Highlight of the Week    Beyond the Green Dream Facing the Reality of Green Building Compliance The growing conversation about sustainability has inspired designers and policymakers to dream of a green future. Today, that discussion has become reality. What do you need to know to ensure your green buildings comply with not only existing standards, but ever-advancing technology and policy requirements? Join us as we navigate the maze of green bureaucracy from the latest local and federal policy developments to sustainable contracts and materials through panel discussions and case studies. This program will be your "how-to" guide on the brass tacks of what designers, builders, owners, engineers need to know to get green done. June 12, 2012 8am-5:30pm The Mountaineers Program Center 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115 Free parking, (Metro #30, 74, 75) 8 CEH / 8 HSW / 8 SD Speakers (to date) include: Josh Chaitin, Senior Vice President, The Fearey Group Ric Cochrane, Project Manager, Preservation Green Lab National Trust for Historic Preservation Joe David, Project Associate, Point32 David Eckberg, Attorney, Principal, Skellenger Bender Bradley Khouri AIA, Principal, b9 Architects Donald Horn AIA, Deputy Director, Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings Mark Huppert, Technical Director, Preservation GreenLab Duane Jonlin AIA, Energy Code and Energy Conservation Advisor, Seattle Department of Planning and Development Vincent Martinez, Director of Research, Architecture 2030 Susan McNabb AIA, Architect, Graham Baba Architects Brandon Morgan, Development Manager, Vulcan Inc Stan Price, Principal, Putnam Price  Register online.

JOB POSTING – Notkin Mechanical Engineers

HVAC PROJECT ENGINEERS

Notkin Mechanical Engineers is an award-winning consulting mechanical design firm located in Seattle. Quality, systems reliability, and innovation are the trademarks of Notkin's leadership in mechanical design for over 60 years. Known for successful mechanical design of complex projects with challenging requirements, the firm is increasing staff to support federal, healthcare, and higher education work.

We are looking for licensed engineers who enjoy working on interesting and technically challenging projects to join our team.

We offer a competitive salary, an excellent benefit package, collaborative and supportive work environment, and the opportunity to work with people who celebrate the art and science of engineering, and are committed to their client’s success.

HVAC PROJECT ENGINEERS

Qualifications:

• PE License
• BSME or BSAE
• 6 or more years of recent hands-on experience in the design and selection of mechanical equipment
• Good communication skills
• Proficient computer skills, experience with Revit a plus

Responsibilities:

• Design HVAC systems, including building controls
• Perform load calculations, equipment selection and sizing
• Conduct energy analyses
• Perform fieldwork
• Prepare specifications and reports
• Consult with owners, architects, other disciplines, manufacturers and contractors from schematic design through construction
• Respond to RFIs and submittals
• Attend client meetings
• Other duties as assigned

Send your resume, cover letter and complete contact information for references to jobs@notkin.com.

Visit our web site at www.notkin.com.

Notkin is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other protected class in accordance with federal, state, and local laws.

Seattle Energy Code e-mail list,

After over 30 years working on Energy Codes, I’m retiring from the City of Seattle.  Next Tuesday, 22 May 2012, will be my last day working for DPD.

Here are contacts at the Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD):

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

-          For future Energy Code development, please contact Duane Jonlin at duane.jonlin@seattle.gov 206-233-2781.

Duane Jonlin is busy now on the 2012 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC).  The 2012 WSEC is being developed with the 2012 IECC as a base (incorporating existing 2009 WSEC requirements where they have greater energy savings).  The likely schedule is for a public review draft to be released in August 2012, public hearings in September 2012, final adoption in November 2012, and effective in July 2013.

The 2012 Seattle Energy Code process is expected to start later this year. 

Meeting Notice The Energy Code Technical Advisory Group is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 17 from 9 am to 1 pm. The meeting will be held at the Seattle Area Pipe Trades Education Center, and a telephone conference bridge and WebEX site will also be available. For information on how to join via telephone or internet, check the website or contact Krista Braaksma at (360) 407-9278. The agenda and other meeting materials can be viewed on the TAG website at https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/apps/sbcc/Page.aspx?nid=116

Advanced Energy Design Guidance Offered for Large Hospitals

ATLANTA—A dose of guidance to help save energy in hospitals is prescribed by the newest Advanced Energy Design Guide (AEDG), written by a group of leading building industry organizations.

The AEDG for Large Hospitals is the fourth in the series, designed to provide recommendations for achieving 50% energy savings when compared with the minimum code requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.

The book was developed by a committee representing a diverse group of energy professionals drawn from ASHRAE, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

“Most important in the Advanced Energy Design Guide for Large Hospitals is the recognition that patient outcomes, safety and experience trump all cost- and energy-saving strategies,” Shanti Pless, chair of committee that wrote the guide, said. “However, a well designed, constructed, operated and maintained facility is a major contributor to the environment of care and can improve patient outcomes, safety and comfort.”

The Guide focuses on standard mid-to-large-size hospitals that would typically be at least 100,000 square feet in size but the strategies apply to all sizes and classifications of large hospitals. Space types covered include conference, lobby, lounge and office areas; reception/waiting areas and examination and treatment rooms; clean and soiled workrooms; nurse stations, nurseries, patient rooms; operating rooms, procedure rooms, recovery rooms and sterilizer equipment areas; pharmacies and laboratories; triage, trauma and emergency rooms; physical therapy and radiology/imaging rooms; and storage, receiving and mechanical/electrical/telecom rooms.

Included in the Guide are recommendations for the design of the building opaque envelope; fenestration; lighting systems; HVAC systems; building automation and controls; outdoor air requirements; service water heating; measurement and verification; and plug and process loads, including kitchen equipment.

Along with whole building and technology case studies, the Guide highlights that existing reliable technologies and design philosophies can be used to reduce energy, according to Pless. Some of the technologies and philosophies highlighted in the book include:

•       Use of shape and form to give  access to daylighting in spaces that usually have no windows

•       Daylighting of staff areas and publics spaces while at the same time specifying proper glazing to control solar gain

•       Elimination of reheat, which is the largest energy saver from the HVAC system. Other HVAC savings comes from the de-coupling of ventilation air treatment and space conditioning and the elimination of steam boilers

•       Recommendations to reduce and control plug and process loads including commercial kitchen equipment

•       Reductions in interior and exterior lighting

•       Recommendations involving LED surgery lights, which have the added benefit of allowing surgeons to set the thermostat higher in the operating rooms

•       Measurement and verification recommendations to demonstrate savings are being realized with the added benefit of helping solve operational issues

The 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide series follows an earlier series that provided guidance to achieve 30% savings. The ultimate goal is to provide guidance to achieve net zero energy buildings; that is, buildings that, on an annual basis, produce more energy than they consume.

Other books in the 50% savings series deal small to medium office buildings, K-12 schools and medium to big box retail buildings. Since the Guides first began to be offered as free downloads at the beginning of 2008, more than 400,000 have been downloaded.

For more information on the entire Advanced Energy Design Guide series, or to download a free copy, please visit www.ashrae.org/freeaedg. A print version of the Guide may be purchased for $82 ($69, ASHRAE members). To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, or visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.