The embodied energy that went into the original construction make conversions inherently more sustainable than the equivalent built anewEvery building is a complex combination of many processed materials, each of which contributes to the building's total embodied energy. Renovation and maintenance also add to the embodied energy over a building's life.It was thought until recently that the embodied energy content of a building was small compared to the energy used in operating the building over its life. Most effort was therefore put into reducing operating energy by improving the energy efficiency of the building envelope. Research has shown that this is not always the case. Embodied energy can be the equivalent of many years of operational energy.The single most important factor in reducing the impact of embodied energy is to design long life, durable and adaptable buildings.
OpenWays, the global provider of mobile-based access-management solutions for the security and hospitality industries, announces an application for smartphones (embedded or mobile web-based) that allows travellers to check-in remotely, bypass the front desk and open the door to their room by simply pressing a “key” icon on their mobile device. Those travelling with an phone, BlackBerry, NOKIA, Android-based or other Windows-based mobile cell phone can securely obtain an encrypted room key in "full data mode" -- as long as they are staying at a hotel that enables the OpenWays mobile key service. The OpenWays solution was introduced in November as a way to enable any of the 4 billion cell phones in the world to receive a dematerialized key via an encrypted acoustic tone to bypass the front desk and access door locks. This ubiquitous solution uses the principle of Crypto Acoustic Credential (CAC™) and text messaging (SMS) to very securely deliver a key to the right user anywhere in the world. The solution is compatible with the major electronic-locking systems and access-control systems. The acoustic key produced is unique, and thanks to OpenWays patents-pending solutions, a fraudulent recording of the key will be made inefficient to open a door.