Energy Efficiency

Passive House Conference 2021

Join me on Oct. 14 at PhiusCon 2021 (Passive House) in Tarrytown, New York, where Staengl Engineering and I will be presenting clever solutions to non-standard situations that arise in passive house commercial buildings like animal hospitals, cideries and kitchens. I am thrilled to be part of an esteemed group of speakers scheduled to present Oct. 12-15 at the conference.

Single-day and full-conference tickets are available here: https://phiuscon.org/registration/

View the full schedule and session descriptions here: https://phiuscon.org/schedule/

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Small Wonder: Neighborhood Concept Blooms in Bamboo Grove

Lisa Martin wrote a wonderful story in the Crozet Gazette about the little neighborhood we’re trying to build and how it came to be.

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Bamboo Grove Crozet Neighborhood Meeting

Thank you so much to everyone who came to the first neighborhood meeting on February 12th for our little Bamboo Grove pocket neighborhood! Your encouragement and great questions made it an educational and fun experience. I wish that we had more time to talk, but as always if you have any other questions or comments please contact us.

Here are the presentation slides that framed our discussion:

CCAC Presentation Slides

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Green Building December 10th Building Tour: First Passive House in Virginia: Ten years in

Tour the first Passive House in Virginia with the General Contractor and Owner as they explain the intentions going into the project and lessons learned. Lankford Passive House has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and about 2,250 square feet.

The green home has triple-pane Serious Windows 725 Series, double-stud wall framing, FSC-certified framing lumber and plywood, structural insulated sheathing with taped seams, a hybrid wall with nine inches of Agribalance open cell spray foam and cellulose insulation, a roof with Agribalance open cell spray foam and two inches of closed cell roof foam, a white roof, and an exterior with stucco and Western Red Cedar.

The home includes several other green elements, including a 1,100-gallon rainwater harvesting system, locally-sourced slate, regionally-sourced red oak floors with a water-based low-VOC finish, and building finishes from cherry and locust trees harvested on the site.

I GBCI and AIA CE credit pending approval

Fee: $5 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

Register Here

DATE AND TIME
Tue, December 10th, 2019: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
LOCATION
229 Lankford Ave, Charlottesville, VA 22902
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Green Building November 12th Building Tour: A Closer Look at UVA’s Clark Hall

Clark Hall is a mixed-use academic building that opened in 1932 to house the UVA School of Law, and currently houses the University’s Department of Environmental Sciences and Charles L. Brown Science & Engineering Library. It is home to classrooms, office space, a library, a café, laboratories, exhibits, lecture halls and a “wet lab.” Recently, the UVA Facilities Management energy conservation team (Delta Force) implemented a combination of energy and water conservation upgrades, converting all 5,000 interior and exterior fixtures from fluorescent lamps to LED, installing low-flow toilets and faucet aerators, recalibrating air handling units, and upgrading HVAC controls. As a result, Clark Hall achieved an annual energy savings of $750,000, or 65%, along with an annual water savings of $22,000, or 79%, relative to their pre-retrofit baseline. The Delta Force team also documented the sustainable operations of Clark Hall, and the U.S. Green Building Council awarded Clark Hall its “LEED V4 Existing Buildings, Operations + Maintenance Silver” certification, the first such project recognized in Virginia

Speakers and Tour Guides:

Doug Livingston – Doug is part of the energy engineering team and helps identify and implement energy efficiency and retro-commissioning projects across Grounds. He also works with various stakeholders on Grounds to improve the built environment in order to increase health and wellness for the UVA community. Prior to joining UVA, Doug was the Program Manager of the Green Building Services department at Harvard University. Previous to Harvard he worked as a consultant doing HVAC and plumbing design, energy modeling, and energy conservation. He has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in architectural engineering from the University of Nebraska and he is a licensed mechanical engineer in the state of California.

Jesse Warren – Jesse is responsible for the University’s electric demand response and sustainable building programs. He leads a team of energy engineers who identify and implement energy efficiency and Delta Force retro-commissioning projects across Grounds. Previously, Jesse worked as a consultant doing energy conservation, HVAC design, energy modeling, and LEED project coordination. He has a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech and he is a licensed mechanical engineer in the state of Virginia. He is a proud father of three and a rain or shine two-wheeled commuter.

John Jones – John joined UVA in October 2010 after holding previous roles in the areas of facilities project management, physical plant operations, and mechanical and building automation systems contracting with various Virginia-based firms. He is currently responsible for evaluating, identifying and implementing energy reduction projects in existing university facilities at UVA. A few of his projects have included Gilmer Hall, Thornton Hall, West Complex and others. John holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Old Dominion University and is a licensed engineer in Virginia. He is also an accredited LEED AP BD+C and O+M as well as a Certified Energy Manager. Outside of work, John enjoys outdoor activities and music.

