. It has already changed product development practices by enabling rapid prototyping that speeds up development timelines for new products. Most colleges and high schools have 3D printers available for their students to learn this new workflow. In addition, there has been extensive time and effort put into developing processes and printer designs that can print with different structural material, like metal, nylon, and carbon fiber.

     

  • Organic Insulation

    AUGUST 2021

    		 Organic insulation is the use of bio-based materials to create insulation for the built environment. While working with Hempitecture, a company focused on producing hemp-based building materials, I began to research organic insulation, especially hemp. Before getting into the details of organic insulation and its presence in today’s built environment, here is a brief overview of the history of insulation.

     

  • Tips and Tricks for using Insight's Daylighting Analysis

    JUNE 2021

    		 Before we get started, I would like to provide some background on daylighting. Daylighting is the “controlled” admission of natural light into a building for the purpose of illuminating a space. Whereas, daylight harvesting is the “controlled” admission of natural light, into a building for the purpose of reducing electric lighting and energy (kWh). For either purpose, daylighting design is defined in a range.

     

  • Parametric Modeling and Analysis

    APRIL 2021

    		 The biggest bi-product of the 21st century is not plastic, CO2, or precious metals but rather meta-data. Meta-data provides information about other data, or “data about data.” Meta-data is being created every second in today’s built environment. Not just through an occupant’s phone or computer, but also from the buildings themselves via control systems or information portals that assist managers. This meta-data can be analyzed and utilized in parametric modeling within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.