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Is Cottonwood Seed Clogging Your Air Filters?

June 7, 2017 By SBC

Cottonwood trees are in full bloom in May and June. Their cottony seeds can clog air filters in a few short days. If you live in an area of the country with Cottonwood trees, it’s advisable to check your building’s air filters during this time. Cottonwood seed is a major contributor of cooling equipment fouling. This naturally occurring airborne contaminant (generated by the Poplar Tree) usually affects operations from May thru early August, hence, companies that rely upon process cooling must clean their equipment frequently during this period or risk failure.

Brought to you by BOC® – Building Operator Certification
Energy Efficiency through Operator Training
www.theBOC.info

Want to get more energy savings tips?  Sign up for the BOC blog HERE.

Filed Under: SBC News Tagged With: BOC, Energy Saving Tips, training

Lamp Replacement Recommendation

June 7, 2017 By SBC

Low-wattage T8s Help Facility Staff Reduce Energy Consumption and Save Money

Lighting represents a significant portion of energy consumption in commercial and industrial buildings. In buildings with linear fluorescent lamps that aren’t yet ready to convert to LEDs, low wattage T8s are an excellent option to decrease building lighting costs.

Low wattage T8 lamps, which are available in 28 and 25 watt versions, offer an immediate, easy and cost-effective way to reduce energy usage for customers without sacrificing light quality.

Here’s an overview of their benefits:

  • Reduced Lifetime Costs: Low wattage T8s are comparably priced to 32 watt T8 lamps, and reduce lifetime costs by up to 23%
  • Significant Energy Savings: Low wattage T8s are up to 20% more efficient than 32 watt T8s
  • Light Quality: Most people are unable to detect any difference in light quality when replacing 32 watt T8 lamps with low wattage versions
  • Easy Installation: Low wattage T8 lamps are often compatible with existing ballasts, making them instant replacement options that can sit side-by-side with 32 watt T8 lamps
  • Longer Life: These energy-efficient lamps now have lifetimes up to 84,000 hours
  • Less Maintenance: Expect up to 50% fewer trips up the ladder for your maintenance staff
Hillsboro School District’s administration services building in Hillsboro, Ore., where staff switched from 32 watt T8 lamps to 28 watt versions to improve light quality and save more than $5,000 in annual operations and maintenance costs.

Many commercial facilities across the region have benefited from replacing their 32 watt T8 lamps with low wattage versions. Renton, Wash. based lighting supplier Capital Lighting has recommended low wattage T8 lamps for its customers since 2011, helping its customers save money and energy when they re-lamp. One Seattle high-rise saved an estimated $24,000 in annual utility costs by replacing 16,000 32 watt T8 lamps with 25 watt versions and low ballast factor electronic ballasts.

To learn more about low wattage T8 lamps and how they can help save energy and money in your building, contact your local electrical distributor or visit http://www.lowwattt8.com/

About the Northwest Lighting Network:

Developed in partnership with regional utilities and their trade ally networks, the Northwest Lighting Network provides a central hub of resources for lighting contractors that helps to streamline and make energy-efficient lighting more accessible.

Filed Under: SBC News Tagged With: low wattage, save energy, T8s

Job Opportunity with Seattle School District

May 25, 2017 By SBC

Resource Conservation Specialist for Seattle Public Schools

The Seattle School District is hiring a full-time Resource Conservation Specialist to manage the District’s Natural Resources Conservation program, policy, and procedures related to energy, water, and waste conservation. Areas of responsibility include utility cost and usage, internal and public information materials, funding opportunities, and marketing conservation techniques. This position is one of a team of three Resource Conservation Specialists.

Click here for the job listing and to apply.

Filed Under: SBC News Tagged With: job, RCM, resource conservation manager

Spark Tool Webinar – June 14, 2017

May 25, 2017 By SBC

JOIN BETTERBRICKS AND THE SMART BUILDINGS CENTER FOR AN EXCLUSIVE WEBINAR

ABOUT

Join us to learn about the building renewal strategy and how to use the Spark Tool to assess if your building is ready for a deep energy retrofit.

The webinar will focus on how to leverage Spark’s integrated technical and financial reports to communicate the business case for building renewal projects. The webinar will include an overview of the building renewal strategy, a live demonstration of the Spark Tool, and a look at the customized integrated measure packages the Tool can create.

SPARK

Spark, a free, interactive online tool, can help you determine if your commercial building is a good candidate for a deep energy retrofit. This early assessment tool produces a report with estimated energy savings and real estate returns, and suggested measures and next steps. Watch this short video to learn how Spark can reposition a building.

BUILDING RENEWAL

Building renewal is a real estate strategy to modernize a building and improve its competitive position by focusing on comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades resulting in 35% or more of a building’s energy use and costs.

EARN BUILDING OPERATOR CERTIFCATION POINTS

This Spark webinar provides 1 maintenance point towards renewal of the BOC® credential.

REGISTER

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7086585918184273666

In preparation for this webinar, we encourage you to create an account on Spark and familiarize yourself with the tool.

DATE AND SCHEDULE

Wednesday, June 14, 2017: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Filed Under: SBC News

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.

Filed Under: SBC News

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!

Filed Under: Featured Event, SBC News, Tool Library Tagged With: Dent Instruments, energy efficiency, training

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Smart Buildings Center · Pacific Tower, 1200 12th Ave. S., Suite 110, Seattle, WA 98144 · 206-538-0832

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