SBC staff, Author at Smart Buildings Center

Free Training Available: Using Building Automation Systems (BAS) for Improved Building Operations

April 11, 2024 By SBC staff

Have your organization’s facilities engineers and HVAC technicians been hoping to learn more about using building automation systems (BAS) for troubleshooting and improving HVAC operations? FREE training funded by the Department of Energy will be available starting in April to help them take their BAS skills to the next level. Hosted by BEST Center and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL), a series of online and in person sessions will provide insights into the basics of BAS, data analysis, troubleshooting, energy efficiency and grid-responsive strategies to reduce energy costs and emissions, and more. You will be using a national lab’s state-of-the-art testbed (FLEXLAB) as a “sandbox” for practicing BAS use. Please help forward this opportunity to your colleagues!

To learn more and submit applications online, see the BAS training information page. We currently have several spots left for the “Building Engineers” group. Please sign up ASAP if you are interested and send any questions to [email protected].

U.S. Department of Energy Releases First Ever Federal Blueprint to Decarbonize America’s Buildings Sector

April 11, 2024 By SBC staff

First Comprehensive Federal Strategy Outlines Pathways to Reduce Emissions 90% in Buildings Sector by 2050, Reinforcing President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to Lower Energy Costs, Improve Resilience, and Tackle the Climate Crisis

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden-Harris Administration today released Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector, a comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions from buildings by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) led the Blueprint’s development in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other federal agencies. The Blueprint is the first sector-wide strategy for building decarbonization developed by the federal government, underscoring President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to cutting harmful carbon emissions and achieving the nation’s ambitious clean energy and climate goals.

“America’s building sector accounts for more than a third of the harmful emissions jeopardizing our air and health, but the Biden-Harris Administration has developed a forward-looking strategy to slash these pollutants from buildings across the nation,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “As part of a whole-of-government approach, DOE is outlining for the first time ever a comprehensive federal plan to reduce energy in our homes, schools, and workplaces—lowering utility bills and creating healthier communities while combating the climate crisis.”

Read the Full Announcement

WA Department of Commerce, New Tools for Clean Building Performance Standard

April 9, 2024 By SBC staff

Updated Form F: Life Cycle Analysis (LCCA) Tool available now

Form F: Life Cycle Analysis (LCCA) Tool is one of the compliance documents for the Clean Buildings Performance Standard, specifically for buildings pursing compliance through the investment criteria. The purpose of this tool is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency measures. This tool is updated annually.

The form was updated on March 25, 2024. The Investment Criteria Tool (Form F) updates incorporate the following:

The latest nominal and real discount rates.
The latest fuel escalation rates from the NIST Handbook Supplement.
The updated Social Cost of Carbon to correspond with the latest EPA supplemental report.

Available for download: New Clean Buildings Performance Standard Integrated Document

The February 2024 version of the Clean Buildings Performance Standard Integrated Document includes covered buildings in Tier 1 and Tier 2.

Please fill out the Smartsheet form to download the new document.

Join the NW Energy Coalition’s Clean & Affordable Energy Conference

April 5, 2024 By SBC staff

NWEC

Don’t miss the Clean & Affordable Energy Conference, hosted by the NW Energy Coalition!

May 7, 2024
8:00am – 5:00pm
The Grove Hotel in Boise, ID
NW Energy Coalition Reception
May 6, 2024
5:00pm – 7:00pm
Register Now!

Join the NW Energy Coalition on May 7 in Boise for its Spring Conference! Network with peers
in the clean energy community and hear from expert panelists on the pressing energy issues in
our region. Panelists will discuss next steps in salmon recovery and replacing the energy
services on the lower Snake River dams, how new opportunities in markets and transmission
can benefit Northwest communities, and protecting customers and communities as the region
decarbonizes.

PSE New Job Listing: Supervisor Energy Management Engineering

April 4, 2024 By SBC staff

Our friends at PSE are looking for a new Supervisor of Energy Management Engineering, could it be you? Check out the job listing below and apply here!

Puget Sound Energy is looking to grow our community with top talented individuals like you! With our rapidly growing, award winning energy efficiency programs, our pathway to an exciting and innovative future is now.

PSE’s Customer Energy Mgmt & Renewables team is looking for qualified candidates to fill an open Supervisor Energy Management Engineering position!

