BBD 2016
2016 Conference Presentations
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Best Practice Designs for Cost-Effective Approaches to Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Enclosures
Envelope, Commercial- Steve Easley, Steve Easley & Associates
This interactive session is designed to sort through the myriad of insulation choices in order to choose the best insulation system for various types of structure. It will focus on the performance characteristics of new building enclosure approaches and technologies to help you create enclosures that manage thermal and moisture loads to ensure building durability as well as energy efficiency. The presenter will use real-world examples to help you select the best insulation and air barrier system for a given application and write better specifications regarding fenestration, insulation, and air barriers.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Steve Easley
Steve Easley is an internationally recognized construction consultant specializing in solving building science–related problems and educating building industry professionals and their trade partners. His work focuses on increasing quality of construction, sustainability, and performance, and reducing costly mistakes that lead to construction defects and call-backs. Steve’s mission is helping industry professionals build and remodel structures that are durable, energy efficient, healthy, and comfortable to live and work in. He has more than 30 years of industry experience, performing thousands of jobsite quality surveys and presenting building science seminars around the world to an annual audience of 8,000–10,000 industry professionals.
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Passive for the Masses — Tunneling Through the Cost Barrier through Innovative Design and Production Methods
Envelope, Commercial & Residential- Adam Cohen, Passiv Science
The climate change emergency has made it a high priority to take high-performance buildings into the mainstream. This presentation will outline the techniques the presenter is employing to design, manufacture, and construct Passivhaus buildings for the same cost as (or even less than) standard code buildings. The presenter’s systems have the potential to change the way we build in North America.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, Passive House Room: Emerald 3
About the Speaker(s)-
Adam Cohen
As an active designer/builder and green building expert, Adam Cohen is a leading North American Passivhaus practitioner whose innovative work on market-rate delivery of commercial high-performance building has made his work known for projects across North America. He has presented technical papers at both national and international Passivhaus conferences. His leadership in commercial Passivhaus design has made him a sought-after speaker, consultant, and teacher of advanced courses in Passivhaus ultra-low-energy design.
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Using Standards and Technology to Create Efficiency in Energy Data Management
Building Systems, Commercial & Residential- AJ Rossman, Smart Resource Labs
There’s a lot of talk today about using data to optimize building comfort and save energy costs. These discussions include words such as data loggers, data standards, data protocols, data analytics… and more words, such as Haystack, Modbus, and BACnet. It’s easy to get overwhelmed unless you know the basics of the tools used for data acquisition, management, and utilization. This presentation will explain key concepts and components in the data value chain and give examples on how standards, protocols, and technology advancements are making continuous energy improvement possible.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 1
About the Speaker(s)-
AJ Rossman
AJ Rossman’s work is at the intersection of energy and IT. He has been assessing the performance of remote power systems using a combination of hardware and web services for more than a decade. As the founder of Draker Energy, he launched the third-party monitoring industry for commercial and utility-scale photovoltaic power plants. He is now the director of Smart Resource Labs, focusing on performance monitoring of commercial and industrial energy efficiency measures. AJ holds master’s degrees in electrical engineering, environmental science, and geology.
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Energy Efficiency Strategies for Complex Projects—the Case of the Waterbury State Office Complex
Commercial, Commercial- Jesse Beck, Freeman French Freeman, Architects
- Brian Leet, Freeman French Freeman, Architects
- Chris Shumway, Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering
After the Waterbury State Office Complex was nearly destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene, replacement space was needed for about 1,000 state employees and all options were on the table. Presenters will discuss how smart decision making at key points in the process led to both energy and cost savings for the $125 million, LEED Gold project. The design team will discuss how their strategy evolved and adapted to changing conditions over a four-year period, with an emphasis on the initial feasibility study, their approach to campus-wide energy distribution, and the need to fine-tune individual buildings to maximize energy performance.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Diamond 1
About the Speaker(s)-
Jesse Beck
Jesse Beck, AIA, NCARB, is president of Freeman French Freeman, Architects in Burlington, Vermont. A graduate of the master of architecture program at the University of Utah, Jesse has practiced architecture for more than 33 years, including 27 years at Freeman French Freeman. During that time Jesse has played a leadership role in several of Vermont’s most complex architectural projects, including multiple expansions at the Burlington International Airport, several projects at the UVM Medical Center, Jeffords Science Hall at UVM, and the Waterbury State Office Complex.
