SUSTAINABILITY

PDS, Inc. has made sustainability a part of everything we do, not only in our work, but also within our company culture. Here are the basic principles we use to guide our work and inform those we serve about the sustainable planning, design, and construction process.

Each building component is part of a much larger building, site and community. The macro perspective or ‘Zooming-out’ often gives us the perspective we need to provide the appropriate solution. We can then micro-analyze or ‘Zoom in’ to implement the appropriate details.

Every planning and design choice should have a reason grounded in sustainability, every building or campus component should have a purpose, every detail should be necessary to the entire building or campus.

Every feature should enhance the experience of all the building users on a daily basis.

The process should create value for all invested in each project.

Emphasis on the two C’s: Communication and Collaboration. These are key components of the sustainable planning and design process. Effective and continuous interaction between the design team members including the architects, landscape architects engineers, contractors, and ultimately, the users and maintenance personnel will ensure a successful project.

Emphasis on the two C’s: Communication and Collaboration. These are key components of the sustainable planning and design process. Effective and continuous interaction between the design team members including the architects, landscape architects engineers, contractors, and ultimately, the users and maintenance personnel will ensure a successful project.

PDS, Inc. takes pride in our creative and innovative solutions for projects. This includes implementing project-appropriate systems that sustainable yet yield the highest rate of return for the client.As of recent, several sustainable features have been and are being implemented on projects as listed. All projects have energy models performed to optimize efficiency and a LCCA (Life cycle Cost Analysis) was completed to support features proposed. In addition, our office has assisted with over 40 projects involving the Savings by Design Program with SCE.

• Energy Modeling  
• Life Cycle Cost Analysis  
• LEED Analysis  
• Energy Star Compliance 
• Utility Company Rebate Programs (Savings by Design) 
• High Performance Schools (HPS)  
• Cal Green Compliance

• Passive ventilation strategies
• Displacement ventilation  
• High Efficiency chillers with oil-less magnetic bearings  
• Optimized chiller plants with heat recovery for domestic hot water heating  
• High efficiency condensing heating boilers  
• Chilled beams  
• Variable Speed Drives applications  
• Integrated optimized controls  
• Ultra low flow urinals  
• Dual (low & high) flush toilets