USGBC Transformational Lecture

On Tuesday, March 8, 5:30-7pm, we'll host Arthur C. Nelson for a Transformational Lecture in Seattle. Dr. Nelson is a Presidential Professor of City & Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah and has over thirty years of experience in growth management, urban containment, public facility finance, economic development and metropolitan development patterns. He'll share a ten-year forecast of the housing market and how dramatic market shifts will impact the building industry.

Learn more about the lecture and register here: http://cascadiagbc.org/events/2011/march/transformational-lecture-series-seattle-featuring-arthur-nelson

Our Transformational Lecture Series is designed to keep building professionals informed about the leading edge of green building thought and practice. The lectures inspire our audiences to reach for ambitious levels of performance in all projects. At the same time, these lectures are practical, focused on actionable ideas and techniques. And just in case you need another reason to join us, our lectures quality for LEED Continuing Education hours. Learn more: http://cascadiagbc.org/education/transformational-lecture-series-2010/tls-earn-ce-hours

I hope to see you!

Best regards,

Joel SisolakLEED AP
Advocacy & Outreach Director

410 Occidental Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98104
t: 206.223.2028 f: 206.260.2450
www.cascadiagbc.org

President's Message - March 2011

I write this message as we conclude the 60th observance of National Engineers Week. This year, ASHRAE served as lead society for this event that celebrates the contributions engineers make to our society and encourages engineering as a career path among young students.

To ensure the successful future of our industry, students must find careers in science, technology, engineering and math fun and exciting. While traveling to the Region XI CRC last May, I read an article in United Airline’s Hemispheres magazine featuring Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway people mover, voicing his concern over lack of interest in science education and the potential ill effects this may have on our nation. It’s a brief article about a competition he’s created titled FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) viewable online at http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/2010/05/01/the-creator/

Puget Sound Chapter supports similar initiatives, including the Future City competition (http://www.futurecity.org/) and the ACE mentoring program (http://www.acementor.org/). We have an active Student Activities committee dedicated to ASHRAE’s mission of supporting college students on career paths related to HVAC&R and to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to K-12 students. To learn more about ASHRAE K-12 programs, visit the StudentZone on Society’s website: http://www.ashrae.org/students/page/715

This year Puget Sound Chapter will award over five thousand dollars in scholarship funding to ASHRAE Student Members enrolled at local universities. Each year the Student Activities committee hosts an ASHRAE booth at the Engineering Fair held at the Museum of Flight during National Engineers Week. Under the leadership of Brad Lentz the committee has engaged in a number of K-12 engagements.

To ensure ASHRAE’s success and a sustainable future of our built environment, it is important students find careers in science, technology, engineering and math fun and exciting. Puget Sound Chapter’s Student Activities committee is playing a role in fulfilling this mission. If you’re interested in supporting these efforts please contact Brad Lentz, Student Activities Committee Chair at bradl@notkin.com.

David Landers, P.E.
Chapter President 2010-2011

Seattle Energy Code website

A number of items have been posted on the Seattle Energy Code website for download within the last month. These can all be accessed from the right hand navigation tab on the Seattle Energy Code homepage:

Residential handouts and forms, posted at:
http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Codes/Energy_Code/Overview/forms_res.asp

• Handout on New and Replacement Heating Equipment: Single-Family Residential Requirements in the 2009 Energy Code:
  Provides an overview of key requirements for (1) minimum heating equipment efficiency, (2) heating equipment sizing, (3) duct testing for air leakage, (4) permanent Energy Code certificate, and (5) other associated components.
  
• Heating Equipment Sizing Form (Single-Family and Multifamily Residential): Provides a simple form for calculating loads to size heating equipment. This form is tailored to the Seattle winter design temperature of 24 F (the 46 degree temperature difference used equals 70 F inside minus 24 F outside).
  
• Single-Family Residential Target UA Form: Provides an alternate compliance option for projects which do not comply with the prescriptive requirements.
  
• Single-Family Residential Lighting Form: Provides a calculation of what percentage of the luminaires (light fixtures) are high-efficacy.
  
• Single-Family Residential Certificate for Posting Energy Code Information at Building Site: Provides a blank master for Energy Code information to be posted at the building site
  

Nonresidential and Multifamily Residential form, posted at:
http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Codes/Energy_Code/Overview/forms_non.asp

• The electronic version of the Building Envelop Target UA/SHGCA/VTA form (2009sec-ENV.xls, 756 KB) has been updated to correct several formatting and formula issues. If you previously downloaded this form, please replace it with this newer version.
  
• The electronic version of the Mechanical form (2009sec-MECH.xls, 597 KB) has been updated to unlock the date cell. If you previously downloaded this form, please replace it with this newer version.

