Integrate Weather Data into Building Automation
Building magazine’s article, “Integrate Weather Data into Building Automation,” discusses how facility managers can incorporate weather data into a building’s automation system to help guide decisions that can greatly reduce energy and water use.
AIA Iowa Uses Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard at New Office
Contact:
Sarah Erdman, Marketing Director
888.965.3403
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November 18, 2009
AIA Iowa, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects, has moved to a new office and is using QA Graphics’ Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard (EEED) to educate the public on the office’s sustainable interior.
After 15 years at the 1000 Walnut Street location, AIA Iowa has moved their office to suite 100 in Capital Square at 400 Locust Street in Des Moines. The Iowa chapter formed in 1904 and currently has more than 800 members. The new office location is designed for greater public exposure of the chapter and its programs, and has been renovated with the goal of achieving LEED Gold Interior certification. To help facilitate this exposure, an Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard (EEED) is displayed in the office. AIA Iowa will use the EEED as an education tool for visitors who walk in to the office. The EEED is an interactive user interface, which visitors can use to learn more about AIA Iowa and the initiatives the office has taken in anticipation of LEED certification.
“We hope the public and AIA Iowa visitors gain the knowledge of the practices of sustainability and the environment, an understanding of how the built environment can impact energy efficiency, how the AIA Iowa office is used as a model for energy efficient design, and an insight into what the USGBC’s LEED rating system is,” said Jessica Reinert, deputy director at AIA Iowa.
The EEED was developed and donated by QA Graphics, a design and interactive development company located in Ankeny, Iowa. The EEED is displayed on a touch screen in the office, as well as online for members and the public to access. An interactive tour of the office is provided, along with a variety of information demonstrating AIA Iowa’s sustainable initiatives. The EEED may be viewed online at: http://www.qagraphics.com/aia/#.
The interactive display provides great insight into what was necessary for the office’s renovation. A LEED checklist is displayed, listing the sustainable improvements made to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification requirements. Efforts include using recycled content, certified wood and materials that were manufactured locally, as well as using low-emitting materials when selecting paint, carpet, furniture and other materials. Lighting around the office has been reduced, and the lighting and temperature are controllable to maximize the space’s efficiencies. The EEED also shows where green features are specifically used throughout the office. A map of the office explains where key sustainable finish considerations are in effect, such as where recycled content is used, where day lighting takes place and which materials are from within the local region.
“The EEED draws you in to explore,” said Reinert. “I like the way the graphics mirror the interior of the office. The EEED is easy to maneuver and is well organized. Visiting colleagues have stated that they would like an EEED in their office and are very interested.”
50 to 50, a how-to resource intended to assist architects and the construction industry in facilitating the AIA’s public goal of reducing fossil fuel consumption in buildings to at least 50 percent by 2010 and carbon neutrality by 2030 is also available on the EEED. The resource lists 50 ways to make these improvements with demonstrations on how the practices impact a building’s sustainability.
AIA Iowa had help from a number of organizations during the renovation process. A section of the display is dedicated to all those involved in the project, recognizing and thanking them for their involvement. A documentary of the project was also recorded, and a short video clip is available to view. The AIA invites the public to stop in and see the new office space and learn more.
About QA Graphics
QA Graphics is an innovative computer graphic developer specializing in the building automation and green building design industries. The company is an industry leader in the design of graphical user interfaces (GUI) and energy efficiency education, offering custom graphic design solutions including graphic outsourcing, 3D design/animation, interactive content and full-service Web site development. Please visit www.qagraphics.com to learn more.
QA Graphics’ Energy Dashboard wins Readers’ Choice Award
Contact:
Sarah Erdman, Marketing Director
888.965.3403
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November 17, 2009
QA Graphics is proud to announce that their product, the Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard, has won Environmental Design and Construction (ED+C) and Sustainable Facility magazines’ 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards.
The annual Readers’ Choice Awards is an online contest organized by Environmental Design and Construction and Sustainable Facility magazines. The 2009 online contest allowed manufacturers to showcase their green building products within nine different product categories including: framing/structural, daylighting, energy conservation, exterior products/design, water conservation, interior products/design, software, energy systems and mechanical. Then readers cast their vote for what they think are the best green building products and the most easy to use. QA Graphics’ Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard was named the best energy conservation product. The winners were announced at the U.S. Green Building Council’s 2009 Greenbuild conference held in Phoenix. The announcement is also available on the magazine website, http://vote.edcmag.com/readers.
QA Graphics’ Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard (EEED) is an industry-leading graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on an interactive website or touchscreen display. The solution is used to educate staff, building occupants and the public about a building’s energy efficiencies or sustainable features. By integrating the EEED into the building’s control system, utility data can be displayed in real-time daily, weekly, monthly or yearly statistics. Facility managers and occupants can use the data to improve building performance, and compare historical data with consumption patterns to translate savings into monetary results. The EEED can also serve as a teaching tool to educate the public on a building’s sustainable features and how they reduce consumption. This education tool has been utilized by schools, universities, libraries, government buildings and others.
