With a goal to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent over the next decade, Penn State will tighten its leaky faucets, install LED light fixtures and replace outdated heating systems as part of the U.S. Department of Energys Better Buildings Challenge.

In its third year, the Better Buildings Challenge has committed three billion square feet to improving infrastructure efficiency throughout the United States. It involves 190 different organizations and 600 manufacturing facilities, according to its website .

Penn State has been focused in this area for a long time, Assistant Vice President of Office of Physical Plant Steve Maruszewski said. Being involved in something like this allows us to team up with our peers to find better solutions to learn from each other so we can be more effective at conserving energy.

Penn State is the largest university in the program, with 23,000 acres of land and 32 million square feet of buildings , Alex Novak, director of Communications for the Office of Physical Plant and the Sustainability Institute , said. Other universities in the challenge include University of Virginia and University of Michigan .

Joining the Better Buildings Challenge is part of a longstanding effort to improve the universitys utility functions and replace its outdated infrastructure, Novak said.

Our energy density has already been dropping over the last 10 years, Novak said. This is a pledge to continue with that trend.

Since 2003, Penn State has invested $75 million in energy improvement programs. The university is also making a $60 million investment in energy savings over the next five years. Of a $2.7 billion capital plan, 60 percent is dedicated to building renovations , Novak said.

Participating in the Better Buildings Challenge furthers Penn States energy conservation initiatives.

Really, all of this has been going on for more than 10 years and its gone on under the radar, Novak said. People just dont know whats happening, but were becoming more and more efficient and thats really positive.

Rob Cooper, director of Energy and Engineering for the Office of Physical Plant, said of the projects include improving Penn States heating and air conditioning units, increasing ventilation in laboratories and installing carbon dioxide sensors.

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Penn State to reduce energy usage through Better Buildings Challenge

LAS VEGAS - The temperature is cooling down, but crime is heating up. Police say criminals are targeting easily accessible homes and cars.

Metro Police says auto theft is up nearly 19 percent this year. While home break-ins are slightly down, police urge homeowners not to get complacent.

Police say criminals mostly target open doors and windows. Many homeowners leave garage doors open, providing a tempting target for thieves. Open car windows also present an open invitation.

Take all your items out of your vehicle. If anyone is looking at vehicles and they're looking to commit an auto theft or an auto burglary, they will look in that vehicle, said Metro Police Officer Larry Hadfield. If they see high-valued or high-tag items in there, such as an iPod, tablets, laptops or cell phones, they can get in that vehicle. If given the opportunity to get in the vehicle, then they also have the opportunity to steal the vehicle."

They're looking at the house that's easiest to get into, that they, that they're not going to get caught, Hadfield said. They're not motivated by violence. They're in there to get things of value, so they can pawn them or hawk them off to gain profit."

According to Scout.com, the most common areas for crime are in the central part of the valley. Scout.com says there is a one in 31 chance of becoming a property crime victim. Las Vegas also has one of the highest rates in the country for vehicle theft.

Technology can help. In addition to monitoring high-crime neighborhoods on websites like Scout.com, people can download smart phone apps like Next Door, which creates a neighborhood watch online.

Surveillance cameras have also become affordable and easy to install. While criminals who are caught on camera may still get away with stolen property, the cameras help police identify and catch them.

If you forget to close your garage door, a smart phone app can help. Several apps enable users to open and close their garage doors when they aren't home. There are also apps that enable people to shut and lock their doors.

Bear in mind, criminals have access to technology too. Some criminals can use universal remotes to open locked doors.

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Police warn of crime as temperatures cool

Kitchen Remodeling in Washington DC | Call (301) 679-7611
Are you thinking of remodeling your kitchen or bathroom? With so many options out there, it can be tough to find a company you can trust with such an importa...

By: Vincent Renout

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Kitchen Remodeling in Washington DC | Call (301) 679-7611 - Video

When it comes to home remodeling, we stand by the saying: Bigger isnt always better.

We have said it before and we will say it again: Good home remodeling is about function and design, not about size. We have seen small homes with much better style and function than homes with double the square footage. For instance, adding a large room on the back of your house may make you feel like you are solving space issues in your house. However, if there are still problems with the design/function of the rest of your house, additional square footage may not resolve the core issues of your home.

Bigger is not always better has been our message since we started Renovation Design Group more than 10 years ago. Smart redesign that stays within the footprint of your house can be less expensive than a large, big box addition and can have a big impact on your lifestyle.

During the past few weeks, we have been delving into a recent Houzz.com research study, Transforming the American Home. The study shows that of the 200,000 respondents, 76 percent who remodeled stayed within the existing footprint of their home. This led the Houzz researchers to also conclude that bigger isnt always better.

One of our role models in architecture is Sarah Susanka. She developed the Not So Big book series featuring such titles as The Not So Big House and Not So Big Remodeling. These books are based on her architectural theory of keeping the scope of the project smaller with creative and smart design while taking the money saved and using it on finer finishes. This makes the space more functional and more beautiful without having to make it big. Basically, Ms. Susanka says finding the sense of home has more to do with quality than quantity.

