Join us for Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) Aug 22-24!

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Energy Efficiency Innovation Center, Tool Library & Data Visualization

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Join us for Smart Buildings Exchange, August 22-24, 2022!

June 9, 2022 By Britton Rife

Join the Smart Buildings Center for the free 2022 Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) to be held virtually and in-person August 22-24. Interactive conference sessions featuring a mix of panel discussions and case study presentations will explore the market opportunity for smart buildings, the future of energy services and the built environment, grid-interactive efficient buildings, the role of smart buildings in carbon emission reductions, IEQ and return to work issues, digital twins and more. The opening plenary session features Bert Van Hoof, a Partner at Microsoft who is a seasoned technology executive recognized for starting and growing award-winning businesses across a variety of industry segments. The third day of the conference will be in-person (Seattle) and live streamed through the virtual event platform. This day will focus on the role smart technologies can play in energy, carbon, and ESG reporting requirements.

Register for free today!

 

Event schedule
Day 1 (virtual): August 22nd, 8:45am – 2:30pm Pacific
Day 2 (virtual): August 23rd, 9am – 2:30pm Pacific
Day 3 (in-person & virtual): August 24th, 10am – 1pm Pacific

 

 

 

Filed Under: Education & Training, Featured Event, SBC News, SBX, Webinars

NEEC & SBC Welcome New Team Member

May 23, 2022 By Britton Rife

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) and Smart Buildings Center (SBC) are pleased to announce that Mark Willard has joined our team!

As Assistant Project Manager, Mark’s primary role is to provide support to the City of Seattle’s Energy Benchmarking Help Desk and the Building Operator Certification (BOC) program. He has extensive customer service, administrative, and outreach experience that he brings to these responsibilities. Mark has a BA in Public Policy from the University of Washington and has provided non-partisan policy support during two Washington State legislative sessions. His previous role was Committee Staff to the Washington State Senate’s Housing & Local Government Committee during the 2022 legislative session. Mark’s interest in energy efficiency comes from his passion for problem solving. He believes energy is one of the most fundamental and consequential issues of our time due to the risks and opportunities presented in the field. Mark enjoys spending time with his fiancé, his Australian shepherd, and his two vintage Mercedes-Benzes.

NEEC and SBC are proud to welcome Mark to the team!

Filed Under: SBC News

NEEC Hiring Assistant Project Manager, Apply by April 1st

March 16, 2022 By Britton Rife

About NEEC and the Smart Buildings Center:
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) is a non-profit business association of the building efficiency industry. NEEC’s mission is to promote energy efficiency policies, programs and technologies that create jobs and foster economic growth and environmental improvement.

The Smart Buildings Center (SBC) is a 501c3 organization with a mission to accelerate the adoption and commercialization of smart buildings technologies and practices through education and demonstration.  Through partnership with NEEC, the two organizations offer a physical meeting space in the Pacific Tower in Seattle and offer training, educational events and webinars, networking opportunities, and loan out diagnostic tools through the Center’s Tool Lending Library.

General Description:
NEEC is seeking a motivated Assistant Project Manager to support the organization in managing a range of projects that accelerate adoption of smart buildings practices and technologies through education, training, and other industry support. In addition to supporting multiple projects and managing competing priorities, this individual will have the opportunity to leverage their own knowledge and passion for clean energy to develop new and creative ways to drive both NEEC and the SBC’s missions forward. The Assistant Project Manager will support projects such as the Energy Benchmarking Help Desk, the Smart Buildings Education Program, and the Building Operator Certification program. The role requires excellent verbal and written communication skills, an ability to prioritize multiple projects, and comfort in serving as a point of contact to external stakeholders. While not required, knowledge of energy efficient and smart buildings approaches, building decarbonization, and energy policy is strongly desired.  The position reports directly to NEEC’s Director of Education and Training and will work both independently and collaboratively throughout the organization, as well as with NEEC and SBC partner organizations as needed. This is a full-time position based in Seattle, WA with the latitude to work remotely.