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Brian Leet
Brian Leet, AIA, CSI, LEED AP+, is a project architect and sustainability expert at Freeman French Freeman, Architects in Burlington, Vermont. After graduating with a degree in architecture and computer science from Carnegie Mellon University, Brian worked for firms in Pittsburgh and Vermont before joining FFF in 2012. He has 20 years of design experience and has worked on more than a dozen LEED-certified projects. Brian also serves as president of the Vermont Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI Vermont).
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Chris Shumway
Chris Shumway, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, is president of Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering in Laconia, New Hampshire. Chris has more than 25 years of mechanical engineering and management experience, including numerous large-scale building and central utility plant projects in the Northeast. Throughout his career Chris has been an advocate for RFS’s approach to designing highly creative, energy-efficient, and sustainable buildings and building infrastructure. In addition to his firm management duties, Chris also provides technical input and oversight for many RFS projects, including the Waterbury State Office Complex. Chris earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, cum laude, from Clarkson University.
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Multiple Measure Efficiency Projects—Maximizing Returns for Commercial Buildings
Commercial, Commercial- Michelle Keller, Burlington Electric Department
Discussions of energy efficiency projects usually focus on a single system: lighting, HVAC, or building envelope. The Burlington Electric Department and a large customer instead organized energy audit results into a prioritization matrix for discussion among building owners, the maintenance team, and the occupants. Many of the proposed measures offered unanticipated synergies. The matrix provided a valuable tool to evaluate a full spectrum of efficiency upgrade projects, and a road map for phased implementation over time and budget cycles. This presentation will cover both the steps used in developing the matrix and preliminary results of its implementation.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Amphitheatre
About the Speaker(s)-
Michelle Keller
Michelle Keller is part of the Energy Services team at Burlington’s municipal electric utility. She is responsible for working with commercial customers to identify and evaluate energy efficiency improvement opportunities. She has a degree in chemical engineering from MIT, and after working for many years in process engineering and materials development, turned her focus in 2001 to promoting energy efficiency for commercial facilities and schools. She has a strong background in lighting and refrigeration technologies, and strives to foster cooperative working relationships among energy efficiency programs, contractors, and building owners.
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The Economics of Net Zero
Innovative Design, Commercial & Residential- John Rahill, Black River Design
When you are designing a building to power itself, the economics of how much to invest in energy- saving components is quite tidy. The economic analysis process results in the ability to identify the lowest- cost combination of elements to achieve your net-zero goal. John Rahill will explain how this analysis is an important design tool in bringing rigor to the energy savings discussion.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Diamond 2
About the Speaker(s)-
John Rahill
John Rahill’s career has been committed to sustainable and high-performance design with an emphasis on durability, aesthetics, and occupant comfort. Recently, he has designed projects incorporating renewable energy sources and tight building envelopes. His firm is currently working on a Living Building Challenge project involving renovation and new construction. John holds a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and is a member of the AIA. He has served as president of AIA Vermont and the Solar Association of Vermont. After school, he spent several years running a small general contracting firm involved in active and Passive solar and high-performance buildings.
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The Challenges of Creating the Perfect Conditions for Proper Machine Processing of Polyurethane Foam
Envelope, Commercial & Residential- Henri Fennell, HC Fennell Consulting
This session will introduce the most common causes of problems in field-applied polyurethane foam plastic installations and present guidelines for ensuring proper chemical processing, the most common source of problems. It will start with an overview of the parameters that the foam’s chemistry requires for proper processing, then discuss the implications of these needs on how the equipment is set up and used, and how to verify that the processing parameters are being met. We will review industry-standard quality control procedures and then demonstrate additional methods that installers can use to ensure and verify proper processing.
Presentation(s):
Level: Advanced Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Diamond 1
About the Speaker(s)-
Henri Fennell
Henri Fennell, CSI/CDT, is an architect and building envelope specialist with more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry. He was a pioneer in the solar industry, introduced the installation technique for field-applied closed-cell cavity-fill polyurethane foam, developed the ASTM pressurized theatrical fog quality assurance protocol, and has designed and constructed a net-zero energy research structure in Antarctica. Of his thousands of completed projects, high-profile work has included the Big Dig, the Guggenheim Museum, the four Northeast ski area Grand Hotels, the Park Avenue Armory, Kendal at Hanover, and the Fort Lauderdale International Airport. He holds four energy-related patents.
