Day in and day out, millions of tourists and locals flock to San Diego's main attractions. From Petco Park to Sea World to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, many do not realize that the grass is not just greener -- it is fake. In fact, an increasing number of companies in the region are "faking it" with synthetic turf as an environmentally responsible alternative to natural grass. 

Using daylight to illuminate commercial interiors is far from a new concept. Until the Industrial Revolution, daylight was the primary light source for buildings. With the advent of electric lights in the 20th century, however, less emphasis was placed on natural light as a primary source of illumination. Windows became smaller and were sometimes eliminated. Energy-draining florescent lighting became commonplace, and workers soon found themselves spending as much as 90 percent of their time away from natural light. 

Clouds of doom surrounded the San Diego Crime Lab as its chiller plant was 18 years old, using two outdated 130-ton air-cooled reciprocating chillers that were wasting energy and causing high demand charges. On top of those problems, more cooling capacity was required for its laboratory expansion. The standard practice called for installing a new chiller plant using air-cooled screw compressors. This addition could supply the needed capacity, but it would only achieve moderate energy and demand savings. 

Del Sur, a newly opened development of 2,500 homes in north San Diego, represents the next era of responsible community planning for California and the nation: an ultra-progressive, eco-friendly community that blends environmental accountability with architectural heritage. 

Faster processing speeds have made way for advancements in science and medicine, as well for the elevated popularity of consumer products such as iPods and BlackBerries. But this speed comes with a price, ultimately affecting the bottom line of companies and the environment. 

Back in the good old days, window film was invented to reduce temperatures in buildings and homes. Too much solar energy entering windows increased heat, making occupants uncomfortable and air conditioning more expensive to operate. Window film was a simple solution for a simple problem.