Specific details regarding the work arrangements for this position will be discussed in further detail during the interview process.

Job Description

Puget Sound Energy’s Business Energy Management group is looking for a leader of our Building Performance Team! This role will supervise a team of energy management engineers, project managers, business support analysts, and third party contractors to deliver PSE’s performance-based energy efficiency programs. These programs include PSE’s nationally recognized Commercial Strategic Energy Management (CSEM) program. Duties include responsibility overseeing and performing all aspects of efficiency projects with business customer facilities for several PSE energy efficiency Programs under tariffed electric conservation schedules. Key responsibilities include oversight of energy engineering analyses; program planning and budgeting; contract negotiation and management; coordination of regulatory compliance activities including evaluation, measurement and verification (EM&V) and reporting of program results; employee development and customer service. Assignments involve customer projects with substantial technical complexity and initial identification and development of programs, including budgets and savings targets. This position upholds the safety compliance standards inherent in PSE’s operating and/or field procedures related to work responsibilities and promotes and supports a culture of total safety.

Job Responsibilities

Demonstrate commitment to conduct business honestly, ethically and consistent with our core values and Code of Conduct. Ensure duties are performed in accordance with all regulatory compliance obligations. Provide technical and project management leadership to customer projects to produce sustainable energy savings by performing or overseeing energy audits of building energy systems including: review of facility energy-usage patterns; detailed analyses of complex efficiency measures including energy use modeling; the applicability and recommendations of measures for achieving greater energy efficiency of measures to customer facilities and operations; final inspection of completed projects; and end-use monitoring of electrical loads with data analysis.

Provide exceptional customer service by managing customer expectations by clearly communicating status and next steps. Identify, evaluate, develop, and implement market-centric programs and related tariffs to produce sustainable energy savings more effectively by identifying barriers and developing solutions.

Implement projects and programs while ensuring compliance of all tariffs and all financial procedures, develops new and revised department policy proposals to increase effectiveness of programs and services. Market efficiency programs to eligible customers and various organizations. Maintain positive contractor relationship to ensure positive project development and follow-through. Provide technical expertise to others with in the Company, assists in the development of the efficiency supply curves analysis.

Oversee the work of and consults with other energy engineers on technical, regulatory policy and financial analyses. Provide employees working on the building performance team with coaching, feedback, and developmental opportunities. Monitor the development and market acceptability of new energy technologies. Performs other duties as assigned.

New Job Posting: City of Bothell – Building Operator Specialist

April 3, 2024 By SBC staff

Are you looking for a change? Consider this new position for the City of Bothell as a Building Operator Specialist. Ready to apply? Click here for more info and the application.

The City of Bothell is looking for an experienced Building Operator Specialist, who can help modify and maintain City buildings, to join our team in our Public Works Department in the Facilities division.

This position works a regular schedule; however, employees may be called in to work at irregular times in emergency situations.

What will you do in this position?

Perform regular building maintenance and repairs
Identify and prepare to work for repairs/upgrades
Knowledge in Building Automation Systems (BAS)
Work independently to diagnose and repair complex building maintenance problems
Collaborate with outside vendors on construction and repair projects for City facilities as well as vendor contracts and operations.

This is the specialist classification in the Building Operator series. This class differs from the senior and lead classifications in that this classification specializes in a particular area or particular areas of a body of work.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, and Experience Guidelines:
Five (5) years of journey level experience in building maintenance or skilled building trades; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Local building codes and regulations.
Repair and maintenance standards for commercial facilities, components and systems.
Performing a full range of skilled and semi-skilled maintenance work; using methods, tools and equipment used in facilities maintenance, such as electrical, plumbing, carpentry, HVAC, and electronic control systems.
Operating hand tools, equipment, and power tools in a safe and efficient manner.
Working independently and using initiative within established procedural guidelines to identify maintenance needs and take corrective actions.
Reading and interpreting sketches, drawings, diagrams, schematics, and blueprints.
Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects, and demands.
Closely following verbal and written instructions and procedures.
Following and maintaining safety standards.
Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
Operating a personal computer utilizing specialized software.
Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.

Updated Form F: Life Cycle Analysis (LCCA) Tool available now

Available for download: New Clean Buildings Performance Standard Integrated Document

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

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