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Are You Picking Up What Your Building Is Laying Down? Getting the Vibe from Smart Grid and Sub-metering Data
Building Systems, Commercial & Residential- Ethan Goldman, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Buildings are generating more and more data, which might contain messages about how to make those buildings more efficient… if you know how to read the code. Learn how to take advantage of new visualization and analysis tools and techniques that separate the signal from the noise in data from smart meters, energy and environmental sub-meters, and other sources. Find opportunities for improvement, measure the energy savings of your efforts, and verify that those savings are maintained.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Ethan Goldman
Ethan Goldman is the energy informatics architect at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) and is the technical lead for Efficiency Vermont’s smart grid, connected thermostats, and other technologies that help consumers understand their energy data and find savings opportunities. Ethan is responsible for developing systems for acquiring, storing, and analyzing both smart meter and submeter data from utilities and building systems. He has conducted research on the impact of information feedback from energy consumption patterns and on non-intrusive load analysis using whole- building electric meters. He holds an M.S. in green informatics from Carnegie Mellon University.
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Making LED Upgrades Easy: Moving from T8 to LED + Controls
Building Systems, Commericial- Dan Mellinger, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
- Eric Haugaard, Cree Lighting
For interior commercial lighting, T8 fluorescent has been the leading technology for decades, and LED products are only just becoming viable in this application. The process of replacing T8s with LEDs can be confusing, and the inclusion of controls only complicates the matter. This session will provide tips on how to select and specify LED lumen output for interior ambient lighting applications. Among other things, attendees will learn to compare the attributes and benefits of LED troffers vs. retrofit kits vs. tubes. We will also discuss integrated lighting controls, a recent development that makes the inclusion of occupancy and daylight sensors simple and affordable. Manufacturers will be on hand to discuss the benefits of LED lighting with integrated control technology and to demonstrate products.
Presentation(s):
- Download the Haugaard presentation (pdf)
- Download the Mellinger presentation (pdf)
- Download the Nowakowski presentation (pdf)
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED, NCQLP Room: Amphitheatre
About the Speaker(s)-
Dan Mellinger
Dan Mellinger, PE, LC, is the lighting strategy manager at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. He is responsible for designing Efficiency Vermont lighting initiatives that accelerate the adoption of efficient lighting products and practices. Dan’s 16-year professional career spans the lighting, energy, and semiconductor industries. He has consulted on hundreds of lighting projects and speaks nationally on efficient lighting topics. Dan received his degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University. He is a licensed professional engineer, and is lighting certified.
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Eric Haugaard
Eric Haugaard is the Director of Product Technology for Cree Lighting. Eric has a career that spans 28 years including previous positions of Engineering Manager of New Product Development & Mechanical Design and Product Development Engineer. Over the past decade Eric has presented lighting technology programs to diverse audiences throughout the world, including a strong focus on LED luminaire technologies. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, with Post-Baccalaureate Program studies completed at NASA/Ames Research Center. He holds 48 US and 16 foreign patents related to lighting technology.
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Design Phase Commissioning – the Advantage of Quality Assurance Before Construction
Commercial, Commercial- Brent Weigel, Cx Associates
- Matthew Napolitan, Cx Associates
Design phase commissioning is more than just a requirement for LEED certification. Design phase commissioning is the foundation of a quality assurance process that aligns a building’s design with the needs of the building owner and occupants. This presentation will outline and illustrate the essential elements of design phase commissioning and how these elements support the more well known construction phase commissioning activities. Importantly, the presenters will show how design phase commissioning can help project teams manage risk, enhance project delivery, and improve building performance.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Diamond 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Brent Weigel
Brent Weigel, PhD, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, a senior engineer at Cx Associates in Burlington, Vermont, is a mechanical and civil engineer with expertise in design, research, and commissioning. Brent has a passion for helping clients and collaborators achieve their highest potential for project delivery and building performance. Brent has experience designing mechanical building systems, performing detailed building energy simulations and calibrated modeling, and commissioning high-performance buildings. Brent holds a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and is a registered professional engineer as well as a LEED-accredited professional.
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Matthew Napolitan
Matthew Napolitan, P.E., CPMP, LEED AP BD+C, brings a hands-on, collaborative approach to new and existing building commissioning that results in better project outcomes for Cx Associates’ clients. His background as a mechanical engineer, and project manager at two major multinational engineering firms, have given him a depth and breadth of knowledge. With experience in commercial, institutional, military, and healthcare work, Matt brings a well-rounded perspective to his projects, whether the goals are reduced energy, simplified maintenance, increased reliability, or all three.
