Lighting Design Lab offers two classes next month!

September 11, 2023 By SBC staff

Design for Off (TM)

When: Thursday, October 5, 2023 –10:00 to 11:30

A key to successful electrification is limiting building loads by adopting passive strategies, targeted systems, and deep efficiency strategies. During the webinar, we will discuss a systematic approach to take advantage of climate characteristics, building performance features, and distributed systems to minimize building loads and simplify equipment operations strategies. This session will include numerous case studies emphasizing successful high-performance building approaches and Ecotope’s Design for Off™ principles.

Audience

Design Engineers and Architects
Mechanical and Electrical Contractors
Building Owners/Operators

The Inflation Reduction Act: One Year Later

When: Thursday, October 19, 2023 –10:00 to 11:30

In this session, we will provide guidance on navigating the updated tax benefits provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, a year after its implementation. We will also discuss other tax laws affecting the energy and building industries. Our focus will be on explaining how to capture the incentives available for HVAC systems and other energy-efficient upgrades that can significantly reduce the upfront costs for building owners. Additionally, we will explore the renewed incentives for alternative energy generation systems and energy-efficiency improvements. We will delve into the tax-exempt project categories that have been eligible for EPAct tax benefits for a year now. Our discussion will also touch on the legacy tax incentives available for designers and how energy companies and building owners can access them. Our objective is to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of how to incorporate these incentives into energy and building project ROI calculations.

Audience

General Contractors
Architects and Design Engineers
Building Owners/Operators

9/28 Clean Buildings Symposium

September 5, 2023 By SBC staff

Register now or learn more about Clean Buildings Symposium East, being hosted at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue 7:30 - 11:30 9/28

Building Owners: Clean Buildings expansion law rulemaking workshop

August 29, 2023 By SBC staff

BUILDING OWNERS, YOU MIGHT BE IMPACTED BY THE NEW LAW: Initially addressing buildings over 50,000 square feet, the 2022 Clean Buildings expansion law added a new second tier (Tier 2) of buildings between 20,000 and 50,000 square feet. Reporting for this new tier is expected to begin July 1, 2027. Buildings over 20,000 square feet include schools, businesses, municipal buildings and multi-family housing.

Don’t miss out – participate in the rulemaking: Register to participate, review the proposed language, and submit comments. The proposed language will be emailed to registrants and later posted on the Clean Buildings webpage. This is your opportunity to provide input to shape energy efficiency requirements and understand the financial incentives offered to assist with compliance.

Workshop #6 – Tier 2 Comprehensive Draft Review (4 session options)

Each session includes a comprehensive review of all proposed rules and feedback we’ve collected throughout the rulemaking process.

Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 @ 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT – VIRTUAL only
Register for Sept. 7 session
Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 @ 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT – Virtual or SEATTLE in-person
Register for Sept. 11 session
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 @ 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT – Virtual or SPOKANE in-person
Register for Sept. 12 session
Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 @ 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT – KENNEWICK in-person only
Register for Sept. 13 session

We hope you can join to provide your perspective, expertise, and insights. If you have questions, you may email the Clean Buildings team at buildings@commerce.wa.gov.

Smart Buildings Exchange 2023 Session Recordings Available!

August 25, 2023 By SBC staff

Last week the third annual Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) delivered a value-packed three days of conversations focused on the market opportunity for smart buildings and their role in our clean energy future.

The conference kicked off with an Opening Plenary featuring industry leaders discussing strategies to accelerate the pace of making buildings smarter, more efficient and carbon free.

Following the Opening Plenary session were sessions on Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings, Data in Context, Being Smart About Variable Occupancy, and Moving Beyond Fault Detection & Diagnostics.

The second day of the conference began with a Plenary Session on Smart Approaches for Building Electrification & Carbon Reduction. The day continued with sessions on Independent Data Layer, Building Rating Systems & Certifications, On-Site Renewables & EV Charging, and Indoor Environmental Quality.

The third and final day of the conference focused on Planning Your Strategy for Smart & Efficient Upgrades and was held in-person in Seattle and featured welcome remarks from Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell followed by discussions on how buildings can operate smarter and more efficiently with an aim to eliminate carbon emissions from the built environment.

All SBX session recordings are now available on the Smart Buildings Center YouTube Channel so you can watch any you missed and rewatch any you enjoyed.

Thank you to all sponsors, planning committee members, speakers, and attendees who helped make the event a success!

Last PSE Clean Buildings Training for 2023 is Sept. 14, 9am-11am

August 21, 2023 By SBC staff

PSE is here to help building owners comply with Washington’s Clean Buildings Law (HB 1257, 2019). Our Clean Buildings Accelerator program unpacks the complex law, meets you where you’re at with your energy use, and teaches you how to comply and go beyond through hands-on virtual training using your own building(s). We’ll help you leverage additional PSE energy-management and incentive programs throughout the entire process. Best part: there is no cost to participate in the Accelerator.

At www.pse.com/cleanbuildings, you can find vital Clean Buildings links, sign up for upcoming orientations, and join our last cohort training of 2023 starting on Sept. 14. Space is limited and compliance dates are quickly creeping up. If you have questions or need more information, please reach out to your PSE Efficiency Representative, or contact us at cleanbuildings@pse.com.

If you’d like more information about the law or the Accelerator program, watch this three-minute video, also found on our website.

SBX2023 Session Highlights

August 9, 2023 By SBC staff

Join us virtually for the Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) 2023 Building Rating Systems & Certifications and On-Site Renewables & EV Charging sessions on August 16th from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm and 1:30 – 3:00 pm PT respectively.

In the Building Rating Systems & Certifications session Christina Tomaselli (Schneider Electric) will moderate the discussion between Melanie Danuser (Smart Buildings Center), Alissa Feucht (Glumac), Elyse Hobson (UL Solutions), and Katrina Morgan (O’Brien360).

In the On-Site Renewables & EV Charging session, Emma Johnson (Seattle City Light) will moderate the discussion between Leroy Ho (Amazon), Heather Mulligan (Puget Sound Energy), Gary Shaver (Envelon), Chris Watson (ICF), and Andy Zellers (Influent Energy).

You don’t want to miss these sessions — register now!

Building Rating Systems & Certifications
Several national and international organizations now offer ratings and certifications for the built environment. These systems focus on smart capabilities, wellness, sustainability, energy performance, indoor environmental quality, and even workforce credentialing. If you have wondered whether these systems are the right for your building, this is a session you won’t want to miss. Experts will discuss various ratings and certifications, what they entail, and most importantly how the market is embracing these labels.

On-Site Renewables & EV Charging
Buildings are changing as they meet the challenge of net zero carbon emissions. Some buildings are positioned to deploy solar arrays and most buildings are and will be adapting to a vehicle fleet that is increasingly electric – and needing to be charged while parked. This session will explore case studies of building owners who are embracing these changes and how smart technologies are helping them with the transition including the huge challenge of integrating EV charging and what it means for electrical service size for electrical and grid-interactive capabilities.