Friday, September 30, 2011

September Membership Meeting Presentation


“Thank you again for taking the time to attend the September ASHRAE dinner presentation on Emerging Systems: Photovoltaic Technologies. We’re grateful for the opportunity to present and trust that the presentation was both informative and engaging.  Feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions regarding these technologies or other renewable energy technologies. On behalf of myself and Hargis Engineers, thank you again. 

-Mark Humiston, PE”


To view Mark's power point presentation click on the link below:


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Climate Analysis for a More Sustainable Architecture (Series)


Climate Analysis for a More Sustainable Architecture (Series) 
AIA Seattle's partners in the AIA+2030 Professional Series, the Integrated Design Lab, ASHRAE Puget Sound and BetterBricks, are offering an education series this fall to provide a deeper level of understanding about the key topic of climate analysis.

Tuesdays, October 4 – December 6, 2011 6-9pm
Integrated Design Lab l Puget Sound
100 Northlake NE, Suite 100
Seattle, Washington

This course will focus on the practice of climate analysis for the purposes of designing more sustainable buildings that respond to local site and weather conditions to reduce their use of energy while optimizing occupant comfort.

We will define what is meant by climate, examine its constituent variables, identify sources of data, and evaluate tools and techniques to display, analyze, and interpret these conditions in a useful way. The interpretation of local climate conditions will specifically focus on graphic tools and techniques to understand key climate variables. These techniques will include the use of free and commercially available software packages, but importantly will include the use of manual digital techniques such as Excel or other data management programs that allow the user the greatest flexibility in interpreting results.

While much of the class will focus on the analysis of climatic data specific to individual building projects, the course will examine issues beyond the limits of the building envelope: microclimatic interactions between buildings, their landscape settings, and the local site specific weather conditions; and the role that changing climate conditions might play for the future of a more sustainable architecture.

Chris Chatto is a Sustainable Design Architect. He focuses on optimizing building efficiencies, from energy and daylighting studies in early project development to tracking the performance of completed projects, to monitoring the energy performance of ZGF projects in the context of the 2030 Challenge. Chris developed an expertise in daylighting, climate analysis and bioclimatic design for high performance buildings while working with the BetterBricks Integrated Design Labs at the University of Oregon and University of Washington.

MORE INFORMATION:  Call 206-616-7966 or email linneak@uw.edu
Registration:   http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=222252 or http://www.aiaseattle.org/node/5975

COST:  $500 for the series - Registration is open until class fills.

Brought to you by:



Thursday, September 15, 2011

JOB POSTING - Seattle City Light


Seattle City Light (SCL) seeks a Manager III – Utilities Conservation Field Manager for the Conservation Resources Division (CRD) Field Section. Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound.  In 1977, the City of Seattle established the energy conservation as its highest-priority, most cost-effective, most environmentally-friendly mechanism to meet the energy needs of Seattle City Light’s customers. 

The Conservation Field Group provides energy efficiency funding and consulting services to commercial, industrial and multifamily electric service customers. Prior to an extensive division-wide re-design in 2011, the field operations were housed within two separate sections of the division.  With the reduction of one management position, the division will now coordinate all field operations under this single manager.

The Field group helps commercial, government, institutional, industrial and multifamily customers develop and implement projects to improve their energy efficiency.  This group develops and manages several hundred contracts a year aimed at providing customers with funds and technical consulting services to encourage the use of innovative equipment, infrastructure and methods that will conserve electric energy.

The Field Operations Manager will provide management and leadership for the operation and delivery of SCL’s commercial, industrial, and multifamily conservation programs and services. 

For a complete description of the job announcement please visit:   http://www4.seattle.gov/personnel/employment/default_neogov.asp

To apply please visit http://www.seattle.gov/personnel/employment/ to create a profile to apply by 4PM on Tuesday October 4, 2011.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

JOB POSTING - Custom Mechanical Solutions



Inside Sales Engineer

The Inside Sales Engineer is responsible for supporting the efforts of the outside sales team in delivering projects on time, within scope and authorized cost figures for our customers. 