We completely agree. It has been exciting to see more people according to the Houzz survey grasp this concept. A relatively minor remodel or small addition can result in a significantly improved house design. Often homeowners cant see past the existing walls to even imagine a different floor plan and design; they just know they need more space and that for some reason their house isnt working for them anymore. An architect with fresh eyes can present options and solutions most homeowners (and contractors) would not see.

A key issue for making an existing house function well is the circulation pattern of the home. It is always a problem when people have to cross through one room or area to access another. (These are the rooms in which we find it difficult to arrange furniture because they are functioning as a hall instead of a room.) If you can resolve the flow issues, you will have a home that will feel and function as a much larger space, even though the size has not actually changed.

Some design solutions may involve moving walls, doors, windows or even stairs. Such alterations may seem drastic to the homeowner, but one such change can be the key to all the other functions falling into place. For instance, struggling to work around a totally misplaced stairwell can be equivalent to the tail wagging the dog. No matter how you try to modernize the homes style, if the house does not circulate well, it will neither function properly nor feel comfortable.

The other syndrome to avoid is putting lipstick on the pig. This refers to replacing and upgrading finishes without dealing with the underlying issues of the home namely, the way the home flows and functions. If your kitchen is nothing more than a glorified hall with appliances in it, no amount of new cabinets or granite countertops will fix the problem. Unless your goal is to have a better-looking problem, you need to dig deeper and address the underlying issues before you focus on finishes.

Finally, if you are contemplating adding a room, make sure of two things: First, there must be a logical and sensible way to access the room. Look at the circulation in the house before you consider anything else. Second, make sure the addition is proportional to the existing house and its infrastructure.

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Bigger not always better in remodeling, DIY

Beacon Partners said Tuesday that it will break ground on a five-story mixed-use office building in South End, hoping to attract companies drawing from the areas young talent pool of workers.

The new building at 1616 Camden Road, dubbed the 1616 Center, will house 10,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor with 65,000 square feet of office space on the four floors above.

Demolition of two existing buildings at the site will begin this week, with construction on the new building likely starting next week, said Mike Harrell, who oversees Beacons office development and acquisitions program. The site sits next to Prices Chicken Coop.

Harrell hopes the building taps into the areas demographics, attracting technology companies, engineering firms and other would-be tenants with a young adult workforce.

We just like the area ... and see a lot of companies wanting to move (there) to take advantage of all the young people moving to the area, he said.

Plans call for 1616 Center to open by third quarter next year when it will be part of the planned Rail Trail, a 3-mile public park connecting several Charlotte neighborhoods.

The steel building fits with the areas industrial history, said David Furman of Centro Cityworks, the architectural firm that designed the center. It will house a visitors center, public meeting areas, wide sidewalks and artwork in the lobby.

Camden Road, Furman said, is emerging as the downtown of South End. In designing 1616 Center, he envisioned creating an urban office building for tenants with contemporary workers.

One such tenant is Adam Boatsman, founding partner of the Boatsman Gillmore Wagner accounting firm in SouthPark. The first tenant of 1616 Center, he signed a 12,000-square-foot lease.

We hire five to seven brand new college grads every year, and where do they want to live? he said. They want to live (near) uptown.

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Beacon Partners launching construction on South End office building

Central-city office building wins top award DAVID KILLICK

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/ Fairfax NZ

AWARD WINNER: The Stranges building in Lichfield St has be lauded for mixing new design while referencing its architectural past.

A new office building capturing elements of its historic predecessor has won the supreme award in this year's Christchurch Civic Trust Awards.

The Stranges building, on the corner of Lichfield and High streets, was designed by architect Jasper van der Lingen, of Sheppard and Rout, and replaces a historic building that occupied the site from 1899 until the Canterbury earthquakes.

Read more: Architecture awards celebrate city's urban renewal

The Civic Trust said the design "acknowledges the original character of a major corner site and gives consideration [to] inner city urban revitalisation".

"While construction utilises 21st century design in terms of its structure and the use of materials, it also makes strong and meaningful references to its architectural past," it said.

The building was among the first to be completed in the inner city's former earthquake red zone.

Trust chairman Neil Roberts said the trust, which has been in existence for nearly 50 years, was "shifting its focus slightly away from the heritage architecture emphasis it has had in the past".

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Stranges building wins supreme award

Central-city office building wins top award DAVID KILLICK

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/ Fairfax NZ

AWARD WINNER: The Stranges building in Lichfield St has be lauded for mixing new design while referencing its architectural past.

A new office building capturing elements of its historic predecessor has won the supreme award in this year's Christchurch Civic Trust Awards.

The Stranges building, on the corner of Lichfield and High streets, was designed by architect Jasper van der Lingen, of Sheppard and Rout, and replaces a historic building that occupied the site from 1899 until the Canterbury earthquakes.

Read more: Architecture awards celebrate city's urban renewal

The Civic Trust said the design "acknowledges the original character of a major corner site and gives consideration [to] inner city urban revitalisation".

"While construction utilises 21st century design in terms of its structure and the use of materials, it also makes strong and meaningful references to its architectural past," it said.

The building was among the first to be completed in the inner city's former earthquake red zone.

