Raymond Kent is the director of the Innovative Technology Design Group and a senior associate with DLR Group/Westlake Reed Leskosky specializing in technology systems for the performing and cultural arts, healthcare, Government, higher education and corporate markets. He is a co-author of the STEP rating system and has served as the chair of the Technology Task Force for the STEP Foundation. Raymond received the 2012 InfoComm Sustainable Technology Award and is involved with the Center for Sustainable Practice in the Arts and can be often seen presenting at major conferences on sustainability and technology.
The COP21 Convention held in Paris is now in the history books. For those of you who may not know what this annual event even is or have vague ideas about it having something to do with the climate, here is a bit of a primer: In 1992, there was a large political response to […]
Most often when design professional think about creating solutions that help improve the intended environment’s energy efficiency or work to reduce the overall carbon footprint of a space it is often just the immediate cause and reaction that is considered — if I use this product or solution than I reduce emissions by “X” amount. […]
Is Asia the hot spot for green office buildings in the world? Right now they are certainly poised to be. Take Singapore and its Green Mark certified green building path, for example. The government has set the benchmark of having 80 percent of all buildings be certified green by 2030. This push by the Building […]
Have you heard?! Volkswagen got caught cheating on emissions tests. If you don’t know the story, basically a European clean air watchdog group looking at variations in emissions tests wanted to put to bed that VW’s diesel models were a great example of clean diesel transportation. To do this they partnered with their United States […]
As I have written about on many occasions in this column, the Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly becoming the norm allowing for greater facilities flexibility, accessibility, and sustainability. The Information Communications Technology (ICT) industry is leading the IoT charge by connecting everything from audiovisual devices, security systems, and other telcom networks into network enabled […]
The 2015 InfoComm Show just wrapped up in Orlando, Fla. As usual, it is a sea of products from around the world showcasing the latest and greatest from the audiovisual and communications manufacturing sector. Many materials go into the construction of some truly significant transformative technology that will certainly bring benefit to the end users. […]
E-waste has been a growing problem as I have written before and continues to be a major threat to our environment. Some quick facts: In 2008 the United State generated over 3.16 million tons of E-waste of which only 13.6 percent was recycled (EPA). This was an increase over 2007 by 13.6 percent. The rest […]
So Earth Day 2015 just happened. Did you miss it? Did you celebrate it in some way? Did you ignore it completely, roll your eyes, or give it a little head nod and say, “Oh yeah… Earth Day” and then go on with your life? However you recognized the event (or not), it happened. Why […]
As we keep on moving into the ever connected world of the Internet of Everything we are generating mountains of data — Big Data as it is known. The main way we collect this data is through the intensive use of sensors which can read a multitude of parameters within a variety of situations. These […]
Microsoft recently unveiled a series of commercials surrounding the long anticipated and much rumored HoloLens VR 3-D headset at both IES 2015 and during Super Bowl commercials in addition to press tours and the other typical Microsoft product showcases. This is on the heels of others such as Facebook’s recent purchase of the Oculus Rift […]
By now most companies see the real need to incorporate sustainability into their company’s core mission and ingrain it in corporate values. Unfortunately they don’t quite understand the why and the how, but that landscape is rapidly changing and the partnerships being developed to move this forward are solidifying fast. If you are in the […]
Well, the election is over and the Republicans have taken control of the Senate and grew their majority in the House. Depending on your political leanings, this is either really great or really bad. It will be an interesting two years until the next Presidential election cycle. President Obama certain maintains a veto pen and […]
The lofty halls and ivory towers of academia have been a cornerstone in the sustainability movement and continue to be a beacon for those looking to become learned students of sustainability. We see this in a rise in curricula, degree programs and students matriculating into careers in sustainability in a range of disciplines from business, […]
I am currently working on a two-hour online presentation for the Green Building Research Institute called iGreen: Digital Technology for the Next Generation due out in October and while doing research on the topic came across what could be one of the best paradigm shifts in the Green Building movement — USGBC, ASHRAE and the […]
