The Light Bulb Challenge

So you think that $50 LED light bulb is expensive? Let’s look at the numbers

Incandescent has a life span of about 1,200 hours using 60 watts of power, this will yield an operating cost of $328.59/year

CFL’s life span is 8,000 hours using 13-15 watts of power, this will yield an operating cost of $78.65/year

Now the LED bulb has a life span of 50,000 hours using 6-8 watts of power, this will yield an operating cost of only $32.85/year.

So do the numbers lie? Is that upfront cost really cheaper than a $329 incandescent?


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BIM

In a recent story published Globe Newspaper Company, the issue of BIM (Building Image Modeling) has been brought to the mainstream eye.  As a 3d-modeler in the architecture business myself I find it nice to see someone realizing the value 3d models can have.

“This is a paradigm shift in the industry,” said David S. Dutton, Suffolk’s manager of estimating services.

BIM has been around for more than a decade, but only in recent years has it become the industry standard. The process was used in an estimated 60 percent of commercial and institutional construction projects in 2008, up from 30 percent in 2007 and 15 percent in 2006, said Jan Reinhardt of Adept Project Delivery, a Pittsburgh firm Suffolk hired to consult on its BIM efforts.

In almost all cases, officials said, the process saves time and money. It also eliminates the often testy meetings between subcontractors as they try to determine how to make changes to a building under construction. With BIM, conflicts are resolved in meetings that take place before a shovel goes in the ground.

Find the entire article at: BIM Article


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An Architect’s Guide To…..

An Architect’s Guide To Choosing The Right Drafting Stoolchiar

A standard component of any office’s design is a comfortable office chair The average work day is 8 hours, and while you have a lunch break and a couple of coffee breaks spread out intermittently throughout your day, the majority of your time is probably spent crouched over your desk.  Given the amount of time spent down sitting down, making sure you have a chair that properly and comfortably supports you is absolutely essential.  For architects, having the proper seating in your studio is equally important.

Sure, most standard office chairs are height adjustable, but they really don’t offer enough height for use with a drafting table or a counter-height work surface.  Not only does a drafting chair/stool provide more in the way of height, it lends itself better for use with the large width and depth of angled drafting table surface.  Here is a basic guide on choosing the right drafting chair for your home studio or office space.

Height Matters:
The first thing you need to consider is the height of your main work surface.  While a normal office chair might work best if you use a standard size desk with a flat, horizontal work surface, if your work surface is angled in any way you might want to consider a drafting chair.

A drafting chair should put the lowest edge of your work surface at about elbow height.  The seat height should be adjustable (most drafting chairs today have this feature), allowing you to work comfortably anywhere on your work surface.  If you work in a shared office space, it’s imperative that you search for a drafting chair that has a larger height adjustment range.

Turn Me Right Round…:
A swivel feature is absolutely essential component to any drafting chair.  The swivel function helps to encourage proper posture, keeping you from twisting and turning your upper body when you get up or turn around in your chair.  Having a drafting chair with a swivel function also makes working in a collaborative environment easier, giving you additional freedom of movement.

Other Essential Features:
Other important features to look for in a drafting chair include a foot ring, an ergonomically-contoured design and comfortable seating.

  • Foot Ring:  Since you are sitting higher up off the ground, your feet need somewhere to go.  Having a foot ring is therefore a necessity!  Your best bet is to purchase a drafting chair with a 360 degree adjustable foot ring.  Positioned above the base of the chair, the foot ring allows you to rest your feet flat since you can’t likely reach the ground.  Helping to maintain proper posture, a circular foot ring will support your feet whichever way you swivel in your chair.

  • Ergonomics & Comfortability:  Don’t skimp and purchase a cheap drafting chair if you plan on using it for hours upon hours.  Working all day in a chair with little to no back support is a bad idea all around.  You risk serious injury, not to mention general to severe discomfort.  Your drafting chair needs to have both lower and upper back support.
    Chair backs need to be adjustable as well to account for all heights and body types.  Backless drafting chairs are not recommended for extended periods.  Perhaps a model with adjustable arm rests is a good idea as well, depending on your preference.  Arm rests do provide additional support, but sometimes get in the way of your arm movement.  Certain models like Herman Miller’s Aeron Work Stool feature a tilt system that actually keeps the sitter’s feet, arms and back support in place whether he is reclining or leaning forward, providing for a seamless transition between postures.
    A high quality drafting chair could cost you between $300 and $1,000 so it’s definitely an investment.  Whether or not you decide to purchase one should be based on personal preference.  You also need to take into consideration your current studio’s layout.  If you’re planning on purchasing a new drafting table, it’s definitely time to upgrade your chair as well.  Look at it this way – the more comfortable you are sitting down, the more productive you are likely going to be.  If you are suffering, then your work is most likely suffering as well.

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