Trust chairman Neil Roberts said the trust, which has been in existence for nearly 50 years, was "shifting its focus slightly away from the heritage architecture emphasis it has had in the past".

Read the original:
Corner building blending past and present wins top Civic Trust award

Rents are expected to rise in the city as white-collar employment increases.

Melbourne's city office construction cycle will take a breather in 12 months as nearly 200,000 square metres of space is completed and a year goes by before another building opens its doors and cranks up its lifts.

Real estate agents Knight Frank expects the office vacancy rate to rise to 9.2 per cent by the middle of next year before contracting through to 2017 due to the slowed development pipeline. Rents are also expected to rise as white collar employment in the city increases every year.

A string of buildings on Collins and Bourke streets, including 567 Collins Street, 699 Bourke Street and KPMG's new 55,000 square metre office at Walker Corp's Collins Square, will round out the present cycle of construction.

Knight Frank director Hamish Sutherland said this "will give the market a chance to catch up. It will be good for landlords and rents, and it gives us a chance for any oversupply to reduce".

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"But 12 months isn't a long time," Mr Sutherland warned.

CBRE director Andrew Tracey agreed.

"There's a long lead time for new projects. Smart tenants are taking advantage of the state of the market. If they do a deal now they can lock in a good lease for the next 10 years," Mr Tracey said.

Knight Frank research showed that prime net face rents increased by 5.3 per cent to an average of $486 a square metre in July, but incentives designed to encourage new leasing deals increased to 30 per cent from 26 per cent, which led to a slight decrease in effective rents.

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Office construction in Melbourne to take a break

The 11 hottest listings from New York, Connecticut and Florida.

Photo: EVAN JOSEPH IMAGES

Agents: Daniel Hedaya and Cash Bernard, Platinum Properties, 212-825-0050: 6615 and 516-317-8279

Right-brainers need the right digs. Ideal for a designer, photographer, architect, painter or anyone who appreciates authentic loft living, this full-floor residence is actually two apartments in one, totaling 4,800 square feet. South-facing Apartment A has a darkroom, custom bookcases, one bedroom and two full bathrooms. Apartment B, looking north, is an open painters loft: windowed chefs kitchen, an office, more storage and walk-in closets, stacked washer/dryer, and two full bathrooms. No need to Sophies choice both are beautifully renovated, both have 50-foot walls of windows and both come with the asking price to live in or rent out as you please.

Agents: Maria A. Ryan and Cynthia Lane Fazio, Brown Harris Stevens, 718-399-4127 and 718-399-4153

Youve done something right in your career when your Westchester homes half-bathrooms outnumber most city dwellers total rooms. At this whopping 47-acre estate fun fact: thats the size of the Missouri State Penitentiary! there are four of them to go along with its seven full bathrooms and nine bedrooms. The prison similarities stop there, however, give the 1928 stone-and-shingle manors [meticulous craftwork] and amazing details throughout. Outside those stone walls lies gated and serene, park-like landscaping with walking/riding trails (horse stables, check), paddocks, a beautiful pool, guest and staff quarters (youll need them in droves) and multiple garages for those multiple cars of yours.

Agents: Stacey Sporn and Neal Sroka, Douglas Elliman, 914-273-1001 and 212-319-5845

Photo: VHT Studios

Agents: Denise LaChance and Betsey Margolies, Urban Compass, 917-834-6126 and 917-882-3182

Brokers arent hurting this UES townhouses feelings when they call it extraordinarily wide its quite comfortable in its 10,000-square-foot skin. Its got five levels to feed your fat fetish: On the garden floor, theres a 30-foot gallery leading to a sophisticated floor-to-ceiling windowed reception room (where the staff and security are squirreled away). On the 36-foot-wide parlor floor, slinky thyself up and down the impressive glass staircase to find the dining room and kitchen. The third floor has two bedrooms with an option for a third (a kiddie-friendly 300-square-foot terrace with hopscotch board). Floor No. 4 is home to the master suite, designed with spa-like luxury and serenity. And capping the joint, up on five, is a sunroom, three more bedrooms and a fully equipped gym.

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Luxe listings: New York, Connecticut and Florida

Under threat of strike, South Burlington cancels school Under threat of strike, South Burlington cancels school

South Burlington classes are cancelled indefinitely and it appears school won't be able to resume until Friday at the earliest.

South Burlington classes are cancelled indefinitely and it appears school won't be able to resume until Friday at the earliest.

Updated: Monday, October 13 2014 11:20 PM EDT2014-10-14 03:20:44 GMT

The countdown to election day is continuing, and in New Hampshire that even means calling on Vermont politicians to hit the campaign trail.

The countdown to election day is continuing, and in New Hampshire that even means calling on Vermont politicians to hit the campaign trail.

Updated: Monday, October 13 2014 10:39 PM EDT2014-10-14 02:39:31 GMT

New estimates in the counterfeit ticket trouble that hit the Addison County Fair and Field Days this summer.

New estimates in the counterfeit ticket trouble that hit the Addison County Fair and Field Days this summer.

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Redesigning with Ruxana: adding pops of color to a room