Specific job responsibilities include (but are not limited to) the following:
·         Responsible for review of quote requests, analysis of bid documents, equipment selection, and pricing of equipment and services.
·         Responsible for timely completion of assigned projects and customer satisfaction.
·         Must maintain excellent communication with customers and their representatives
·         Maintain strong support for our customers throughout the project process, including engineering support, specification review, quotation development, submittal preparation, order management activities, and service/warranty support.
·         Ensure compliance with internal equipment ordering and project transition processes.
·         Assist customers in answering technical questions on HVAC systems, the proper application of our products, installation, operation, and problem resolution.
·         Flexibility to work outside normal work hours, as required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor's degree in engineering from four-year college or university; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Familiarity with HVAC systems and temperature control equipment preferred.  The Inside Sales Engineer works in a typical office environment with occasional visits to project sites, which includes outdoor work and work in mechanical/equipment rooms.

Inside Sales Engineers must have exceptional written and verbal communications skills.  Outstanding attention to detail and excellent organizational skills are critical, as are honesty and the ability to develop and maintain deep customer relationships based on trust.  

Please send resumes to eric@cmswa.com.

Monday, September 12, 2011

JOB POSTING - CITY OF SEATTLE


Job Title:
Energy Code and Conservation Advisor (SA 2 - E&PR)
Job Number:
2011-00797
Salary:
$35.38 - $53.07 Hourly
Location:
Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave., Seattle, Washington
Job Type:
Classified Civil Service, Regular, Full-Time
Shift:
Day
Department:
Department of Planning and Development
Bargaining Unit:
Not represented
Closing Date/Time:
Tue. 09/27/11 4:00 PM Pacific Time



Position Description  Benefits  Supplemental Questions

The Department of Planning and Development is looking for motivated candidates for an exciting opportunity position as one of the city’s advisors on building energy conservation, focusing on energy and building codes.  This leadership position will help shape the energy conservation policies and drive initiatives of Seattle which has been a leader in energy conservation and environmental stewardship for many years. The indivudal will report directly to the Manager of Emergency Response and Code Development.
 Job Responsibilities:
This position will serve as an advisor on building energy conservation, and is essential to Seattle’s energy conservation programs. The Energy Code and Conservation Advisor is responsible for maintaining the Seattle Energy Code. In addition, this position will participate in development of state and national codes and standards consistent with the city’s energy conservation policies. This position requires a person with experience, expertise and communication skills to represent Seattle effectively in high-level policy-making and intensely technical code-drafting situations.

·         Develop and implement the Seattle Energy Code
·         Develop Energy Code rules, information materials, and training
·        Serve as resource for review of complex building permit  applications 
·        Develop policies and recommendations to increase energy conservation in private and public buildings
·         Represent the city and advocate for city energy conservation policies in local, state, regional and national venues
·        Work with others from the region on developing energy conservation code change proposals for the Washington and International Code Council energy conservation codes
·          Serve as a City Liaison with organizations such as ASHRAE, US Green Building Council, US Dept of Energy, and local chapters of AIA, ASHRAE and IESNA.
 Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree with a breadth of experience in engineering, architecture, building construction technology or a related field. Experience in codes and code development processes including five or more years experience with energy conservation codes and experience in national code development activity. Knowledge of building construction and systems, including fenestration products, and heating and ventilation systems. The ability to explain technical code provisions to varied public and private stakeholders. Ability to operate on the frontier of codes and to reach out to other organizations to develop and implement code changes.   Superb attention to detail and the ability to produce high quality work and to manage priorities while meeting deadlines.  Experience acting as a technical expert on energy code issues, and developing recommendations for senior management on policy options and program direction.  Some travel is required.
 Additional Information:
Must be creative and possess experience and expertise in a range of topics such as sustainability, energy, and code development.  Excellent public speaking and writing skills and the ability to work in complex multi-party, multi-media environments are also desirable.

Visit
www.seattle.gov/dpd

Friday, September 9, 2011

ASHRAE - GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS


Good day and welcome to ASHRAE's Government Affairs Update. Along with the Government Affairs Webpage, these periodic Email updates feature information on government affairs-related activities of interest to ASHRAE members and others interested in the built environment. Archives of previous updates are available from the Government Affairs Webpage (http://www.ashrae.org/advocacy).


Please pass this information on to interested colleagues who also may subscribe from the ASHRAE Government Affairs Webpage. Should you wish to unsubscribe, information appears at the end of this Email.


