SBC staff, Author at Smart Buildings Center

Registration Open for Smart Buildings Exchange, Aug 22-24!

March 2, 2022 By SBC staff

The Smart Buildings Center is excited to announce that registration for Smart Buildings Exchange 2022 is now open! The free, three-day virtual event to be held August 22-24 will explore the role of smarter buildings in a changing energy landscape through interactive conference sessions focused on topics including:

Building electrification & decarbonization
System integration & cybersecurity
Smart technology’s role in improving ESG reporting
IT/OT network design & interoperability
Indoor air quality and occupant health & wellness
The evolving buildings operation & maintenance workforce
Optimizing buildings for hybrid work environments

Call for Speakers & Content
Do you have a suggestion for a dynamic speaker or topic with demonstrated application of smart technologies in buildings that should be considered for the SBX2022 agenda? If so, please send your ideas to Britton Rife. Any suggestions are appreciated!

In-Person Networking Events
In addition to the virtual conference sessions, regional in-person networking events featuring a livestreamed keynote address are being planned. If you are interested in hosting an in-person SBX networking event in your region, please contact Britton Rife to coordinate. Stay tuned for more details as plans are developed!

Sponsorship Opportunities
For more information about ways your organization or business can participate in the conference, please download our Sponsorship Prospectus or contact Stan Price for customized sponsorship/partnership opportunities.

Register for free today!

Building Electrification & Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings Executive Forum Recordings

March 2, 2022 By SBC staff

Thanks to all who joined us for our recent two-part ‘Why Smart Buildings?’ Executive Forum on Building Electrification & Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings. The recordings for the sessions are now available on the SBC YouTube channel at the links below.

Part 1 of this series brings together expertise from the policy, regulatory, ratemaking, and utility industries to discuss their view on what must change from current practice to ignite a robust market for Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings (GEBs). Speakers include: John Gibson – Avista Corporation, Ryan Hledik – Brattle Group, and Sangeeta Ranade – AlphaStruxure.

Part 1 Recording

Part 2 of this series features a panel drawn from the communities of building owner/manager, developer, service provider and research institutions to discuss the market side of this equation. Speakers include: Brett Bridgeland – RMI, Salone Habibuddin – Urban Visions, Mary Ann Piette – Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Hendrik Van Hemert – Edo.

Part 2 Recording

NEEC & SBC Welcome New Team Member

February 14, 2022 By SBC staff

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!

Resilient, Healthy HVAC Doesn’t Have To Cost So Much

February 14, 2022 By SBC staff

A recent study conducted by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), Red Car Analytics (RCA) and the University of Oregon (UO) shows that commercial building operators can reduce the risk of viral spread by more than 25% with two steps: 1) increase ventilation rates by 217%, 2) add in-room filtration units. Unfortunately, most HVAC systems that can handle this increased ventilation and filtration will also dramatically increase HVAC energy usage.

Thankfully, according to the same study, there are higher efficiency HVAC solutions, such as very high efficiency DOAS, that can run efficiently under acute ventilation conditions while using 37% less energy than less efficient HVAC options. To learn more about this study and the ways building operators can adapt their HVAC approaches to foster healthy indoor environments without wasting energy, read the full article on NEEA’s BetterBricks.com.

Video Series: Lowering Commercial Buildings Emissions in King County

February 14, 2022 By SBC staff

Join the 2050 Project as we learn about what King County and Washington State are doing to help commercial buildings lower their environmental impact and save money. There are six episodes in this engaging and educational video series. Each episode examines a unique focus between commercial properties and sustainability. And different guests are introduced throughout the series that add a range of perspective to the story. Help us share this important message, and act alongside other community members so that King County and WA State can reduce more emissions from commercial properties.

Job Opportunites: Emerald Cities

February 14, 2022 By SBC staff

Community Engagement and Policy Manager
We are excited to be expanding in the Northwest, adding staff positions to our Economic Inclusion and Community Engagement work in order to bring clean energy opportunities to BIPOC communities. Please share these career opportunities with those who might be interested.

Apply here

Inclusion Manager – Minority Contracting
The Economic Inclusion Manager – Minority Contractor Development will implement policies, models and programs that advance Emerald Cities Collaborative’s mission with a focus on creating business opportunities and community wealth for Black and brown communities by leveraging investments in clean energy, affordable housing, and other infrastructure projects.

Apply here

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