As I get settled into my new role as editor of BUILDINGS media, I’m working from home. While it has its perks – the commute is great, the coffee is the right strength – my home office is in my basement. It’s a little on the cold and dark side down there.
By luck, the week before I started working from home, I purchased an LED lightbulb that boasts having 64,000 shades of white. This has made all the difference, giving me the right amount and color of light to focus, no matter the task or time of day.
Like in my own workspace, finding the right color temperature and light intensity is key. That’s why tunable lighting has emerged in facilities where people work extra shifts or need a certain temperature for specific conditions, like students in classrooms. Our article looks at facts of tunable lights and if it’s the right choice in your building.
Another concern is outdated lighting – from costs associated with maintenance and inefficiency, to dark corners and not having the right kind of light for the space or task. Converting to LED lighting can solve challenges. We share 5 tips for LED retrofits, including 3 case studies on the benefits they received from upgrading.
A new face isn’t the only recent change. On buildings.com the BUILDINGS editorial team is posting content on a more regular basis. Find anything from how recent news affects facilities management to expanded coverage of print content to updates to articles as needed (like in the article mentioned in the Letter to the Editor, below).
I welcome my new role and look forward to having illuminating discussions on issues important to facility managers, including lighting and beyond.
Valerie Dennis Craven
Editor in Chief
Letter to the Editor
I enjoyed your BUILDINGS article “3 Must-Know Differences in Roofing Codes,” but believe that the comments on re-roofing provisions create some ambiguity. The International Building Code (IBC) requires the removal of all layers of roof coverings down to the roof deck when replacing the roof. The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1 are clear that roof replacements of roof systems that are part of the building thermal envelope and contain insulation entirely above the deck require compliance with insulation R-Value requirements. Therefore, building owners should consult with a roofing professional whenever the project entails more than small repairs and also check with the local building department when considering a roof recover or roof replacement.
The energy code is designed to create cost-effective ways to save energy in existing buildings. Replacing a roof is the opportune time to add insulation and improve the energy performance of commercial buildings.
Sincerely,
Justin Koscher
President, PIMA
