Remodeling? Be Prepared for New Lighting Requirements in 2014

I had the opportunity to attend a California Title 24: Building Energy Efficiency Standards Seminar at Acuity Brands Center for Light & Space in Berkeley.  This seminar focused on the upcoming changes to the CA Title 24 lighting requirements which will take effect in 2014.  Essentially the standards will be adding layers of control to the lighting systems.  So that when a space is unoccupied, energy isn’t being wasted.  This isn’t just the use of adding occupancy sensors.  It is also adding multi-level lighting controls so lights have different settings and light levels for different activities.  To get more specialized you could do automatic day lighting controls or demand response controls.  This allows lighting to be adjusted during the peak hours of a day or having a central hub where you can control light settings.  There is a lot of information and a professional would be able to help navigate you through the requirements.  This may seem like a nuisance which costs more money, but when you see the figures, in the long run you end up saving money.

For more information and specifics on the changes, review What's New in the 2013 Code from California Lighting Technology Center.

It’s our turn

Gregg and I were recently invited to a networking event at AT &T Park, generously hosted by ALR/ANSR, GFDS Engineers, Studio Becker and Engineered Environments.  After watching  Rachel and Michelle enjoy SF Giant’s ticket gifts this season, it was our turn to partake.  We were treated to a pre-game party at Triples Alley and then to great box seats for the game against the Colorado Rockies.  On one of those rare warm evenings in San Francisco, the weather was perfect for a night game.  It was fun to spend time with many of our friends, including Claudio Ramos (HE Banks), Justin Wright (Engineered Environments), Leslie Siegel (ALR), Dan Pelsinger and Dan Matarozzi (Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders), and Clayton Timbrell (Clayton Timbrell & Company) and seeing so many other familiar faces.  Thanks again to our hosts for including us in such a great event.

Great Scott!

Our friend, graphic designer and artist Scott Idleman, has been brightening our days for a while now.  A few months ago, he installed some of his fabulous paintings here at DM+A to provide some color to our walls.  Then last month he began renting work space in our office, adding not only his cheerful disposition, but two more dogs to our menagerie.  So we couldn’t be happier to support Scott in his participation of the 2011 SF Open Studios, going on this weekend.  Please go see his work on Saturday (October 1^st) and Sunday (October 2^nd) between 11am and 6pm at his studio at 1206 Treat Avenue.  If you’re interested in his graphic design work, visit his website, www.blinkdesign.com.