Over the last 15 years, active desiccant systems have become a common component of HVAC systems in commercial buildings needing lower-than-usual humidity levels. Ice arenas, supermarkets and refrigerated warehouses all contain refrigeration systems which cool air more effectively when most of the building's moisture load is removed by an active (heat-reactivated) desiccant system.

Welcome to the 'Blue Pages'. This is where guest editors from the Editorial Advisory Panel for Building Services Engineering Research and Technology address current developments in building services engineering practice and research. The articles are very short, on one theme of current interest, and do not go through the longer refereeing process for conventional research papers. This is to encourage consultants and contractors to discuss their latest developments in a non-commercial manner. Academics will also be asked to outline current research areas in universities and colleges.

The town-planning guide for the areas of the high speed rail station of Florence, is finalised at the synthesis of a comprehensive strategic design of the overall objectives bring out by the town-planning scheme of the city. The new bioclimatic strategies realised for the new buildings involved natural lighting systems, roof developed such green areas, passive solar glazed facades, passive natural ventilation, underground design strategies.