Many of my previous articles, especially the last one on manufacturing and green labels, revolve around the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry. What I have noticed is the number of comments revolving around just what the ICT industry is comprised of and how that specifically relates to the common use of the word sustainability. […]
In the ever increasing landscape of a technology driven world, a key marketplace differentiator for manufacturers on a wide range of products is environmental sustainability. By 2015, over 100 Billion units of electronic goods will be shipped worldwide and corporate environmental sustainability initiatives from manufacturers are expected to have a major impact on their delivery. […]
How many of your workforce are part of the Millennial Generation (born between 1977-1994)? How many of your client’s workforce is in this category? This generation now makes up one third of the current workforce and will make up three-quarters by 2025. Most of this group has never known a time without cable television, cell […]
With it being a driver of a huge chunk of the U.S. economy, California is on target to lead the way in green construction with its revision to the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (known as Title 24 Energy Code). Being revised for the first time since 2008, the new standard (among other items) mandates […]
Well, we have officially finished our first one. Complete. Done. It’s outta’ here! After many years of involvement we got through a STEP pilot project. For those of you who don’t know, have short term memory, or just plain haven’t been paying attention, STEP stands for the Sustainable Technology Environments Program. If you are familiar […]
Northwestern Europe has often been seen as the utopia for living sustainable. Not only have they lead the world in locally produced and distributed environmentally sound energy forms, sustainable agriculture, and top notch green building practices, but they have also partnered with their neighbors to share ideas and technologies. The United States recently jumped on […]
Many of my previous articles have touched on the notion of how truly competitive built environments are rife with connectivity, from the small scale to the vast campuses and further into global portfolios. Sensors and meters, along with extensive control capability embedded into the equipment, provide a connected and monitored world using sophisticated cross-platform management […]
It is often talked about within certain circles that the triple bottom line is rapidly gaining momentum. People, Planet and Profit have become part of the business lexicon for a number of years now and can readily be seen in corporate sustainability reporting and in product literature and advertising. There is another movement afoot that […]
There are so many good points to using energy efficient products as one of the most cost-effective, simple and quick ways to reduce energy consumption and lower green house gas emissions. The ICT industry is ripe with tools, products and software capable of proving out these efficiency gains. Companies are falling over themselves to show […]
As Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals, we often are missing an opportunity with a key ally in our efforts to work with clients to design and implement a wide range of technology solutions within the built environment. Most likely it is because we don’t have the language skills necessary to better communicate with this […]
There are many in the audiovisual technology industry who chide those of us who beat the drum for designing and implementing technology solutions in the built environment with a heavy focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. Their argument is one of profit versus performance, survivability versus conscience. Coming out of a major recession where many […]
The United States Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) defines a Smart Grid as a class of computer based technologies that provides remote control, automation and two-way communication to improve production, delivery and efficiency of the electrical utility system. For over a century, the utility companies had to send workers out to gather […]
When I first started working in architecture a decade ago, I was employed by a fantastic firm that specialized in a building type we are all familiar with — the retail store. We did everything from big box, to mall core and shell, to tenant fit outs. It was a great fit given that I […]
Design Thinking – It is not really a term that is familiar to many people but has significant impact on our daily lives and, more importantly, how we can develop better products and solutions in a more efficient and sustainable manner. Unlike the scientific method, which defines the question, then works towards a solution after […]
Now that InfoComm 2013 is over and done with, and I’ve had a chance to think about what I saw, my main takeaway was how exhibitors and attendees have, for the most part (certainly not everybody), pushed the sustainability conversation to the rear. Has our industry reached a point of sustainability fatigue? Or has it […]
Recently I presented at the Ohio Museum Association’s 2013 annual conference in Sandusky, Ohio on energy efficiency in technology for museum and themed environments. In doing the research for the presentation, I came across some interesting facts and figures that really emphasize how pervasive technology is in the cultural and performing arts and what an […]