SBC - Smart Buildings Center

ACEEE Annual City Energy Efficiency Scorecard Released – Seattle and Portland among the top 5!

June 21, 2017 By SBC

ACEEE has released their 2017 City Energy Efficiency Scorecard for 51 cities across the U.S. The scorecard measures the progress of city policies and programs that save energy while benefiting the environment and promoting economic growth. The top 5 performers were Boston, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Portland.

NEEC and the Smart Buildings Center provide the technical support for the City of Seattle Energy Benchmarking program – one of the city policies that are recognized as a best practice in energy efficiency measures for cities across the country. Other areas that are assessed in the Scorecard are local government operations, community-wide initiatives, buildings, energy and water utilities, and transportation.

For the full report and to see most improved cities since the last report, click HERE.

NEEC Power Hour – June 22nd, 2017

June 7, 2017 By SBC

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) invites you to attend the upcoming NEEC Power Hour at the Smart Buildings Center. These informal after work get togethers, hosted by NEEC several times a year, will feature drinks and light refreshments combined with networking opportunities amongst peers and to hear featured guests bringing news and insights affecting the industry. Join us and hear about the many benefits of being a NEEC member.

Click here to register.

Is Cottonwood Seed Clogging Your Air Filters?

June 7, 2017 By SBC

Cottonwood trees are in full bloom in May and June. Their cottony seeds can clog air filters in a few short days. If you live in an area of the country with Cottonwood trees, it’s advisable to check your building’s air filters during this time. Cottonwood seed is a major contributor of cooling equipment fouling. This naturally occurring airborne contaminant (generated by the Poplar Tree) usually affects operations from May thru early August, hence, companies that rely upon process cooling must clean their equipment frequently during this period or risk failure.

Brought to you by BOC® – Building Operator Certification
Energy Efficiency through Operator Training
www.theBOC.info

Want to get more energy savings tips? Sign up for the BOC blog HERE.

Lamp Replacement Recommendation

June 7, 2017 By SBC

Low-wattage T8s Help Facility Staff Reduce Energy Consumption and Save Money

Lighting represents a significant portion of energy consumption in commercial and industrial buildings. In buildings with linear fluorescent lamps that aren’t yet ready to convert to LEDs, low wattage T8s are an excellent option to decrease building lighting costs.

Low wattage T8 lamps, which are available in 28 and 25 watt versions, offer an immediate, easy and cost-effective way to reduce energy usage for customers without sacrificing light quality.

Here’s an overview of their benefits:

Reduced Lifetime Costs: Low wattage T8s are comparably priced to 32 watt T8 lamps, and reduce lifetime costs by up to 23%
Significant Energy Savings: Low wattage T8s are up to 20% more efficient than 32 watt T8s
Light Quality: Most people are unable to detect any difference in light quality when replacing 32 watt T8 lamps with low wattage versions
Easy Installation: Low wattage T8 lamps are often compatible with existing ballasts, making them instant replacement options that can sit side-by-side with 32 watt T8 lamps
Longer Life: These energy-efficient lamps now have lifetimes up to 84,000 hours
Less Maintenance: Expect up to 50% fewer trips up the ladder for your maintenance staff

Hillsboro School District’s administration services building in Hillsboro, Ore., where staff switched from 32 watt T8 lamps to 28 watt versions to improve light quality and save more than $5,000 in annual operations and maintenance costs.

Many commercial facilities across the region have benefited from replacing their 32 watt T8 lamps with low wattage versions. Renton, Wash. based lighting supplier Capital Lighting has recommended low wattage T8 lamps for its customers since 2011, helping its customers save money and energy when they re-lamp. One Seattle high-rise saved an estimated $24,000 in annual utility costs by replacing 16,000 32 watt T8 lamps with 25 watt versions and low ballast factor electronic ballasts.

To learn more about low wattage T8 lamps and how they can help save energy and money in your building, contact your local electrical distributor or visit http://www.lowwattt8.com/

About the Northwest Lighting Network:

Developed in partnership with regional utilities and their trade ally networks, the Northwest Lighting Network provides a central hub of resources for lighting contractors that helps to streamline and make energy-efficient lighting more accessible.

Summer Educational Sessions at the Lighting Design Lab

May 25, 2017 By SBC

The Summer Session has three modules and will be held in the morning.
Please make sure to register for Morning Only.

Classes are eligible for CEUs through self-reporting.

Summer Session Includes

Breakfast & Networking 8:00 a.m.
Session Runs 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

1) Lighting Design Considerations
Designing effectively with light is more complicated than picking light fixtures and calculating the amount of light falling onto a desk or work plane. Come and learn some of the key considerations, tips, and tricks that may help to most effectively use light to enhance human visual performance and ensure good outcomes from new construction and retrofits.

2) LED Replacements for T8 and T5 Fluorescent Lamps. Where do you fit?
The LED retrofit opportunities available for tubular fluorescent lamps has never been more diverse. It seems like there are new variations cropping up all of the time. This industry update will assist you in figuring out the differences, and which strategy may be right for your application.

3) Luminaire Level Lighting Controls (LLLC) – Easy Energy Savings (EES)
Lighting controls can range from simple to “rocket science”. This module will discuss control strategies and systems that can take some of the complexities out of the decision-making, while enabling greater energy savings. In many cases, these systems can be easier to install and commission than conventional lighting controls methods.

Classes start June 15th, Register Now!

Job Opportunity with Seattle School District

May 25, 2017 By SBC

Resource Conservation Specialist for Seattle Public Schools

The Seattle School District is hiring a full-time Resource Conservation Specialist to manage the District’s Natural Resources Conservation program, policy, and procedures related to energy, water, and waste conservation. Areas of responsibility include utility cost and usage, internal and public information materials, funding opportunities, and marketing conservation techniques. This position is one of a team of three Resource Conservation Specialists.

Click here for the job listing and to apply.

Low-wattage T8s Help Facility Staff Reduce Energy Consumption and Save Money

The Summer Session has three modules and will be held in the morning. Please make sure to register for Morning Only.

Summer Session Includes

Resource Conservation Specialist for Seattle Public Schools

Contact Us

The Summer Session has three modules and will be held in the morning.
Please make sure to register for Morning Only.