Behind their steel, concrete, and glass facades, buildings are pulsating energy hubs. In concert with the highly automated systems that deliver it, that energy can convey a sense that buildings approximate living, breathing organisms. In a sense, they are. Programmed HVAC systems hum around the clock, computer systems labor on, and security systems monitor the premises, even as they remain largely devoid of human life for half the day. Little wonder, then, that in a time of heightened concern with energy conservation, these complex structures with a life of their own — and the actions and decisions of those who own and inhabit them — are inviting more scrutiny. To read more on this important subject, click here.