Responsibilities:

  • Support the organization’s work on Energy Benchmarking Helpdesk with customer assistance, data tracking and research, and ensuring project deliverables and deadlines are met.
  • Work with Project Managers and Directors to ensure projects and deliverables are on schedule and meet requirements
  • Work with Building Operator Certification team to support project implementation across the program footprint
  • Familiarity with and passion for energy efficient buildings, smart buildings, and smart buildings technologies
  • Stay knowledgeable in smart buildings, decarbonization, and energy policy
  • Work with staff to create and publish materials demonstrating value of programs through various newsletters, blogs, and social media

Qualifications:

  • 2+ years of professional work experience
  • Ability to manage multiple projects, including planning, reporting, and meeting deadlines
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • A high degree of professionalism and an ability to work with a variety of stakeholders including building owners and operators, policymakers, and other industry professionals
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel and database skills

Preferred Skills:

  • Familiarity with EPA Portfolio Manager
  • Experience with energy savings analysis both for individual buildings and a portfolio of buildings
  • Data visualization in software such as Tableau
  • Prior work and understanding of contracts and grants

Education/Training:
Baccalaureate degree or relevant coursework in environmental/energy policy, energy efficiency, and/or public or business administration. Combination of education and experience can be considered.

Compensation and Benefits:
NEEC offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include: employer paid health, vision, and dental insurance; IRA with 3% employer match; flexible paid time off; ability to work remotely; public transportation program.

How to Apply:
Email resume and cover letter to Melanie Danuser melanie.danuser@neec.net

Application deadline: April 1, 2022

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Jobs, SBC News

NEEC & SBC Welcome New Team Member

February 14, 2022 By Britton Rife


The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) and Smart Buildings Center (SBC) are pleased to announce that Rebecca Sheppard is joining our team!

As Senior Project Manager at NEEC, Rebecca will support the organization’s footprint with Grid-interactive Efficient Building operations and act as a strategic lead and technical advisor on smart building technologies, overall building electrification and policies that support the role of higher performing buildings in the clean energy economy. Rebecca has worked as a Resource Conservation Manager for the past 5 ½ years and has experience in the energy management of buildings, data analysis, building controls, energy efficiency projects, project management and facility operations. Her educational background includes a Business Management degree, an MBA degree, a Construction Management Certification from the University of Washington, as well as BOC training. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, horseback riding and camping.

NEEC and SBC are proud to welcome Rebecca to the team!

Filed Under: SBC News

2021: Year in Review

December 27, 2021 By Britton Rife

Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) Advocacy 2021
In 2021, we continued to see our daily lives impacted by the ongoing presence of Covid 19. Both Oregon and Washington legislatures met in a virtual format, which some might say enabled greater constituent and stakeholder participation and certainly did not generate barriers for our engagement. NEEC participated in both sessions delivering constructive feedback and testimony to legislators and collaborating with peer advocates to identify where our voice might be needed. In Washington, we supported the Climate Commitment Act where we collaborated with several NEEC members to deliver testimony and provided our voice to the education campaign led by Clean and Prosperous Washington. In Oregon, we supported HB 2021, which requires electric utilities to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2040, delivering constructive testimony to legislators to encourage they consider the demand-side opportunities alongside and equally with the supply-side opportunities. Both bills were passed and NEEC will stay engaged as rulemakings determine how these laws are implemented.

Both Oregon and Washington are undergoing rapid change in the energy space with the recent passage of 100% Clean, Clean Buildings and others. Statewide and local policy are impacting our industry at an exhilarating pace from sweeping legislation like cap and trade to smaller city ordinances and energy codes such as the recently announced Executive Order from Mayor Durkan of the City of Seattle, which calls for the formation of a carbon-based commercial building performance standard. As both states look to decarbonize buildings and electricity, it is essential that we consider the structural and regulatory barriers in place to smart and innovative ways to leverage buildings in the clean energy transition. NEEC believes that while decarbonizing electricity is an important goal, it cannot be reasonably achieved without also considering how we can shape consumer energy loads to better align with when renewable energy sources are producing power. Policies that encourage utilities to procure demand-side building-as-grid resources provide those utilities with more options in how they decarbonize the grid. In having more options, utilities can manage their service in the most efficient and affordable manner. At the same time, these policies will help to usher in an era of building innovation that will accelerate smart buildings technology adoption and expand regional economic development. We look forward to continuing to partner with all of you to champion smart policy that supports a priority role for buildings in the emerging clean energy landscape.