I GBCI and AIA CE credit pending approval

Fee: $5 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

Register Here

DATE AND TIME
Tue, November 12th, 2019: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
LOCATION
University of Virginia, Clark Hall, 291 McCormick Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22904
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Green Building October 8th Luncheon: Leveraging ENERGY STAR to Support Commercial Building Improvement and Achieve LEED Certification

ENERGY STAR is the premier program for recognizing energy efficient commercial buildings, and LEED is the premier program for recognizing sustainable green buildings. This session will provide valuable information to LEED practitioners to help them leverage ENERGY STAR as a means of moving buildings toward LEED certification. The program will present an overview of the ENERGY STAR program for commercial buildings, with a special focus on the program’s widely used Portfolio Manager software tool that allows building owners and managers to track and assess the energy performance of their buildings. Participants will then learn about how ENERGY STAR intersects with LEED EB: O&M, and how increasing performance through ENERGY STAR can help buildings achieve LEED certification, as well as how the relationship between ENERGY STAR and LEED may change under the proposed LEED v4.1 system. Finally, participants will be introduced to a host of other ENERGY STAR tools, resources, and initiatives that are aimed at helping to improve the energy performance of buildings, as well as opportunities to reduce water use and waste generation.

Speaker:

Jerry Lawson, National Manager, ENERGY STAR Small Business/Congregations, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

I GBCI and AIA CE credit pending approval

Fee: $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers.

Lunch will be served, Register Here

Our meeting space is generously donated by the City of Charlottesville.

DATE AND TIME
Tue, October 8th, 2019: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
LOCATION
City Space, 100 5th Street NE, Downtown Mall, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
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Green Building August 13th Luncheon: Composting & Green Buildings: A Natural Fit

Did you know that almost a third of the solid waste stream can be recycled through composting? This presentation will give an overview of composting and why it is important. We’ll review what can be composted and best practices for implementing a composting program at an office. The product produced by composting, finished compost has beneficial characteristics that improve soil health and retain moisture making it an invaluable tool for stormwater management when developing sites. Learn how to consider composting programs and the use of the finished product in your upcoming projects.

Speaker:

Eric Walter is the founder and Chief Composting Officer of Black Bear Composting. Black Bear is an organics recycling company in the Charlottesville area focused on capturing food waste and other compostables. Eric is a member of the US Composting Council and licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia as Waste Management Facility Operator. Eric is a recovered technology entrepreneur and currently lives in Crozet with his wife and three kids.

I GBCI and AIA CE credit pending approval

Fee: $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers.

Lunch will be served, Register Here

Our meeting space is generously donated by the City of Charlottesville.

DATE AND TIME
Tue, August 13th, 2019: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
LOCATION
City Space, 100 5th Street NE, Downtown Mall, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
Categories: Announcements, Education, Energy Efficiency, Gardening, Landscape Architecture, Recycling, Technology | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Green Building June 11th Luncheon: Biofuel, the Farmer and Green Buildings: Strategies and Options for Building Owners, Managers, and Developers

Join us to learn about an emerging district heating technology that uses switchgrass as biofuel, benefiting both farmers and building owners in Virginia!

This presentation is essential for anyone engaged in strategic planning to mitigate the impact of buildings on climate change. The US Green Building Council has published figures as high as 39% of U.S. emissions are associated with built environments. Any reasonable plan of action must address both new and retrofit projects. This presentation will attempt to sort and prioritize available technologies and techniques by effectiveness and cost. The presenter will then provide an overview of a major district heating project developed over the last several years at Piedmont Geriatric Hospital in Burkeville, VA, which uses switchgrass as a purpose-grown biofuel. The presentation will conclude by looking forward to the possibilities opened by the next generation of technology for district heating and climate change mitigation.

Speaker:

Jeff Waldon

Jeff has extensive experience with project management and development in natural resources. Projects have included bioenergy, conservation management planning, land restoration, business management consulting, carbon accounting, environmental education, information management, monitoring, GIS/RS, technology integration, human dimensions, planning, wildlife and plant surveys, forest inventory, and related topics. I have advised organizations on strategic planning and conducted training sessions. I have managed significant budgets, supervised a staff of 75, and developed business plans. I am a certified wildlife biologist.

Recently asked to CEO a startup, Caribbean Bioenergy Group LLC, Jeff will aid in the development of multifaceted biomass energy projects. The first one is targeted to be in Belize.

This course will be approved for 1 GBCI LEED Specific and AIA CE

Fee: $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers.

