Blog - Smart Buildings Center

Powerful Business – May 25, 2017

May 9, 2017 By SBC

Powerful Business will provide ways to save money and energy for commercial building owners and managers, building operations and engineering staff, architects, engineers, and property developers. Breakfast, lunch with a keynote speaker, and vendor reception are all included.

Regular registration: $195
Vendor/Student registration: $125
Vendor booth: $550

Essential energy saving ideas – quick wins, deeper strategies, and future visions – will be presented in 3 tracks: To register please contact the Electric League at (425) 646 – 4727 or register online at electricleague.net.

SBC Workshop: Dent Instruments May 23

May 9, 2017 By SBC

Dent Instruments, Inc.

Christopher Dent is the President of DENT Instruments, Inc. and has for the last 29 years overseen its development of data logging and metering equipment to bring information to the energy conservation, efficiency, and research fields. DENT Instruments is based in Bend, Oregon and serves a variety of customers from individuals to national governments to Fortune 10 Companies on all 7 continents. Christopher will discuss and demonstrate the use and application of Dent Instruments metering and measurement products including:

Review and demonstration of the Time-Of-Use Series of non-contact data loggers
Discussion and demonstration of the ELITEpro™ SP and XC recording power meters
Presentation of the PowerScout™ series of networked power meters and data loggers

An optional lunch will follow the presentation with continuing discussion and Q&A

Where: Smart Buildings Center 1200 12th Ave S., Seattle, WA 98144

When: Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017 – 10am – 12pm PST

Cost: FREE! (Space limited to 30 participants) Lunch provided

Register Here!

Free ECAM Training April 4

February 28, 2017 By Vamsi

An Excel-based tool for analyzing data to find and measure energy savings

ECAM (Energy Charting and Metrics) facilitates the analysis of data from buildings or meters, reducing the time spent analyzing trend and utility meter data. It accelerates ad hoc data charting and summarization. It supports the DOE-funded Building Re-tuning process with automated charts. It provides a transparent means for measurement and verification (M&V) of energy savings, adherent to the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) and using methods from ASHRAE Guideline 14, Measurement and Verification of Energy, Demand, and Water Savings. ECAM includes functions that make it easy to integrate data gathered at different time intervals, including change-of-value (COV) data. ECAM is widely used, including as BPA’s platform for commercial SEM and custom M&V, and as an aid both nationally and internationally for IPMVP training.

3 hour hands-on introductory workshop

When: Tuesday April 4, 9am-12pm (PST)

Where: Smart Buildings Center, 1200 12th Ave South, Seattle WA 98144

In this HANDS-ON training using the new ECAM Version 5, participants will be introduced to the features mentioned above. The instructor is Bill Koran, the primary developer of ECAM. Bill is a senior energy analytics engineer with SBW Consulting, which is based in Bellevue, Washington. He is a registered professional engineer in Oregon, a member of the Regional Technical forum and the IPMVP committee, and active in ASHRAE.

Space is limited to 30 participants. For BOC graduates, attendance at Smart Building Center Workshops provides 1 point towards maintaining your BOC Certification.

Adding Diagnostic Tools to Our Library

February 24, 2017 By Vamsi

While we are all eagerly waiting for Spring to come, we realized it has been awhile since we have updated you on the goings on inside the Smart Buildings Center’s Tool Lending Library. Even though we have been busy making diagnostic tools available for the region, we still make time to expand our selection of tools to help make sure your building is running efficiently during these cold and wet months.

Thermal Imaging Camera Diagnostic Tool

All diagnostic tools are important in a Building Operator’s toolbox, for troubleshooting building performance and maintenance issues, but a versatile tool is among the most important. One tool that can be used in a variety of scenarios to help an operator troubleshoot problems that may arise is a thermal imaging camera. This is a device that detects infrared radiation and then through the process of Thermography, converts that into an image that can be viewed on a small screen on the device. These images are called Thermograms. In the way a common camera uses visible light to create an image, a thermal imaging camera uses infrared radiation or heat. These tools can often store images and be used to document and inspect many different systems of a building, including:

High resistance connections in electrical systems
Electric motor bearings and couplings
Liquid and sludge levels in tanks
Belts and sheaves drive systems
Conveyor belt bearings
Furnace and oven refractories
Gas leak detection
Building insulation and air leakage
Water intrusion and insulation damage
Argon gas escape in double pane windows

Introducing Spark Building Renewal Tool

November 11, 2016 By Vamsi

Have you heard of Spark? A project of BetterBricks, Spark is a free interactive online tool that creates a tailored strategy for your building. It can: Provide a project plan, estimate your return on investment, and help to save a significant amount of energy in your building. This tool isn’t just for building operators, it can also be utilized by real estate developers and design professionals.

Watch the video below to see how Spark works to determine building renewal strategies, then register for our free Spark live webinar to learn more.

Free Spark Tool Webinar Dec. 7

Join BetterBricks and the Smart Buildings Center for an exclusive webinar: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, Noon – 1:00 pm. The webinar will take you through a live demonstration of the Spark Tool.
Register here. Please direct all Spark or webinar related questions to Daniel Handal.

Visit the Spark website to learn more about Spark and building renewal.

BetterBricks is a commercial building program of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA). It is designed as an energy efficient resource for building owners, developers, property maangers, designers, architects, engineers, and tenants. BetterBricks is partnered with Northwest utilities to accelerate the adoption of energy efficiency best practices in the commercial building industry.

2017 ENERGY STAR Awards Early Intent Deadline Oct. 17

October 10, 2016 By Vamsi

Did you know that each year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy gives awards to organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency? The winners will be recognized at the ENERGY STAR awards on April 26, 2017 in Washington D.C.

While the complete online application package is due by December 7, 2016 applicants are being asking to notify ENERGY STAR through your “My ENERGY STAR Account” by October 17, 2016 of intent to apply. For information, please visit the ENERGY STAR website.

Last year’s winners

Review the list of 2016 ENERGY STAR Award Winners — small and large organizations from across the country who are leading the energy efficiency movement. (We’re proud NEEC was one of the 2016 winners!)