Building owners can earn thousands in tax credits from Inflation Reduction Act

IRA expands credits for ten+ years and reduces up-front and long-term costs of heating, cooling, lighting, and more As of August 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, extending or expanding thousands in tax credits and rebates for consumers and businesses. These consumer credits apply to a mix of energy-saving goods like electric … Read more

Designing campus spaces for living and efficient, effective studying

students studying together

Colleges and universities in Indiana and throughout the Midwest largely skipped the early-2000s fad of building elaborate student amenities like rock climbing walls and lazy rivers. Instead, schools like Indiana State University and Rose Hulman Institute of Technology remained focused on student academics and athletics by creating efficient and effective facilities. Buildings alone can’t address … Read more

Ask an engineer: what is contract administration vs. construction administration and management?

Construction managers, architects, and engineers discuss a project at a building site

As a project begins, building owners and clients—whether an architectural firm, facilities management group, or some other stakeholder—meet engineers, general contractors, other architects and designers, and dozens of other professionals like electricians and plumbers. Consulting engineering firms like R.E. Dimond and Associates also assign a construction administrator. We assign a construction administrator to nearly every … Read more

What is a network consulting engineer?

Internet Connectivity across Indianapolis

A network consulting engineer goes beyond a typical IT operations role and is responsible for planning, and designing a building’s technical networks. Those networks can include voice networks—like PA systems or telephones. Or they can consist of Internet-based networks for data, such as Voice over IP (VoIP), sensors, servers, audiovisual systems, computers, and smart devices … Read more

How do solar PV systems work technically and financially?

The window for getting a robust federal tax rebate on solar panels has been extended to January 1, 2033. The maximum credit for homeowners is now $5,000, up from $2,000 over the last few years. Energy efficiency tax credits for commercial businesses were made permanent in earlier bills. As of August 2022, several other credits … Read more

What is responsible building design? And should we care?

Phoenix Theatre Lobby

We love to find innovative solutions through the responsible design of high-performing and sustainable building systems. At its core, that means the architects, engineers, and construction teams we work with design buildings that reduce resource usage, maintain comfort and safety, and meet a client’s needs and budget. “Responsible building design” is often linked to “green … Read more