Company

By Tim Brawner, P.E., LEED AP, CxA, Principal

Everybody seems to be talking about going GREEN. At HESM&A, we are not only talking, we are doing. We are engineering greener, more occupant and environmentally friendly buildings and tenant spaces while still meeting or exceeding all of the functional needs and requests of our clients. HESM&A has already "Greened up" our own office space with reduced flow water fixtures, a recycling program, and a green vehicle stimulus plan for our employees. Our future plans include an electric solar panel system on our roof, and geothermal heating and cooling systems. Going GREEN at HESM&A means being a good steward of natural resources as well as corporate resources. Our GREEN designs take a holistic look at project goals and constraints both environmentally and financially.

Each of you has a reason for being involved in Green initiatives, and whether it is the environment, to set a good example, to be a good corporate citizen or to reduce costs for your organization, all of these motivators are different and in many cases lead to a different set of green solutions for your organization.  At HESM&A, listening to the client and finding the right solution for each project is critical to providing a design that will benefit the owners and occupants. 

One of the more cutting edge “Green Power” solutions is the use of photo-voltaic power, called PV, which uses sunlight to generate electricity.  Recent developments in PV technology, production and government incentives have made PV a more viable green power solution.   Tax incentives offered by the State of Georgia (35% of the cost), the Federal Government (30% of the cost), and an accelerated depreciation rate offered by the IRS (5 years), have reduced the initial cost outlay of these systems.

Technology advances in solar energy include thin-film products which are being installed on an increasing number of projects.  Thin-film PV can be used strictly as a module or it can be integrated into building facades or even into roofing systems.  Thin-film significantly reduces the weight and size of the PV system which lowers additional structural requirements associated with these types of systems.

Solar thermal system advances in recent years have also led to more efficient systems. In fact, a 75 mW plant is currently being built in Florida by Florida Power & Light, with 180,000 mirrors on a 500 acre site north of Miami.  Solar thermal systems operate by tracking the sun across the sky to keep the absorbed energy (heat) focused at one point.  That single point is a metal pipe containing water. The energy brings the water to a boil, creating steam.  The steam is used to turn a turbine which turns a generator, thereby producing electricity.