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Balancing Resiliency—Resilient River Apartment
Innovative Design, Commercial & Residential- Joseph Cincotta, LineSync Architecture
The resilient design movement is gaining momentum, but much is still open for discussion and experimentation. How do you weigh up-front cost against creating buildings that can withstand natural disasters? What are the overlaps and contradictions between resilient and sustainable design practices? How can rugged materials be utilized to create humane and beautiful spaces? This 90 minute session will explore resiliency through a case study of our award-winning project. The workshop will begin with a presentation of the ‘Resilient River Apartment ’, which was rehabilitated after being ravaged by flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene. The presentation will be followed by a discussion on how lessons learned can be applied to other projects.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 1
About the Speaker(s)-
Joseph Cincotta
Joseph Cincotta, AIA, LEED-AP, DAD, has been principal architect with LineSync Architecture in Wilmington, Vermont, for more than 25 years, a company that has focused on green architecture in public and private environments since 1988. He has lectured extensively on the topic and has taught sustainable design at Marlboro College, Keene State College, and Southern Vermont College. LineSync has a long history of recognition in awards, books, articles, and “best of” lists.
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State of the Art—High-Performance Natural Building for Cold Climates
Innovative Design, Residential- Jacob Deva Racusin, New Frameworks Natural Building
- Ben Graham, New Frameworks Natural Building
The natural building movement has come of age, and today’s professionally executed natural buildings - those built of low-carbon, minimally-processed materials - are state-of-the-art, design-rich, well-engineered structures. Further, they can match any environmentally-responsible green building in airtightness, energy use intensity, durability, and aesthetics, all while achieving reduced levels of embodied carbon and offering social benefits that are unattainable by their industrially intensive counterparts. In this presentation we will look at case studies, design details, and real-world scenarios to explore the solutions offered by the next generation of natural buildings, with a focus on cold-climate strategies.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 3
About the Speaker(s)-
Jacob Deva Racusin
Jacob Deva Racusin is co-owner of New Frameworks Natural Building, LLC, offering services in green remodeling, new construction, consultation, and education featuring natural building technologies. Through his work as a builder, consultant, and educator, Jacob is able to merge his passions for fine craft, ecological stewardship, relationship to place, and social justice. An instructor at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School and BPI-certified contractor and certified Passive House consultant, Jacob has conducted field research on moisture and thermal performance of straw bale wall systems. This research is featured in the book The Natural Building Companion (2012), which Jacob co-authored with Ace McArleton.
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Ben Graham
Ben Graham’s work is the synthesis of his upbringing in community and his passion for connection with the natural world. He received his architecture degree from the Rhode Island School of Design, earned a design certificate from the Permaculture Institute of Britain, and studied Passive House with PHIUS. He has served as a member of the Plainfield Planning Commission, NaturalBuilders Northeast, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, Winooski Valley Permaculture Collective, and Vermont Green Builders Network. Ben’s current passion is developing an affordable model for low-impact housing within community-based land developments.
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What We’re Learning about Mechanical Systems in Low-Load Homes
Building Systems, Residential- Marc Rosenbaum, South Mountain Company
How are air source, inverter-driven heat pumps working in low-load homes? What about heat pump water heaters? And while we’re at it, how are those energy recovery ventilators performing in real installations? We will examine the performance and subtleties of all these technologies. The presenter is a compulsive measurer, and the data collected doesn’t always match the hypothesis. We’ll also take a look at the cold climate heat pump specification. Finally, for amusement, we’ll consider some data taken from some interesting outings in measuring existing fossil fuel systems!
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, NATE, AIA LU/HSW, Passive House Room: Emerald 3
About the Speaker(s)-
Marc Rosenbaum
Marc Rosenbaum, P.E., is a longtime student of making great buildings. He uses an integrated systems design approach to help people create buildings and communities connected to the natural world, supporting both personal and planetary health. Much of his recent work has been net-zero energy buildings, deep energy retrofits, and Passive Houses. His work has been recognized nationally by ASHRAE, AIA, EEBA, and NESEA, and he is grateful that they didn’t see all the mistakes made along the way.
