Register now for PSE EnergyCAP Trainings

September 19, 2023 By SBC staff

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) are offering free online training for building owners and managers who need assistance completing enrollment in EnergyCAP automated exchange of natural gas data for annual energy benchmarking and reporting. This training is best for participants who are new to the benchmarking process and have not yet enrolled in PSE’s automated data exchange services for benchmarking. If you already have an EnergyCAP account and are experiencing issues with data that was migrated from MyData to EnergyCAP, or if you have incomplete consumption data in EnergyCAP, please email energycap@pse.com for specialized assistance.

PSE EnergyCAP Overview Trainings for New Users:

September 21, 1:00 PM- 2:00 PM (Register Here)
September 28, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Register Here)
October 5, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Register Here)

Please note: Users attending the PSE EnergyCAP trainings must complete registration for an EnergyCAP account if they have not already done so.

EnergyCAP is a tool for commercial customers to monitor and manage PSE energy use, and allows automated benchmarking to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

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

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!

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.

Register for free today!

August 8th and 22nd: Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator Info Sessions

August 7, 2023 By SBC staff

The City of Seattle offers a no-cost program to support building owners and operators to meet the WA
State Clean Buildings Performance Standard. The program includes group training sessions with tailored
support and coaching, and an educational website. OSE encourages owners and operators of buildings
that serve or are in frontline communities* to join this program. Two dozen building owners and
operators have already taken the free training sessions and are on the path to comply! Attend an info
session to learn about the program and the next training session starting in September:
• Tuesday, August 8 at 10am: https://bit.ly/SeattleCleanBuildingsInfo_Aug08
• Tuesday, August 22 at 11am: https://bit.ly/SeattleCleanBuildingsInfo_Aug22
*Frontline communities include black people, Indigenous people, sovereign tribal nations, communities
of color, immigrants, refugees, youths, elders, houseless people, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people,
people with low and no income, and people who work in outdoor occupations. This can include many
types of buildings like non-profits, buildings with BIPOC-owned small businesses, healthcare, museums,
shelters, community centers and more.

SBX 2023 Opening Plenary Sessions

August 3, 2023 By SBC staff

Join us virtually for the Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) 2023 Opening Plenary Sessions on August 15th from 9:00 – 10:00 am PT and August 16th from 9:00 – 10:30 am PT.

On Day 1, Ash Awad (McKinstry) will moderate a discussion on The Road to Making Buildings Smart, Efficient & Carbon Free between Emeka Anyanwu (Seattle City Light), Lou Cariello (University of Washington), Jon Creyts (RMI), and Sarah King (Kilroy Realty).

On Day 2, Poppy Storm (2050 Institute) will moderate a discussion on Smart Approaches for Building Electrification & Carbon Reduction between Brett Bridgeland (RMI), Alexi Miller (New Buildings Institute), and David Nemtzow (U.S. Department of Energy).

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

Accelerating the Pace of Deployment: The Road to Making Buildings Smart, Efficient & Carbon Free
The current pace of retrofitting commercial and institutional buildings across the United States is on a 300-year timeline. Almost no one believes that is acceptable. If the technology exists – and the Smart Buildings Exchange sessions that follow demonstrate this – and the financing of projects is increasingly accessible with Inflation Reduction Act and carbon market funds starting to flow, then why isn’t our pace of deployment faster? This moderated panel discussion brings together public and private sector senior leaders to describe how they challenged their organizations to move now on projects that made their infrastructure smarter and more efficient with lower carbon emissions. Is organizational leadership from the very top the key to solving the 300-year problem? Get motivated by this session to experience the technology and practice ideas for the three days of SBX 2023.

Smart Approaches for Building Electrification & Carbon Reduction
This session will explore both new construction and retrofit examples of buildings that embraced electrification and eliminated carbon emissions. Deploying smart technologies is not an end but a means – along with a set of strategic design and equipment selection choices – to reduce a building’s carbon footprint and provide a compelling return on investment for the building owner. Whether you are involved in a new building project or trying to find the best path for your existing building, this session will help you thread the needle of smart solutions with a solid business case behind them.