New NEEC Members
NEEC welcomed the following new members in 2021:

New Smart Buildings Center Education Program (SBCEP) Partner

SBCEP welcomed Seattle Public Utilities Saving Water Partnership as a new partner in 2021. The Saving Water Partnership is an organization comprised of 19 water utilities in King and Snohomish counties that share a common water supply. They offer tips, tools, and rebates to help people preserve our region’s water for future generations. Learn more at www.savingwater.org.

Smart Buildings Center Webinars & Trainings

In October, SBCEP hosted The Future of Building Occupancy Controls: Safety, Efficiency & Sustainability in a Post-COVID World webinar with ATS Automation, McKinstry, and Nomad Go AI. The panel discussed how real time occupancy data can enable better building management in reducing CO2 emissions and saving energy. Panelists highlighted the latest technology and artificial intelligence solutions for running HVAC systems and building controls to optimize for energy savings and sustainability. The webinar recording is available on the SBC YouTube channel.

SBC also added four Tool Lending Library video tutorials to the SBC YouTube channel in 2021. The videos cover Healthier Air in Buildings: Tools and Strategies, Verifying Ventilation System Effectiveness Using a Flow Hood, Assessing Air Pressure in Buildings, and CO2 Measurement for Healthier Air in Buildings. Thank you to Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light, and the Washington State Department of Commerce for supporting the development of the videos.

Smart Buildings Exchange

The SBC hosted its inaugural virtual Smart Buildings Exchange August 24-25, 2021. Over 1,000 individuals from across the United States and around the globe attended the two-day event, joining us on the Socio event platform to engage with one another and hear from an impressive list of industry thought leaders. The event kicked off with an executive plenary panel on the role of the changing utility and smart buildings. Subsequent topics included grid-interactive efficient buildings, workforce development, post-covid occupancy, AI and machine learning, buildings and carbon and other compelling topics. Recordings are available on the SBC YouTube Channel. Thank you to the speakers and event sponsors who made the series possible!

Tool Lending Library
The Tool Lending Library is open for reservations, and we are happy to provide our stakeholders with this service. Tools may be picked up or returned by appointment at the Smart Buildings Center (SBC), or tools can be shipped within Washington or Oregon.

Tools may be picked up or returned by appointment only at the Smart Buildings Center (SBC), or we can ship tools within Washington or Oregon.

Building Operator Certification (BOC) Program

The BOC program continued virtual training in 2021 and via 41 BOC courses, the program trained 771 professionals across 22 states. The program also launched a third level of training, the Fundamentals of Energy Efficient Building Operations, designed for those looking to start a career in building operations and maintenance as well as existing facilities personnel who are looking for a solid foundational understanding of energy efficiency and building systems.

Spring 2022 courses and the 2022 technical webinar series are open for registration at www.theboc.info.

Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard Training Series 
SBC developed and delivered a training series on the Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard with technical expertise support from Ecotope. The Standard, passed in 2019, is aimed at lowering energy costs and reducing pollution from fossil fuel consumption in commercial buildings larger than 50,000 gross square feet. The training series was designed to support the qualified person responsible for their building’s compliance with the Standard. Content was offered in three segments: Compliance Scenarios; Benchmarking Your Building in Preparation for Compliance; and Developing an Energy Management Plan. The workshop recordings can be found under “Past Workshop Videos” on the Department of Commerce website. Thank you to Avista, Clark PUD, Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish County PUD and Tacoma Power for sponsoring the training series.

NEEC Staff News
While the global pandemic continued in 2021, we are grateful that NEEC staff members stayed safe and healthy. NEEC’s staff continued working from home with coordinated office visits adhering to WA State pandemic guidelines.