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Is It LEDs All the Way? What Architects, Specifiers, and Installers Need to Know
Building Systems, Commercial & Residential- Victor Reno, RE Light Design
LED lighting has made tremendous strides in the last few years, but is it all clear and smooth sailing from now on? This presentation will discuss the state of LED lighting for the architect, specifier, and builder/installer—what is great, good, not so good, and downright bad. Are other light sources obsolete? What do the rapid changes mean for specifiers and installers? Learn what you need to know to feel relatively secure in specifying and using LED lighting.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED, NCQLP Room: Diamond 1
About the Speaker(s)-
Victor Reno
Victor Reno, PE, IES, LEED-AP, has been involved in the energy and building professions for more than 40 years as an electrical contractor, teacher, engineer, and lighting designer. He has contributed to books and published numerous articles. Victor has been the owner/operator of Reno Engineering & Light Design for more than 20 years. Formerly an adjunct professor at Keene State College, he is currently an instructor in the architectural and engineering program at New Hampshire Technical Institute as well as a full-time lighting designer and energy consultant.
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Why Energy-Efficient Buildings Are Healthy Buildings
Building Systems, Commercial & Residential- Barry Stephens, Zehnder America, Inc
Homes and other buildings are being built to higher standards for energy efficiency. This results in tight, well-insulated structures. With proper ventilation, these buildings are becoming the benchmarks for healthy environments. Without proper ventilation, however, they can become unhealthy. This presentation will outline research into indoor air quality and its impact on health, along with describing the positive outcomes of well-designed ventilation systems.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, NATE, Passive House Room: Diamond 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Barry Stephens
Barry is the business development and technology director at Zehnder America, Inc. Barry has been working with energy-efficient design architects, builders, and contractors since 2010, when Zehnder launched the Comfosystems division in North America. He has worked with NZE, Passive House, Next Step Homes, LEED, and Pretty Good Houses across North America. Barry was trained in heat recovery ventilation technology at Zehnder’s facilities in Switzerland, Holland, Germany, and Italy.
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Owning the Air: Controlling and Verifying Commercial Building Airtightness
Commercial, Commercial- Matt Root, CLEAResult
Increasingly, organizations (e.g., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and building codes (2012 IECC) are implementing building enclosure airtightness performance metrics for all building types. This session will review the performance metrics associated with full building testing and describe the various protocols for conducting a building level test. We will examine the value of these tests as well as the critical steps in the design documents development process to achieve success. Case studies from recent tests ranging up to 200,000 square feet will be used to illustrate the testing process and discuss lessons learned.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED, NATE Room: Amphitheatre
About the Speaker(s)-
Matt Root
As a senior project manager for CLEAResult, Matt Root leads a multidisciplinary team of mechanical engineers, enclosure experts, and building scientists. Matt has extensive experience in enclosure and mechanical design, as well as diagnostic analysis, including large building blower door testing, duct blaster testing, pressure differential testing, infrared diagnostics, and ventilation system assessment. Matt holds M.S. and B.S. degrees from Brown University in mechanical engineering. He is a LEED AP Homes consultant , certified HERS rater, and certified Passive House consultant.
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Combining Beauty, Craftsmanship, and Energy Efficiency—Presenting Three Just-Big-Enough Houses
Innovative Design, Residential- Milford Cushman, Cushman Design Group
- Lindsay Jones, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
This presentation will explore in depth the unique design-related and performance-related choices for 1) a log cabin Deep Energy Retrofit ( DER); 2) a new net-zero home in downtown Bristol, Vermont; and 3) a DER of a designer’s own home. We will share each owner’s unique story of how they wished to design their homes and then to live in a healthy space that embodies their values, their lifestyle, their physical capability, their financial capability and how they see themselves as contributing, community members.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Milford Cushman
Milford Cushman is a professional designer with more than 30 years of practice committed to creative, functional, intuitive, and efficient design solutions. When founding his design practice in 1988, Milford relied on his years as an educator, a keen observer, a builder, and a versatile designer and on the fundamental philosophy of collaboration with his studio, clients, and contractors. His strength is his understanding of how client-specific and site-specific design solutions make a significant difference in people’s lives.
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Lindsay Jones
Lindsay Jones is a Residential New Construction energy consultant at the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. She provides technical support to builders, contractors, architects, and homeowners participating in programs such as ENERGY STAR® Homes and the National Green Building Standard. Lindsay’s comprehensive and accessible approach helps her guide clients toward the best path to realizing an energy-efficient project. She is a certified energy rater and an accredited National Green Building Standard verifier. She holds a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Vermont.
