Blog - Smart Buildings Center

Webinar: Building Measures to Take to Prepare for Reopening, June 30th

June 28, 2020 By SBC staff

Join the Seattle 2030 District on 6/30 at 8 a.m. PDT for Building Measures to Take to Prepare for Reopening
Continuing from last month’s session, we will look at the intersection of sustainability and health as related to reopening buildings. This online session will include mechanical challenges within your existing system, how technology can run a building more efficiently and improve the health of occupants, and how staff training now could improve efficiency later.

We have great panelists from different sectors in the built environment:

This session is targeted to Seattle 2030 District property owners and managers. Register here.

Note: Registration for this event will close on Monday, June 29th at 10 pm ET.

‘Why Smart Buildings?’ Virtual Executive Forum Recap

June 21, 2020 By SBC staff

Thank you to all who joined us for our ‘Why Smart Buildings?’ Virtual Executive Forum: Navigating the New World, How the COVID-19 Crisis Has Strengthened the Case for Smart Buildings Practices and Technologies.

Cara Carmichael of the Rocky Mountain Institute, Art Smith of DB Engineering and Matt Golden of Recurve had an engaging conversation with Kerry Meade of the Smart Buildings Center as they explored the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial buildings.

Throughout the 60-minute session, panelists discussed how the pandemic has strengthened the case for smart buildings technologies and practices to help mitigate unforeseen crises, better manage building operations, and meet the needs of tenants, occupants and other stakeholders in the built environment.

Topics covered during the discussion included:

The dramatic behavioral changes during the pandemic for those working in clean energy/energy efficiency and the built environment
Thoughts and concerns about “going back to normal” as buildings reopen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
How smart technologies can help better manage crises in the built environment going forward
Ways in which buildings and building technologies can better support grid resiliency/reliability
How things we have experienced and learned during the pandemic will change our industry
Practical advice on things we can do now and lessons we should apply to our current activities to re-occupy buildings and maintain safer conditions going forward

If you missed the event or would like to listen to it again, the recording is now available on the SBC YouTube channel.

Thank you again to Cara, Art, and Matt for joining us for such an engaging discussion about the critical role of buildings and building technologies in driving society toward a new normal as we emerge from our homes and return to public life inside of buildings.

Join us TODAY for a virtual ‘Why Smart Buildings?’ Executive Forum!

June 10, 2020 By SBC staff

It’s not too late to register to join us for today’s ‘Why Smart Buildings?’ Virtual Executive Forum: Navigating the New World, How the COVID-19 Crisis Has Strengthened the Case for Smart Buildings Practices and Technologies. In this 60-minute webinar, we will hear from Cara Carmichael of the Rocky Mountain Institute, Art Smith of DB Engineering and Matt Golden of Recurve as they explore the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on commercial buildings.

Thursday, June 11th
12 – 1 pm PT
REGISTER NOW!

Seattle Benchmarking Deadline & Video Tutorials

June 10, 2020 By SBC staff

As a reminder, multifamily and non-residential buildings 20,000 sf or larger must be accurately benchmarked and reported to the City of Seattle by July 1, 2020 (for the prior year’s energy use).

More details and resources, including benchmarking tutorial videos, can be found below and on the City of Seattle’s benchmarking compliance website.

Compliance Checklist outlines the steps required to submit a benchmark report. Use the checklist to track your progress during the benchmarking process.
How to Guide includes detailed step-by-step instructions to help you successfully benchmark your building and comply with the annual reporting requirement.
Video Tutorials provide energy benchmarking instruction, outline the benchmarking process and include follow-along procedures from start to finish. Individual videos are linked below, and the complete series is available here.
- Introduction to Benchmarking (video)
- Data Collection (Part A): Property Use Data (video)
- Data Collection (Part B): Energy Meter Data (video)
- Creating a Portfolio Manager Account and Entering Data (video)
- Obtaining Data Usage: Seattle City Light (video)
- Obtaining Data Usage: Puget Sound Energy (video)
- Confirming Energy Use & Submitting Report to City of Seattle (video)
- Understand Results and Create Reports (video)

Webinar: Resilient Buildings in a Time of COVID-19

June 10, 2020 By SBC staff

Resilient Buildings in a Time of COVID-19

June 18, 2020 | 6 PM PST
Register Now

Description: Professor Victoria Hardy, RCFM, will be hosting this webinar on how building and facilities managers can strengthen their response to COVID-19. What are others in the field doing to make their buildings safer and more useful during this time? How can you address this change and prepare for other emergencies before they happen?

Moderator:
Victoria Hardy, RCFM, ASHRAE Associate, Consultant and Adjunct Faculty, B.A.S. Sustainable Building Science Technology

Panelists and SBST alumni:
– Amy Cho, Critical Environment Program Manager, Puget Sound Datacenter
– Patrick Hart, Executive Director, National Association of Church Facilities Managers
– Kevin Kajita, CHFM. Director of Support Services at Evergreen Hospital
– Casey Lawrence, Director of Plant Engineering, Pacific Research Labs

Resilient buildings are those able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. In today’s world, that means sanitizing with new cleaning schedules and a fresh approach to HVAC management, filters, air quality, humidity control, and disinfectant.

Many organizations are planning workplace reorganizations, with more remote access and social distancing in the office. Then there are the energy and transportation implications of the shutdown.

Host Professor Hardy is an expert in facilities management. Hardy developed the first Human and Environmental Factors Competency Guidelines for the International Facility Management Association and served as principal author on the Facility Management Commissioning Module for the Project Resource Manual from the Construction Specifications Institute.

Come hear these speakers share their perspective about how COVID-19 is changing building operations, finance, and workplace health and safety.

REGISTER

Webinar: What To Watch For In Electric Vehicle Development

June 10, 2020 By SBC staff

Join Jim Jensen with the WSU Energy Program for a webinar on What To Watch For In Electric Vehicle Development
June 24th, 10:00 AM PDT

Register now!

Despite the economic downturn caused by the current pandemic, manufacturers of many stripes are still working hard to bring new electric vehicles to the marketplace. We’ll take a deep look at vehicles ready for purchase or still in development throughout the light-, medium-, and heavy-duty categories.

Thursday, June 11th 12 – 1 pm PT REGISTER NOW!

Resilient Buildings in a Time of COVID-19

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Thursday, June 11th
12 – 1 pm PT
REGISTER NOW!