NEEC welcomed 2 new babies this year:

Kerry Meade welcomed her son Angus Warren Meade McCord on May 27th.

Brittany Quigley welcomed her daughter Jovie Lynn Quigley on October 12th.

Filed Under: SBC News

SBC Announces 2021 BOC Operator of the Year!

October 27, 2021 By Britton Rife

The Smart Buildings Center (SBC) and Building Operator Certification (BOC) program are proud to announce the 2021 BOC Operator of the Year: Bryan Watson, Facility Coordinator for Stryker Corporation in Portage, MI!

Bryan with his BOC Operator of the Year Award

Earlier this year, BOC requested nominations for people working to improve the energy efficiency of their work environment using skills they learned in the BOC program. We received many impressive nominations detailing how methods learned in BOC classes are helping people make improvements in their work environments, but Bryan’s story stood out among the rest.

In his role as Facility Coordinator, Bryan is responsible for management of building operations and maintenance, including scheduling and temperature setbacks, adjusting economizer settings, and monitoring CO2 levels in a portfolio of Stryker’s buildings. Bryan works to identify opportunites for system upgrades and secure rebate incentives from the local utility for boilers, HVAC units, air compressors, roof replacements, heat recovery projects and helped to install an enhanced BMS system for Stryker’s local buildings.

After completing BOC Level I & II, Bryan conducted an energy audit which revealed millions of dollars in savings opportunities, and he then began implementing energy efficiency projects at his facility. Some of Bryan’s recent accomplishments are detailed below. Bryan was able to secure rebates for many of these upgrades through Consumers Energy, the local utility, and the resulting energy savings positively impact Stryker Corporation’s bottom line.

  • Installed nozzles on 1/4″ lines used in a cleaning process at the drill press which reduced the CFM of compressed air used to clean parts by 80%. Added additional valves to the manifolds that supplied the air and further reduced the flow of compressed air by another 75% at each manifold. This reduced the overall flow by over 100 SCFM operating no less than 8,000 hours per year.
  • Worked with mechanical contractors to make sure facility had the best filters for HVAC systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Upgraded filters and changed the fresh air intake settings so the systems would turn over more air and introduce more fresh air into the spaced serviced.
  • Worked with a contractor to conduct a compressed air leak study which revealed leaks in the manufacturing facility and throughout the plant. Stryker was able to obtain incentives through a rebate that covered the entire cost of the leak study, and Bryan was able to perform the repairs for very little cost resulting in saving as much as $15,000 per year in electrical costs.
  • Purchased a new 200 HP air compressor and removed two old and inefficient 220+ HP compressors that were less efficient and having internal drying issues.
  • Worked with a contractor to install duct work so heat that has been exhausted through the roof is now put back inhouse as a heat source during winter months now saving natural gas and reducing the carbon footprint.
  • Received rebates for installing new, more efficient HVAC units in spaces that were having difficulty cooling during summer months.
  • Received rebates for replacing nearly 700 fluorescent fixtures (6 lamp 4 ft T8s) with new HI-Bay LEDs.
  • Received approval for a new roof replacement over half of our 805,000 sq ft building.

Bryan says BOC Level I & II offered a great deal of practical and usable information on how to best operate a building efficiently and offer great indoor environmental quality for the occupants. He’s proud that he’s able to help Stryker work toward their carbon reduction and energy savings goals by utilizing skills he learned in the BOC courses.

The SBC and BOC program applaud Bryan on his efforts to improve the energy efficiency of Stryker Corporation’s operations and congratulate him on being named as 2021 BOC Operator of the Year!

Know someone who deserves recognition for their work in the industry? Nominations will open for the 2022 BOC Operator of the Year award in May, so stay tuned!

Filed Under: SBC News

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SBX2022 Session Highlight: Building Performance Reporting – How Smart Technology Can Help

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Join us for Smart Buildings Exchange, August 22-24, 2022!

June 9, 2022

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206-538-0832

Smart Buildings Center is a project collaboration with Northwest Energy Efficiency Council

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