If you have any recommendations regarding content, or have questions about or would like to participate in Washington Office activities, please contact ASHRAE Government Affairs staff at (202) 833-1830 or washdc@ashrae.org.


ASHRAE Government Affairs Update, 9/9/11


v  Senate Committee Advances Energy & Water Funding Bill

v  Importance of Resuming Work on the 2011 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey Spotlighted by Senate Funding Subcommittee

v  President Obama Calls on Congress to Pass Legislation that Would Repair & Modernize 35,000 Schools

Senate Committee Advances Energy & Water Funding Bill
Earlier this week the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Energy & Water Development Appropriations Bill. This $31.6 billion act would provide fiscal year 2012 funding for several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy, and Energy Information Administration. A comparison of highlighted programs important to the building industry is below:


Senate
House
Difference Between Senate and House
Building Technologies Program
$210.5 million
$150 million
-$60.5 million
State Energy Program
$50 million
$25 million
-$25 million
Weatherization Assistance Program
$174.3 million
$33 million
-$141 million
Energy Information Administration
$105 million
$105 million
$0

The next action on this legislation will likely be inclusion in a large, “omnibus” funding bill that will include most other federal appropriations bills for the 2012 fiscal year, which begins October 1.

Prior to final action on the Senate Energy & Water funding bill, Members of Congress will negotiate to work out the differences between the House and Senate measures, with the final amounts likely somewhere between the House and Senate versions.

Importance of Resuming Work on the 2011 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey Spotlighted by Senate Funding Subcommittee

The Senate Energy & Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee issued a report earlier this week that accompanies that Senate Energy & Water Development Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2012, and calls on the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to resume work on the 2011 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS).


The Energy & Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee is the Senate funding committee that drafts the Senate’s annual Energy & Water Development Appropriations Bill.


CBECS is a nationally representative survey of commercial building energy consumption and expenditures, and their energy-related characteristics in the United States. The Survey has been conducted about once every four years. “Commercial buildings” in the CBECS context includes all buildings in which at least half of the floor space is used for a purpose that is not residential, industrial, or agricultural; thus it includes building types that might not traditionally be considered “commercial”, such as schools, correctional institutions, and buildings used for religious worship .


The most recent CBECS data available are from the 2003 edition of the Survey. The 2007 data are flawed and unusable due to data collection errors that have since been corrected for the 2011 edition of the Survey. Work on the 2011 CBECS has been halted due to appropriations reductions in fiscal year 2011 to EIA, which oversees the Survey.

The specific language from the Senate report is below, but what this boils down to is that because of this report language (which helps convey Congressional intent), EIA is more likely to use funds they receive in the coming fiscal year to resume work on the 2011 CBECS, however this action is still dependent upon the level of funding EIA receives from Congress for fiscal year 2012.

ASHRAE has been leading a large coalition in support of encouraging the resumption of work on the 2011 CBECS.

The Senate report language follows:

ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
Appropriations, 2011 .............................................................................1 $95,409,000
Budget estimate, 2012 ........................................................................... 123,957,000
House allowance .................................................................................... 105,000,000
Committee recommendation ................................................................. 105,000,000
1 Does not include rescission of $86,300,000 under Public Law 112–10.

The Committee recommends $105,000,000 for the Energy Information Administration. The Committee notes that the Energy Information Administration has announced that it will not release the 2007 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey [CBECS] due to data and sample flaws resulting from the survey method employed. The 2003 CBECS remains the most current survey of commercial building efficiency used as the baseline for The Energy Star program at U.S. EPA, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED] program, and Green Globes. In light of the age of the 2003 survey and the failure of the 2007 study, the Committee recommends that the Energy Information Administration complete a new Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey during fiscal year 2012.

President Obama Calls on Congress to Pass Legislation that Would Repair & Modernize 35,000 Schools

Addressing a joint session of Congress last night, President Barack Obama laid out a proposal called the American Jobs Act, which is designed to spur America’s economy and job growth – much of which would be done through infrastructure projects, including building construction and modernization.

