Joanna Turpin is a senior editor with the ACHR NEWS. She can be contacted at 248-786-1707 or joannaturpin@achrnews.com. Turpin has been with BNP Media since 1991, first heading up the company’s technical book division. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Washington and worked on her master’s degree in technical communication at Eastern Michigan University.
Plenty, as it turns out. As the next ASHRAE meeting approaches, a new version of the ventilation document is almost ready to go, with new wording in some places and new requirements in others. Get the big picture on the thinking behind the adjustments and the process. By Joanna R. Turpin
Outdated equipment - ranging from failing chillers to fan motors that can only be described as repeat offenders - victimized the Lerdo Correctional Facility. Furthermore, budget constraints prevented better efficiency enforcement. However, armed with a performance contract, Lerdo handcuffed its problems by gutting and rebuilding the central plant, installing new controls, and more. By Joanna R. Turpin
Using nearby water for cooling in industrial applications and then returning that water to the source is a traditional maneuver, but it can also damage local aquatic life and violate EPA regulations. Learn the costs and benefits of a few cooling towers configurations, along with tips for dealing with blowdown and effluent within the facility itself. By Joanna R. Turpin
From a mix of natural and mechanical cooling to rainwater-supplied bathrooms, the Natural Resources Defense Council's new Santa Monica office features predictably forward-thinking sustainable design. Here's the story of how the Robert Redford Building tells the story of its efficiency. By Joanna R. Turpin
When a nonprofit rehab facility in Boise needed to expand, officials elected to stick with the previous building's geothermal approach. The new version, chosen largely for its simplicity and cost advantages, heats the hospital's 156,000-sq-ft space well. In fact, from special heat exchangers for therapeutic pools to other touches including filtration, the whole system coalesces to provide comfort for the convalescing. By Joanna R. Turpin
New ISO standards for cleanrooms aim to give professionals a common set of references for their work in these environments. However, issues remain that require owners and engineers to tread carefully when entering into contracts. Furthermore, while one result of ISO Standard 14644 is to simplify design on an international scale, its use of the metric system requires adjustment for many in the U.S. By Joanna Turpin
Sovereign status allowed smoking in this casino, but the smoke wasn't making the atmosphere appealing to patrons. The Oneida Indian Nation management decided to improve the setting by taking the under - underfloor ventilation, that is. By Joanna R. Turpin
A variety of unrelated circumstances have served to highlight the praticality of spot (or portable) cooling. Find out why portable cooling isn't just for breakdowns anymore. By Joanna R. Turpin
With a kickstart from the military, momentum is building as a new wave of products become more able with less cable. See how the technology can improve monitoring, how some sensors "organize themselves" to function best, and what's being done to help various wireless equipment function together. By Joanna R. Turpin