SBC staff, Author at Smart Buildings Center

Free, Online Demand Flexibility Learning with AESP & The U.S.D.O.E.

November 8, 2024 By SBC staff

AESP's and DOE's FLEX Program

Brought to you by AESP and the U.S. Department of Energy, Demand flexibility is the heartbeat of our future grid. It is the coordinated manipulation of energy consumption and production across grid devices on a massive scale while maintaining livability and comfort standards. AESP is now offering free, online courses that are convenient, and designed for tomorrow’s energy efficiency leaders.

Elevate your expertise with FLEX’s accredited online courses! Dive into demand flexibility, exploring water heaters, lighting, HVAC systems, and cutting-edge distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar, battery storage, and EVSE. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, FLEX FLEX’s 3-course series offers flexible learning modules, and equips tomorrow’s workforce with skills for grid-interactive energy technologies. Whether designing customer offerings or engaging with these resources as grid assets, FLEX is your gateway to mastering the future of energy. Ideal for Energy Efficiency and DER Professionals, Electric Utilities Staff, and more. Seize the opportunity to maximize the value of flexible loads as both a grid asset and a customer asset. Enroll now for a brighter, sustainable future!

FLEX PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Demand flexibility is the heartbeat of our future grid. It is the coordinated manipulation of energy consumption and production across grid devices on a massive scale while maintaining livability and comfort standards.

Through demand flexibility, we can move energy production and demand into greater alignment, which reduces the need for costly infrastructure investments in transmission and central generation. It makes the most of existing resources, saves the grid money, and saves the consumer money.

In this guide, we will outline best practices to promote the FLEX program.

You can find this training and more on our webpage: smartbuildingscenter.org/education-training/remote-learning-library

ACEEE Summer Study Proceedings Published

October 31, 2024 By SBC staff

Earlier this year, Building Potential submitted a paper that was accepted for publication in the conference proceedings for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Summer Study, an annual conference held at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, CA. ACEEE is a well-respected non-profit research organization that influences “transformative policies to reduce energy waste and combat climate change.” In the buildings sector, ACEEE “works to help national, state, and local governments develop, implement, and adopt whole-building solutions that significantly improve the energy efficiency of our existing buildings.” The annual conference attracts a broad swath of policy makers, researchers, and other influential changemakers from around the world.

Melissa Sokolowsky, Senior Project Manager at Building Potential, attended the Summer Study and was invited to present highlights of the paper, titled “Equitable Workforce Development in Decarbonizing Existing Buildings”, at a poster session during the conference. The paper explores the opportunities and benefits of diversifying the building operations workforce that are presented by various factors, such as the acceleration of decarbonization initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels and existing workforce gaps that are projected to increase.

The conference was also a great opportunity to connect with representatives from some of our partner organizations and collaborators, such as Washington State Department of Commerce, Energy Trust of Oregon, Slipstream, AESC and more!

Building Potential’s paper can be found at the following link:

https://www.aceee.org/sites/default/files/proceedings/ssb24/assets/attachments/20240722163155891_82c0b0cb-1459-45a7-859f-e5cb3820d187.pdf

The full conference proceedings including all accepted papers can be found by browsing the Summer Study Proceedings under Events on aceee.org. Our paper is included under Buildings in Panel 13A – Workforce.

Sources:
https://www.aceee.org/about-us
https://www.aceee.org/program/energy-efficiency-buildings

UA Local 32 Training Facility

October 30, 2024 By SBC staff

Ever wondered how some of Greater Seattle’s best plumbers, pipe fitters, and HVAC experts get their training? The Greater Seattle Chapter of IFMA is excited to announce a tour of the Local UA 32 Training Facility! Local UA 32 offers phenomenal training to the professionals that support and drive the business of Facility Management and we are thrilled to be partnering with a local union to give you a sneak peek into how some of the best in the trades are trained.

Get your registration quickly because there’s only 20 spots!

Date: Friday, Nov. 8, 2024

Time: 9:00-11:00 AM

Cost:
Professional Member: $30
Professional Non Member: $35
Associate Member: $40
Associate Non Member: $45

Location: 595 Monster Road Southwest

Renton, WA, 98057

Free Webinars! Polychlorinated Biphenyls Awareness & Education

October 30, 2024 By SBC staff

Join us on November 19th, 2024 at 2:00PM to learn about PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) in buildings and their safe removal. Hosted by the Seattle and Bellevue 2030 Districts, and supported by the WA State Department of Ecology, the EPA, and in partnership with Pacific Rim Environmental, this comprehensive workshop will cover the dangers and risks of PCBs, their impact on health and the environment, and best practices for identifying, handling, and disposing of PCB-containing materials.

In collaboration with experts in environmental health and safety, the event will include informative presentations and Q&A sessions. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on regulatory requirements, safe removal techniques, and resources for managing PCB contamination effectively.

Whether you’re a contractor, property manager, environmental professional, or simply interested in learning more about PCBs, this event provides the tools and information you need to contribute to a safer, healthier environment. Register now to secure your spot!

Webinar #1 – Virtual
When: November 19th at 2pm|
Registration

Webinar #2 – In-Person
When: December 4th at 2pm
Where: Smart Building Center
Registration

Smart Buildings Center Partner Wins National Award

October 24, 2024 By SBC staff

The Smart Buildings Center congratulates our partner, the Greater Seattle Chapter of IFMA, on winning the National Large Chapter of the Year award from IFMA national. SBC Director of Education and Training, Melanie Danuser, serves as Vice President of Education for the chapter and was present at the annual World Workplace conference to accept the award with other chapter leaders. Read on for the announcement from the chapter:

The Greater Seattle Chapter of IFMA is thrilled to announce we have won the Large Chapter of the Year award!

Thank you to @IFMA for the honor and a huge shoutout to our board for their phenomenal work. The chapter has truly launched from COVID era struggle to a facility management powerhouse and we couldn’t be more proud. A special thank you to all of our sustaining and program sponsors who make what we do possible.

Keep an eye out for our new event schedule in the coming month for 2025, we’re preparing for an even better year and can’t wait to spend it with all of you!

SBX Day 3 LIVE – Recording Now Available!

October 23, 2024 By SBC staff

Did you miss the Day 3 In-Person Presentations at SBX this year? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Check out our YouTube channel for the recording, available now! You can also find a playlist of every presentation in case you missed one you were looking forward to. Check out the short description below or click here to get viewing SBX 2024’s biggest moments!

SBX 2024 Day 3 Live

The third and final day of the conference was held in-person in Seattle and featured opening remarks from Dawn Lindell, General Manager and CEO of Seattle City Light, followed by panel discussions with leaders from Washington State, Oregon, Colorado, the U.S. Department of Energy, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on how different jurisdictions are structuring building performance standards, and how existing building commissioning can offer an initial path to standard compliance.

Contact Us