Lunch will be served, Register Here

Our meeting space is generously donated by the City of Charlottesville.

DATE AND TIME
Tue, June 11th, 2019: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
LOCATION
City Space, 100 5th Street NE, Downtown Mall, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
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Green Building May 14th Luncheon: The Role of Real Time Data in Energy Savings

Building owners are always looking for creative ways to reduce their energy consumption. The first step in an energy reduction strategy is an Energy Audit. This first step is very effective at determining the most cost effective strategies for saving energy in a building, but there are drawbacks. The Audit provides an excellent snapshot of the buildings operations, but not the full picture of variations throughout the year. Also, savings calculations for ECMs are based on assumptions for inputs such as runtimes, temperature setpoints, and use of override schedules. If these assumptions are not accurate, the savings may be underpredicted, or overpredicted. To achieve the maximum energy savings with the most accurate calculations, it would be essential to survey the building over all seasons, with accurate data for all energy consuming systems, using “Continuous Auditing”.

With Continuous Auditing, an auditor performs an initial building assessment and gathers data relating to all energy consuming systems. Then, the Owner installs a comprehensive Real Time Monitoring (RTM) system. This data is fed to a dashboard in real time, where the auditor can analyze trend data continuously over the year, and look for spikes and anomalies indicating energy waste. The auditor works with the facilities operators to mitigate energy waste and reduce energy consumption based on observations from the data. The net result is a building operating at its peak efficiency, over the course of all seasons.

Speaker:

Eric Oliver, P.E., CEM, LEED AP, Director, Energy Solutions

Eric Oliver is the Director of Energy Solutions at 2RW Consultants. A passionate energy conservationist, Eric Oliver started his career with the federal government in EPA’s Energy Star Buildings Program. Prior to joining 2RW in 2018, Eric founded EMO Energy Solutions in 1998 to address the growing need for energy efficiency services and ran the Company for 20 years. With EMO, Eric was among the earliest practitioners of the LEED program, providing energy modeling, commissioning, and LEED consulting services in addition to energy auditing capabilities. Mr. Oliver has conducted several dozen energy-training seminars, created energy awareness and education campaigns, and presented and moderated at several energy conferences.

Mr. Oliver holds a Master’s degree in Building Technology and a Bachelor of Architecture from MIT. A licensed professional engineer in Virginia and Maryland, he is a former President of the National Capitol Chapter and national Secretary of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), has served on the Board of Directors of the National Capitol Region Chapter of the US Green Buildings Council (USGBC-NCR), and is a former Board Chairman of the Virginia Sustainable Building Network (VSBN).

This course will be approved for 1 GBCI LEED Specific and AIA CE

Fee: $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers.

Lunch will be served, Register Here

Our meeting space is generously donated by the City of Charlottesville.

DATE AND TIME
Tue, May 14th, 2019: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
LOCATION
City Space, 100 5th Street NE, Downtown Mall, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
Categories: Announcements, Education, Energy Efficiency, Technology | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Green Building March 12th Luncheon: Electrify Everything – the Why and the How, from a Residential Perspective

Electrify Everything! Electrification of equipment and devices that currently run on fossil fuels, and then powering those new electrical devices with renewable or zero-carbon electricity, is one of the pillars of de-carbonization, according to most climate and energy policy experts. However, the need for electrification is poorly understood by the general public, most lawmakers, as well as most building design + construction practitioners. John Semmelhack will dive into the details of the why and the how of electrification with a focus on residential buildings (space heating, water heating and cooking), and will examine the implications for residential building electrification for Virginians and our electrical grids.

Speaker:

John is the owner of Think Little, a home performance consulting firm based in Charlottesville, Virginia, specializing in building enclosure and mechanical system design for single-family and multi-family Passive House and net-zero energy homes in the mid-Atlantic.

Since 2007, Think Little has provided consulting, testing and inspection services for over 3,000 multi-family and single-family housing units, including several firsts – the first certified Passive House residence in Virginia as well as some of the first EarthCraft certified net-zero homes.

John is a certified Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rater and an EarthCraft Technical Advisor. John is also a CPHC® (Certified Passive House Consultant), is a member of the Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) Technical Committee, and is a PHIUS Trainer for the CPHC (Certified Passive House Consultant) training program.

This course will be approved for 1 GBCI LEED Specific and AIA CE

Fee: $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers.

Lunch will be served, Register Here

Our meeting space is generously donated by the City of Charlottesville.

DATE AND TIME
Tue, March 12, 2019: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
LOCATION
City Space, 100 5th Street NE, Downtown Mall, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
Categories: Announcements, Design, Education, Energy Efficiency, Technology | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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