Hard-copies of the 2009 Seattle Energy Code are now available for purchase at the DPD Applicant Services Center on the 20th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower. An electronic version (pdf) of the entire 2009 Seattle Energy Code (2 MB) is posted and linked from the 2009 Seattle Energy Code update page:
http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Codes/Energy_Code/Overview/2009_ecupdate.asp

Work is underway to update the Seattle Energy Code website, CAMs, and Director’s Rules. See the “2009 Seattle Energy Code Update” link in the upper right hand corner of the Seattle Energy Code homepage: www.seattle.gov/dpd/energy . New material will be posted as it becomes available.

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/

ASHRAE WebCast - "Ground Source Heat Pump Systems"

Ground Source Heat Pump Systems:
Putting the Earth to Work for You
April 21, 2011
1:00 – 4:00 P.M. EDT
Brought to you by the ASHRAE Chapter Technology Transfer Committee

Hear from leading experts on how HVAC system and ground characteristics affect ground heat exchanger design, how to enhance ground source heating design system efficiency, and how to avoid design and operations pitfalls. Get the solutions to these topics and more by participating in this free webcast sponsored by ClimateMaster, Mammoth, Taco, the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, and the ASHRAE Foundation.

For more information about the program, presenters, continuing education credits, sponsorships, and heat pump resources please visit us at www.ashrae.org/GHPwebcast.

How to Participate
• You may register to view the Webcast on your PC
• You may host a webcast site for your colleagues
• View the webcast at a site

PDH Credits
Three (3) Professional Development Hours or three (3) AIAP Learning Units may be awarded to viewers who complete the “Participant Reaction Form” by May 5, 2011.

The Presenters
• Lynn G. Bellenger, P.E.
ASHRAE President 2010-11
Partner Pathfinder Engineers & Architects Rochester, NY
• Kirk Mescher, P.E., LEED® AP
Principal CM Engineering, Inc. Columbia, MO
• Mick Schwedler, P.E., LEED® AP
Manager, Applications Engineering Trane Company La Crosse, WI
• Jeff Spitler, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK

Registration
There is no fee for registration. Online registration will begin March 21, 2011, at www.ashrae.org/GHPwebcast. If you have any questions, call 678-539-1200 or email ashrae-webcast@ashrae.org

NEEC - Free Webinar

WSU Energy Extension Program is hosting a complimentary webinar on March 2, 2011 from 11:00 AM until Noon(ish) for a complimentary webinar training. The theme is Key Facility Solutions in the Great Recession, and it will highlight top-flight experts who have made great things happen. With absolutely no cost attached, there’s no reason not to register.

Register for the complimentary webinar training online.

This webinar also serves as a teaser for the upcoming Energy/Facilities Connections Conference to be held May 11-13, 2011. Contact the EFC Planning Team, or visit the EFC 2011 page for more information.

Brittany Price
Northwest Energy Efficiency Council
605 1st Ave, Ste 401
Seattle, WA 98104
p: 206-624-7570
f: 206-292-4125
http://www.neec.net/

ASHRAE Energy Modeling Conference

For more information on the Energy Modeling Conference go to ashrae.org/energymodeling

2009 Washington State Energy Code - Update

Washington State House Bill 1388 (click here to view the bill) – 2009 Washington State Energy Code

Information provided by NEEC member Stan Price indicates this legislation currently resides in the Technology, Energy, & Communications Committee of the House. The bill, chiefly promoted by the homebuilders in the state, would roll back the recently implemented Washington State Energy Code (the 2009 WSEC became effective on Jan. 1st of this year). You may have read about some of the controversy surrounding the energy code through the Fall of last year. While the focus of the controversy has largely been about single family residential buildings, this bill would throw out the entire code. In NEEC’s view this would create unwanted uncertainty and havoc in the market. Projects currently in the design phase and bids on equipment would suddenly be operating under new rules. Uncertainty and delay are two market conditions that the industry needs to avoid.

NEEC has written the Chair of the committee (Rep. John McCoy, who opposes this bill) and distributed that letter to all committee members. The bill had a hearing and there is a strong possibility that it could move forward unless Rep. McCoy gets sufficient support within his committee to kill it there. If you would like to contact any of the committee members below and let them know your thoughts, it will be helpful. You can send them an e-mail by clicking on the links below. Time is of the essence. Your communication to them needs to be immediate.

McCoy, Chair (D); Jacks, Vice Chair (D); *Crouse; **Short; Anderson; Billig; Carlyle; Dahlquist; Eddy; Frockt; Haler; Harris; Hasegawa; Kelley; Kristiansen; Liias; McCune; Morris; Nealey

You can just follow the link to the committee member embedded above and get their e-mail. If you happen to live in their legislative district, it will be even more powerful. Here are their districts.

McCoy 38th
Jacks 49th
Crouse 4th
Short 7th
Anderson 5th
Billig 3rd
Carlyle 36th
Dahlquist 31st
Eddy 48th
Frockt 46th
Haler 8th
Harris 17th
Hasegawa 11th
Kelley 28th
Kristiansen 39th
Lias 21st
McCune 2nd
Morris 40th
Nealy 16th