With ongoing refrigeration system problems, and no replacement parts available for its old Beacon systems, the McDonald’s owner in Godfrey, Ill., looked to the ingenuity of its service company, R.E.C. Service Corp., for a solution.

Saving 30 to 40 percent on a home energy bill can be a challenge, but David Hutchins is helping some of his customers do just that. As owner and president of Bay Area Air Conditioning Inc. in New Port Richey and Crystal River, Fla., Hutchins is in what he describes as a heat pump market.

Siemens Building Technologies Division announced that Michaels Stores Inc. recently rolled out a series of Siemens advanced extensions to the Site Controls™ Energy Management System (EMS).

Siemens Building Technologies Division announced that Michaels Stores Inc., the major arts and crafts retailer, has rolled out a series of Siemens advanced extensions to the Site Controls™ Energy Management System (EMS).

A new generation of copper brazed heat exchangers feature design improvements that provide higher thermal efficiency performance, resulting in energy and cost savings. Models CB30, CB60, CB110, and CB112 cover a wide range of duties and will replace the CB27, CB52, CB76/77, and AC120 models.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) has chosen Siemens to implement a $12.2 million performance contract that is expected to save the university approximately $1.2 million in equivalent guaranteed annual energy savings.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) reported that its energy efficiency programs resulted in savings of 5,900 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2010-2011, enough to power more than 600,000 households for a year — the equivalent of two major power plants.

A new company called Noesis announced that it is providing a collection of free tools, collectively called Noesis Free, that let the user analyze a building’s historical energy consumption and costs, compare buildings within a portfolio to find the best and worst performers (i.e., the opportunities for savings), and more.