Details of the proposed legislation are not yet available, however the White House has released an overview of what the President would like to see in this bill. Below are highlighted building-related sections of this plan. The full overview is available at http://1.usa.gov/mT2Nok

Modernizing Over 35,000 Schools – From Science Labs and Internet-Ready Classrooms to Renovated Facilities: The President is proposing a $25 billion investment in school infrastructure that will modernize at least 35,000 public schools – investments that will create jobs, while improving classrooms and upgrading our schools to meet 21st century needs. This includes a priority for rural schools and dedicated funding for Bureau of Indian Education funded schools. Funds could be used for a range of emergency repair and renovation projects, greening and energy efficiency upgrades, asbestos abatement and removal, and modernization efforts to build new science and computer labs and to upgrade technology in our schools. The President is also proposing a $5 billion investment in modernizing community colleges (including tribal colleges), bolstering their infrastructure in this time of need while ensuring their ability to serve future generations of students and communities.

Establishing a National Infrastructure Bank: The President is calling for Congress to pass a National Infrastructure Bank capitalized with $10 billion, in order to leverage private and public capital and to invest in a broad range of infrastructure projects of national and regional significance, without earmarks or traditional political influence. The Bank would be based on the model Senators Kerry and Hutchison have championed while building on legislation by Senators Rockefeller and Lautenberg and the work of long-time infrastructure bank champions like Rosa DeLauro and the input of the President’s Jobs Council.

Project Rebuild: Putting People Back to Work Rehabilitating Homes, Businesses and Communities. The President is proposing to invest $15 billion in a national effort to put construction workers on the job rehabilitating and refurbishing hundreds of thousands of vacant and foreclosed homes and businesses. Building on proven approaches to stabilizing neighborhoods with high concentrations of foreclosures, Project Rebuild will bring in expertise and capital from the private sector, focus on commercial and residential property improvements, and expand innovative property solutions like land banks. This approach will not only create construction jobs but will help reduce blight and crime and stabilize housing prices in areas hardest hit by the housing crisis.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

2009 Seattle Energy Code - Chapter 16

2009 Seattle Energy Code: Chapter 16, On-Site Renewable Energy Systems, now in effect

Chapter 16, On-Site Renewable Energy Systems, of the 2009 Seattle Energy Code is now in effect. http://buildingconnections.seattle.gov/2011/08/01/2009-seattle-energy-code-chapter-16-on-site-renewable-energy-systems-now-in-effect/

  • DR 11-2011 (Alternate Means of Compliance to Energy Code Requirements for On-Site Renewable Energy Systems) has been published, so per Section 1601 of the 2009 Seattle Energy Code, Chapter 16 is now in effect.

  • Consequently, all permit applications submitted on 14 July 2011 or later must comply with Chapter 16 of the 2009 Seattle Energy Code.

  • Attached is a copy of Director's Rule 11-2011 (DR 2011-11.docx).

  • Copies can also be downloaded from the link on the Seattle Energy Code website at http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Codes/Energy_Code/Overview/dr_summary.asp
Also several updates have been made to the Seattle Energy Code website:

  • The previous versions of the Seattle Energy Code dating back to the year 2000 have now been posted on the Seattle Energy Code website. These earlier versions can all be downloaded from the Seattle Energy Code History page which is accessed from the right hand navigation tab on the Seattle Energy Code homepage at: http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Codes/Energy_Code/Overview/history.asp.

  • The single-family residential tips and the multifamily and nonresidential tips have been revised for consistency with the 2009 Seattle Energy Code. These can be accessed from the right hand navigation tab on the Seattle Energy Code homepage.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

William Valentine

William Valentine, ASHRAE 50 Year Member and president of Valentine, Fisher and Tomlinson until his retirement in 1980, passed away August 14, 2011.

Of all his engineering accomplishments, he was probably proudest of his work on the International Fountain for the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle. He was able to solve the problem of how to make the water, lights, and music perform together – without the help of computers. Friends still refer to that fountain as “Bill’s Fountain.”

