"I used the Internet to find the subjects that I needed in my research," he said. "I visited the Carmel Software site and I saw the software package."

Loadsoft 6.0 is a commercial and industrial HVAC load calculation software package based on the ASHRAE 2001 Fundamentals radiant time series (RTS) algorithms. The software provides total cooling and heating loads for a building and properly specifies the correct size HVAC equipment.

Khider explained his reason for choosing the theater project. "It's a perfect space for any engineer to design an air conditioning system for because it has a big [hall] space. Many people use the building at the same time.

"The other reason I wanted to do the study was because I used to go to this theater before the war, and I was shocked when I visited it after the war - so I decided to help in rebuilding it."

The unique design of the theater building was a perfect challenge for the software. "The updated version of Loadsoft has many exciting new features over previous versions, including a much improved user interface and better reporting," said Stephen Roth, president of Carmel Software.

"The fact that companies such as Fujitsu, Johnson Controls, United States Coast Guard, and, of course, Baghdad University have all licensed the updated software validates the quality of our product."

Khider, who lives in the northern Iraq town of Kirkuk, works in a private engineering office, which is responsible for designing air conditioning systems for many office buildings. He also works with various local contractors during the different stages of system design.

Khider has become a big fan of the Carmel Software people.

"I have a strong relationship with Carmel because they helped me in my studies," he said.

During his studies at Kirkuk Technical College, Khider wrote a paper titled "Using Nature to Heat and Cool." In the paper, he discusses how the home's structure determined the climate control before the advent of mechanical HVAC systems.

Khider wrote, "Long before there was central heating and before anyone even dreamed of machines to chill the air, men learned to take the maximum advantage of natural forces to control the climate within their living quarters. In an Eskimo's igloo, the tunnel entrance, depressed below floor level, trapped and kept out cold air. On some tropical islands, homes had open sides to admit ocean breezes and roofs of two layers of thatch spaced so that air could circulate between.

"Not many North Americans live in grass huts or igloos, but they can still control sun and wind to make nature do much of the work that otherwise must be done, at great expense, by furnaces, air conditioners, and fans."

For more information, visit www.carmelsoft.com.

Publication date: 12/20/2004