About QA Graphics
QA Graphics is an innovative computer graphic developer specializing in the building automation and green building design industries. The company is an industry leader in the design of graphical user interfaces (GUI) and energy efficiency education, offering custom graphic design solutions including graphic outsourcing, 3D design/animation, interactive content and full-service Web site development. Please visit www.qagraphics.com to learn more.
Sustainable Tips to Save Small Business Owners Money
Environmental Leader’s article, “Sustainable Tips to Save Small Business Owners Money,” provides tips on how small businesses can make changes to be more socially responsible and save the business money.
Green Construction & Building Sector Rising Substantially
Green Energy News’ article, “Green Construction & Building Sector Rising Substantially,” shares results from the 2009 Green Building Market & Impact Report, stating that “the green building sector has maintained constant growth throughout 2009 despite a coarse year for the construction market.”
QA Graphics Expands Office Space
Contact:
Sarah Erdman, Marketing Director
888.965.3403
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November 11, 2009
QA Graphics, an innovative computer graphic development company specializing in design solutions for the green building and building automation industries, is pleased to announce that the company has expanded its offices again, acquiring an additional 2,200 square feet of office space within their current building. The new office space will be utilized by QA Graphics’ design and interactive development team. QA Graphics has also expanded office space in August and in April, due to great business growth. The third expansion was necessary as QA Graphics continues to grow and hire additional staff.
“Our services keep expanding and we’ve hired several new employees,” said Dan McCarty, president and owner of QA Graphics. “This third expansion provides our team members with more working space, and provides plenty of space for future growth.”
About QA Graphics
QA Graphics is an innovative computer graphic developer specializing in the building automation and green building design industries. The company is an industry leader in the design of graphical user interfaces (GUI) and energy efficiency education, offering custom graphic design solutions including graphic outsourcing, 3D design/animation, interactive content and full-service Web site development. Please visit www.qagraphics.com to learn more.
Working Adults are Willing to Sacrifice Comfort to Save Energy?
In a survey of office workers, completed by Johnson Controls, it was found that those surveyed said that they would be willing to sacrifice the ideal temperature in order to save energy. Learn more in the article, “Working Adults are Willing to Sacrifice Comfort to Save Energy?”
Green Guide for Health Care launches pilot program, looks for participants
Green Guide for Health Care, in collaboration with Practice Greenhealth, has launched a Green Guide for Health Care Operations Pilot Program for healthcare organizations that practice green operations. Learn more in an article provided by the Building Design and Construction Newwork.
QA Graphics Uses CINEMA 4D to Help a McDonald’s Franchise Tell the Story of its Green Building
November 5, 2009
CGarchitect.com has published the article, “QA Graphics Uses CINEMA 4D to Help a McDonald’s Franchise Tell the Story of its Green Building,” which discusses the Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard that QA Graphics created for the third green McDonald’s in the U.S. This McDonald’s is owned and operated by Ric Richards of The Richards Advantage, Inc., a 20-year-old McDonald’s franchise organization with multiple restaurants in North Carolina.
QA Graphics Offers International Services
Contact:
Sarah Erdman, Marketing Director
888.965.3403
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November 5, 2009
QA Graphics, an innovative computer graphic development company is pleased to announce that the company now offers international services.
QA Graphics has grown rapidly the past several years, continuing to develop new design services and offering a wide portfolio of interactive development services. A large portion of the company’s projects are graphic outsourcing services for building automation systems and HVAC systems. In addition to creating graphics for some of the industry’s largest building control system manufacturers, QA Graphics has developed a 3D symbol library that is compatible and functions smoothly within most BAS and HVAC software, allowing users to develop high-end graphics internally. Customers also utilize a variety of drafting and photorealistic 3D design and animation capabilities.
QA Graphics also helps the building industry educate the public on the importance of energy efficiency and how buildings operate. The company has developed an interactive solution, the Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard, which can display a building’s utility usage in real-time to view how efficient a building’s practices are. The interactive solution is used by schools, libraries, restaurants, government buildings and others to educate their building occupants and the public on the building’s sustainable practices and more. The company has also expanded services to provide custom display solutions, full-service website development and custom product or parts configurators and more.
With the company’s growth a number of international businesses have shown interest in QA Graphics’ services, and now the company has officially begun providing services internationally, with a current project in South Africa. QA Graphics expects future growth to continue, is looking to expand services throughout North America and internationally.
About QA Graphics
QA Graphics is an innovative computer graphic developer specializing in the building automation and green building design industries. The company is an industry leader in the design of graphical user interfaces (GUI) and energy efficiency education, offering custom graphic design solutions including graphic outsourcing, 3D design/animation, interactive content and full-service Web site development. Please visit www.qagraphics.com to learn more.
USGBC Pilot Credit Library Allows Teams to Guide the Improvement of LEED
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launches the LEED Pilot Credit Library, a new tool that will make the improvement process more flexible, as LEED users can provide feedback and ideas. Learn more.