The following obituary appeared in The Seattle Times on August 18:

William VALENTINE October 16, 1915 ~ August 14, 2011 William (Bill) was born in Seattle, attended Garfield High School and The University of Washington.He was the president of Valentine, Fisher and Tomlinson-a Consulting Engineering firm he established in Seattle until his retirement in 1980. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Flo Valentine. He is survived by his daughter, Kathy Valentine and partner Jani Stonington, son, Tom Valentine, brother, Robert Valentine. He also is survived by his granddaughter, Megan Valentine and nieces Linda McLaughlin, Sherry Gibb andPatty Valentine and nephew, Jim Valentine. A memorial service will be held Saturday August 20th at 4:00p.m. at Flintoft's Funeral Home,540 E. Sunset Way, Issaquah, 425-392-6444. Friends are invited to view photos, get directions and share memories in the family's online guest book at http://www.flintofts.com/.

Donations in Bill’s name may be made to Colie’s Closet, P.O. Box 18776, Boulder, CO 80301 which is an organization that deals with depression and suicide in youth or a charity of your choice.

Seattle Energy Code Update - September 2011

One item has been posted on the Seattle Energy Code website for download within the last month. This can be accessed from the right hand navigation tab on the Seattle Energy Code homepage:

- The electronic version of the Building Envelope form (2009sec-ENG.xls, 727 KB) has been updated to correct the formula in cell F9 of the ENV-VT worksheet. If you previously downloaded this form, please replace it with the one now posted on the Nonresidential and Multifamily Residential Forms page:http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Codes/Energy_Code/Overview/forms_non.asp

A reminder that, when using the Component Performance option for the Building Envelope in nonresidential and multifamily residential spaces:

1. Compliance must be calculated separately for the building envelope for nonresidential spaces and for multifamily residential spaces.

2. For multifamily residential spaces, compliance must be shown for

a. Target UA, AND
b. Target SHGCA (where there are skylights).

3. For nonresidential spaces, compliance must be shown for

a. Target UA, AND
b. Target SHGCA, AND
c. Target VTA (when the fenestration area exceeds 30%).

Consequently, when using the electronic versions of the compliance forms, multiple worksheets need to be completed.

For Energy Code questions, please contact Shailesh Desai at shailesh.desai@seattle.gov or 206-233-7860.

Thanks,
John


John Hogan, AIA, P.E.
LEED Accredited Professional
Seattle Department of Planning & Development (DPD)
700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000
P.O. Box 34019
Seattle, WA 98124-4019
(john.hogan@seattle.gov)

voice: 206-386-9145
fax: 206-386-4039

Seattle Energy Code website:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/energy/

Thursday, September 1, 2011

D. J. "Dinty" Moore

D. J. "Dinty" Moore, who served as ASHRAE Puget Sound Chapter President in 1964, passed away August 23, 2011.

The following obituary appeared in The Seattle Times on August 27:

D.J. "Dinty" MOORE Dinty Moore passed away peacefully August 23, 2011. He was85 years old. Dinty was born April 6, 1926, on a ranch in Bozeman, Montana, overlooking the Gallatin Valley. He received the nickname 'Dinty' from a ranch hand when he was a child and could always be heard telling people that the real 'Dinty Moore Beef Stew' had horsemeat in it. Dinty graduated from Montana State College with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He married his college sweetheart, Nancy, in 1948 and was happily married for 50 years until she passed away in 1998 from diabetes. He spent the past 13 years missing her terribly. Determined that he did not like 'putting lines on paper' as an engineer, Dinty (a natural born salesman) founded D.J. Moore, Inc. in 1961. He spent 30 years building the business before gladly turning it over to his son so that he and his beloved Nancy could travel. He was a former president of the local chapter of ASHRAE and active in various United Methodist Churches in the Renton area. Dinty was a talented Euphonium player who played many years in the Renton City Band. He was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and active in Boy Scouts. He was a Lieutenant in the Navy. Most importantly, Dinty was a devoted and loving husband, proud parent, and selfless supporter of family. He is survived by his son and daughter, and their families: Randy and Shawn Moore and their sons Bryant, Kyle, and Tyler; Marilyn and Kerry Bunday and their children Eric, Susie, and Shelley. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren. He was much loved and is already missed. Dinty was a good, honest and caring man who had a wonderful 85 years full of life. His family thanks the staff and his friends at Lakeshore Retirement Center in Renton and is grateful for the loving care provided him by For Seniors Sake adult family home in Shoreline.

Contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, PO BOX 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312, a charity near to his heart.

https://donations.diabetes.org/site/Donation2?df_id=4362&4362.donation=form1&s_src=legacy&s_subsrc=obit&set.TributeFirstName=D.&set.TributeLastName=Moore
A graveside service to be held at a later date.

