Seattle’s Pacific Tower was an iconic building with a big facility maintenance challenge: its older systems were inefficient and falling short of occupants’ expectations. After the Washington Department of Commerce signed a 30-year lease for the building, the team wanted to implement bold system upgrades and energy conservation measures to bring the building into the modern era and provide a better experience for occupants.

The solution? The Enlighted System featuring Luminaire Level Lighting Controls (LLLCs), which has enabled 80 percent more energy savings compared to their previous system. Watch the video for more on Pacific Tower’s story – and the non-energy benefits they’ve experienced with LLLCs:

For more information on Luminaire Level Lighting Controls, visit betterbricks.com/lighting/LLLC.

To all of you in the HVAC, plumbing and mechanical design field:

Do your clients want to breathe clean air in their buildings? 

Would they like to save money on their utilities? 

This May, the ShiftBuilding symposium will bring mechanical systems and construction professionals together to share and learn new applications that condition, ventilate, and heat water more efficiently than ever before. Our instructors and industry partners will help you learn to design and apply these systems, and where to find them in the Northwest.

Join us at this educational networking event for the high performance building industry:

High-Performance Mechanical Systems:  Fresh Air and Hot Water

With Skander Spies of McKinstry, and Shawn Oram of EcoTope

12:30 – 5:30 pm, Wednesday May 30

UW Bothell and Cascadia College Mobius Hall

18345 Campus Way NE • Bothell, WA

For more information or to register, visit shiftbuilding.eventbrite.com.

For more information or questions contact [email protected]

A strategy to reduce heat loss from boiler water distribution systems is to reset the supply water temperature based on heating demand. Lowering the supply water temperature reduces the energy loss from the distribution system and saves energy. The most common method is to reset hot water supply temperature based on outside air temperature. This can easily be accomplished with stand-alone boiler temperature control systems. Buildings with Building Automation Systems (BAS) can also use a combination of outside air temperature and heating valve position to determine heating demand.

In either case, how can you determine if a hot water temperature reset schedule is in use and operating properly?  Read this technical document to learn how you can use data loggers to verify the performance of a hot water reset control.

Check out the many other technical resources that can also be found on SBC’s Tool Lending Library resources page.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to collaboration and work–life balance. Dynamic, adaptable people come to PNNL to work smarter and work together on high-impact projects and initiatives for the U.S. Department of Energy and many other sponsors. They focus on meaningful work, innovation and outcomes. At PNNL, you’ll find a positive, fast-paced environment and excellent benefits including pension, matching 401(k), tuition reimbursement plans, health insurance, flexible work schedules and telework options. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State, an area known for its outdoor recreation, thriving wine industry and affordable cost of living.

The Opportunity:
Help build and implement a strategy that communicates PNNL’s extraordinary work in energy research with a focus on the electric power grid! The S&T Communications group – within PNNL’s Communications Division – is a newly formed team focused on delivering stellar customer service, counsel and communications strategy to leaders across the Lab’s Science and Technology mission areas. We’re currently seeking a highly proactive and strategic S&T Communications Partner with experience in project management to guide and oversee the communications strategy and coordination of deliverables for the Lab’s Energy and Environment Directorate, namely the Lab’s efforts in the electric power grid domain. This is a unique role for a strong communicator who also has extensive experience leading scientific or technical communications strategy, particularly related to electric power grid research initiatives.

As an S&T Communications Partner, you will form and nurture collaborative relationships with senior executives to develop a keen understanding of their audiences and goals. Working with your partners and fellow communications staff, you’ll ensure that each communications project or product is aligned with the Laboratory’s mission, vision and communications strategy; is appropriate for the intended audience; stimulates a preferred action; and meets the partners’ budget, goals and expectations. You will also suggest strategies, objectives and tactics that continually evolve the quality and impact of the Laboratory’s communications efforts.

In addition, you will serve as the Communications Lead for the Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium (GMLC). As the lead, you will coordinate with DOE, provide consultation, advice and planning support to the GMLC leadership team, and direct tactical communication team activities and outreach across 13 national laboratories to support the goals and objectives of the GMLC.

For more information and full job description, click here.  Application deadline is March 30.