| While it may seem early, now is a good time to start thinking about the annual ASHRAE Technology Awards.
Established in 1990–1991, the Technology Awards Program applies to new and retrofit applications in seven categories: Commercial Buildings, Institutional Buildings, Health Care Facilities, Industrial Facilities or Processes, Public Assembly, Residential and Alternative or Renewable Energy Use, with separate categories for New and Existing Buildings. Award applications are judged with respect to energy efficiency; indoor air quality, innovation, operation and maintenance, cost effectiveness, environmental impact and quality of presentation.
The purpose of the ASHRAE Technology Awards is threefold:
- To recognize ASHRAE members who design and/or conceive innovative technological concepts that are proven through actual operating data.
- To communicate innovative systems design to other ASHRAE members.
- To highlight technological achievements of ASHRAE to others, including associated professionals and societies worldwide, as well as building and facility owners.
All current members of ASHRAE and its Associate Societies may submit entries. Entrants must have had a significant role in the design or development of the project.
Last year we were able to send two projects to the regional level, where they were awarded in their category.
We hope to see some great submissions again this year, so think of a great project you've done recently! (Note that projects should have a full year of energy usage data by September of 2019.) Winners will be announced for our chapter level at the April meeting. Winners will be sent on to the regional level to compete against other chapters, as several Madison entries did last year.
So start looking through your project portfolio, and feel free to contact me with any questions.
James R. Vander Zanden, P.E.
AHSRAE – Madison Chapter – CTTC Chair
608-819-0178
vanderzanden@jdreng.com
Technical Committee Member Highlights
Our Madison chapter members are heavily involved in ASHRAE Technical Committees (TCs), with nearly 50 total people involved in some capacity. This month, we’d like to highlight a few of our member’s TC involvement.
Fred Betz
Building Performance Department Head, Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
Involvement
- TC 2.8: Building Environmental Impacts and Sustainability, Member
- Past co-chair of Water:Energy Nexus
- Working on a variety of issues including the Water:Energy Nexus and Resiliency
- SPC 191P Standard for the Efficient Use of Water in Building Mechanical Systems, Chair
Jeff Boldt
Managing Principal – Director of Innovation & Quality, IMEG Corp
TC 2.6 Sound and Vibration – Consultant or maybe just corresponding member
I have (almost) a MS in Acoustics and Vibration Control. I’m trying to get the current chair (Erik Miller Klein) to be appointed chair of the 189.1 Acoustics Discussion Group. I led it for the last 6 years, and we rewrote the entire chapter, but need someone who is a fulltime acoustical consultant to take the next strides. TC 2.6 is also in the midst of significant revisions to their handbook chapter (although my opinion is that it might be the best chapter in all of the handbooks, and I’ve read nearly every one – if you read it from end to end, you are an acoustical consultant with everything but experience).
TC 3.6 Water Treatment – Member + Handbook Committee
Complete update of Handbook chapter. I’m one of the 3 primary persons working on the update. I’ve presented at ASHRAE conferences in the past few years about the engineer’ role in legionella control and about a workbook I created about whether you need a water softener for your application and with your feedwater.
TC 5.2 Ductwork – Consultant (I asked only to be a consultant because 90.1 meets at most of the same times and I could hurt their quorum)
Duct system leakage is a big topic. I’m working on potentially requiring leakage testing of ducts below 4” pressure class and am trying to get data from committee members about costs to test for leakage class, which is very different from seal class. I’m the primary editor of the acoustical chapter of the upcoming revision to the Duct System Design Guide and when I have time a commenter on the other sections.
TC 8.6 Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers – Member
Cooling tower GPM/HP is always being considered in 90.1. A new standard for dry coolers (maybe we need to change the committee name) was approved and, subject to public review, added to 90.1-2019.
SSPC 90.1 Energy Code for Buildings, Except Low Rise Residential buildings
Chair of Mechanical Subcommittee
Crashing to complete as many energy conservation addenda as possible for the 2019 code. At the October in-person meeting (we meet in person 4x per year + monthly for the full committee + monthly for each subcommittee + I and the other subcommittee chairs meet monthly) probably the largest changes are a potential requirement for condensing boilers (this one WILL get public review comments) and a clearer delineation of which spaces fall under 90.1 vs. 90.4 (Energy Code for Data Centers). Updated most of the equipment energy efficiency requirement tables. 90.1 is a LOT of work now that I’m the MSC chair, but worth it!
Guideline 36 Advanced Control Sequences – Member (this has enough momentum to be in continuous maintenance)
The Guideline has been published. I gave a talk about this at the Madison chapter and got Ron Bristol added to the committee (a great addition of a real user of controls and we had almost zero Owners until Ron joined). I also gave a talk about it at a conference in Orlando on Monday. The sequences that are published are air-side sequences. The next steps are:
- Hydronic Sequences – I sent all of IMEG’s sequences to Steve Taylor (Taylor Engineering has the contract for the ASHRAE Research Project for hydronic sequences) partially because I wanted our ideas considered, partially because Steve and I are good friends, and partially because Steve lives in San Francisco and I didn’t want all of our systems to freeze!
- Update Air-side sequences based on comments from users
- Promote the Guideline. If enough engineers and owners adopt it, IMO there will be large cost savings for owners and engineers plus reduction of liability for engineers.
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