ASHRAE Standard 62.1

The 2011 Supplement to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010 is now published and posted for free on the ASHRAE website at http://www.ashrae.org/technology/page/132. The supplement includes Addenda a, c, d, and e to Standard 62.1-2010. Below is a brief description of the changes and the approval dates.








Mark Weber, Assistant Manager of Standards - American American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. Extension: 1214 Fax: 678-539-2214 eMail: mweber@ashrae.org Web: http://www.ashrae.org/

ASHRAE - Government Affairs Update

Dear ASHRAE Member,

ASHRAE respectfully requests your help and voice.

It has often been said that you can’t manage what you can’t measure. Data from the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) have important direct and indirect impacts on the building industry and U.S. economy. CBECS is a nationally representative survey of commercial building energy consumption and expenditures, and their energy-related characteristics in the United States.

The Survey is conducted about once every four years. “Commercial buildings” in the CBECS context include all buildings in which at least half of the floor space is used for a purpose that is not residential, industrial or agricultural, so they include building types that might not traditionally be considered “commercial,” such as schools, correctional institutions and buildings used for religious worship.

CBECS data are used by ASHRAE standards, and the Society’s Building Energy Quotient building labeling program. Without the current, comprehensive picture of building energy consumption in the United States that CBECS provides it would be harder to identify opportunities to increase efficiency and to assess progress towards energy efficiency goals.

Work on the 2011 CBECS was suspended due to a lack of priority in fiscal year 2011 for the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which oversees the Survey. The last edition of the Survey is from 2003, and if the 2011 Survey is not conducted, consulting engineers, manufacturers, building owners and operators, utilities, research and educational institutions, policymakers and others will be forced to rely on data that is nearly a decade old to help make their building energy efficiency-related decisions.

ASHRAE leadership strongly believes that having the up-to-date information on U.S. building energy consumption that the 2011 CBECS would provide is important. If you agree, we are asking you to please contact your U.S. Senators to ask them to support resumption of work on the 2011 CBECS.

For your convenience, ASHRAE has provided a suggested letter to send to your Senate members. ASHRAE has also included step-by-step instructions for identifying and contacting your Senators.

After sending letters to your Senators, I ask that you please send an email to washdc@ashrae.org, letting ASHRAE know that you have sent these letters. This will help ASHRAE leadership gauge member participation and whether the Society should send future requests for member participation.

Thank you in advance for your time and efforts to support building efficiency.


Sincerely,
Ronald E. Jarnagin
2011–12 ASHRAE President

________________________________________

MODEL LETTER

Dear Senator:

As a constituent and member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE), I respectfully encourage you to support the prompt resumption of work on the 2011 edition of the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS).

CBECS is a nationally representative survey of commercial building energy consumption and expenditures, and their energy-related characteristics in the United States. Work on the 2011 CBECS was suspended due to a lack of support for the U.S. Energy Information Administration in fiscal year 2011.

CBECS data have important direct and indirect impacts on the U.S. building industry and economy. Without an updated comprehensive picture of energy consumption in the U.S. it would be harder to identify opportunities to increase efficiency.

Retrofitting buildings to increase efficiency helps drive the manufacturing industry, which supplies more efficient building equipment and technologies. Greater building efficiency also helps reduce waste and conserve natural resources.

A 2009 McKinsey & Company study stated that energy efficiency retrofits could generate between 500,000 and 750,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs through 2020.

Thank you in advance for supporting efforts to increase building energy efficiency.


Personal regards,
[Your First and Last Name]

________________________________________
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR IDENTIFYING AND CONTACTING ASHRAE MEMBERS’ TWO U.S. SENATORS

Senate
Most people in the United States are represented by two Senators. To contact yours, follow these easy steps…

1) Visit http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
2) Select your state from the dropdown box
3) Click on the link next to “Web Form.” This will take you to a Webpage where you will be able to contact your Senator and will provide you with either an email address or a place where you can cut and paste the letter above and submit your letter to your Senator online
4) Remember to do this twice (for each of your Senators)


Sincerely,
Ronald E. Jarnagin
2011–12 ASHRAE President