Continuing Education

This presentation is for the members of the building design team. It is an introduction to the commissioning process and a guide to the design team responsibilities within the commissioning process. The presentation will describe each step in the commissioning process and explain how the designer will fulfill their role during those steps. Ideally, the designer will come away with a better understanding of the commissioning process and how it is a benefit during the design phase of a project.

The landmark 2004 study by Evan Mills “Building Commissioning, A Golden Opportunity for Reducing Energy Costs and Greenhouse Emissions” presents a study of the cost/benefit of commissioning, existing buildings and new construction. Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory updated the study with new results and findings resulting in what is considered as the world’s largest data base of commissioning cost/benefit studies for commercial buildings. This presentation will review the data for existing buildings and include a case study of an existing, public, high school commissioning project.

Energy Codes continue to become more stringent, reducing the amount of power allowed for use in interior spaces. As the energy codes, governed by either AHSRAE or IECC, reduce lighting power levels and increase lighting control requirements, the use of more efficient fixtures and fixtures with more features is becoming a higher priority design criteria. But the quality of interior lighting remains critical for occupant productivity. There are also conditions that are exempt from energy code compliance. This presentation will shed some light (pun intended) on common and uncommon requirements and educate about features available to simplify the selection process.

The evolution of the energy code and ASHRAE standards for achieving zero energy buildings require more energy efficient HVAC systems than current conventional systems. Standard Ground Source Heat Pump Systems (GSHP) can meet the high energy efficiency requirements, but the high initial construction cost and the need for large borefields sometimes make the implementation of these systems difficult. In addition, this system may not always be feasible for some climate zones and soil conditions. The Hybrid Ground Source Heat Pump System (HyGSHP) can be a good alternative to traditional GSHP systems. It combines the energy efficiency of the GSHP system with lower cost conventional HVAC equipment. This presentation provides an overview of the HyGSHP system, comparison with a GSHP system and return on investment for both systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic will change the way we design, operate, and maintain the HVAC systems in schools. Measures to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus and other viruses and harmful bacteria should be implemented to maintain healthier schools and to ensure a safe return to normal activities. This presentation addresses the current Indoor Air Quality measures in schools and the proposed HVAC solutions that can help reduce the risk of spreading viruses. Most of the technologies needed for better Indoor Air Quality and safer operation of the HVAC systems are currently available. Owners should work with engineers to evaluate the current HVAC systems at their schools and develop a re-opening plan.

Reducing carbon emissions is a critical strategy to mitigate climate change. Buildings account for 50% to 75% of carbon emissions in American cities. We will discuss how Net Zero Energy buildings contribute to lower carbon footprints. We will define NZE and EUI and we will discuss specific design strategies which can be used to reduce energy consumption. We will discuss how renewable energy can be incorporated into a building project to offset energy use and achieve Net Zero Energy.