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LEA Lake Science Center—Preservation and Energy Efficiency
Innovative Design, Commercial & Residential- William Turner, Turner Building Science & Design, LLC
- Peter Lowell, Lakes Environmental Association (LEA)
During 2015, the Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) of Maine renovated and preserved the beauty of a historic log structure, creating a lake science research center. The building renovation included walls, roofs, and HVAC equipment. This facility will be entered into Maine’s 1,000 Home Challenge initiative, which seeks a dramatic reduction in energy usage. In this session describing the project, blower door, infrared, CO2, and monitored energy use data will be presented.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 1
About the Speaker(s)-
William Turner
William Turner received his B.S. and M.S. in engineering from Northeastern University and served for 10 years on the research staff of the Harvard University School of Public Health, conducting air quality studies inside and outside homes in six cities evaluating secondhand smoke and gas appliances. Since then he has focused on building science, sustainability, and building forensic issues, including energy use, indoor air quality, moisture, high-performance building design, net-zero design, building commissioning, and forensic evaluations. His experience includes rebuilding existing homes and other buildings and designing new buildings. He has published and lectured extensively.
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Peter Lowell
Peter Lowell graduated from Colby College in 1970 with a major in political science. Motivated by environmental abuses on Highland Lake in Maine, he became involved in the Bridgton Conservation Commission after graduation and was invited to be the Lakes Environmental Association’s (LEA’s) president in 1971. The following year, Peter was hired as LEA’s executive director. Until this position became full time, Peter worked as Bridgton’s recreation director, as a sixth grade teacher, and as Bridgton’s code enforcement officer. Peter’s work and dedication at LEA has won him numerous awards, including the DEP’s Lake Award and the EPA’s Environmental Merit Award.
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What We’re Learning in Net-Zero Energy Homes
Innovative Design, Residential- Marc Rosenbaum, South Mountain Company
We’ll look at the energy consumption by end use in a dozen or so net-zero energy capable homes, including net-zero energy, deep energy retrofit, and Passive House, annually and seasonally (and look a bit at the monitoring options used to get the data). We’ll compare that usage with production data from solar electric systems, and examine how much of the energy produced is used on site as it is produced. Finally, we’ll discuss what’s coming in battery systems and play with a new tool that looks at the effects of battery storage on energy used on site.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, AIA LU/HSW, Passive House Room: Emerald 3
About the Speaker(s)-
Marc Rosenbaum
Marc Rosenbaum, P.E., is a longtime student of making great buildings. He uses an integrated systems design approach to help people create buildings and communities connected to the natural world, supporting both personal and planetary health. Much of his recent work has been net-zero energy buildings, deep energy retrofits, and Passive Houses. His work has been recognized nationally by ASHRAE, AIA, EEBA, and NESEA, and he is grateful that they didn’t see all the mistakes made along the way.
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High-Performance Glazing and Historic Considerations
Envelope, Commercial & Residential- John Beeman, AW Hastings & Co
- Lazarus Scangas, Arnold & Scangas Architects
This session will discuss achieving R5 ratings and meeting today’s energy standards with high-performance window glazing, while maintaining the integrity of historic characteristics of older buildings. Local case studies of the Waterbury State Office Complex and the Housing Trust of Rutland County’s Shirley Farr House will be showcased to highlight how this balance is achieved through thoughtful window design and selection.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, AIA – Pending Room: Amphitheatre
About the Speaker(s)-
John Beeman
John Beeman specializes as a Marvin Windows and Doors product and services consultant for the architectural community. His ability to evaluate existing building conditions, combined with the architect’s vision for the project, allows him to deliver customized window and door solutions for a range of building envelope needs.
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Lazarus Scangas
Lazarus Scangas, AIA is a principal at Arnold and Scangas Architects, located in downtown St. Albans, Vermont. Arnold & Scangas Architects specialize in restoring historically significant buildings, especially in Vermont Downtown’s. The firm also specializes in working with local non-profits in restoring and renovated historic buildings including the historically restored Stanislaus School and the Waterbury Railroad Station.
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Energy Models Versus Reality—Where Did Your Savings Go?
Building Systems, Commercial- Eveline Killian, Cx Associates
- Jennifer Chiodo, Cx Associates
Energy models are valuable tools for comparing systems, components, and control strategies. But how do models compare to actual performance once buildings are operational? Learn about common causes for actual savings deviating from modeled projections based on measurement and calibrated modeling of nearly 100 recent commercial and institutional buildings that included energy efficiency upgrades. This presentation will draw from studies of completed buildings to demonstrate lessons learned for design teams, owners, modelers, and efficiency program administrators.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 1
About the Speaker(s)-
Eveline Killian
Eveline Killian, CEM, is an architectural engineer with more than 20 years’ experience in commercial and industrial project management and energy analysis. Eveline has extensive experience in energy-efficient building design and operation, efficiency program design and implementation, and measurement and verification (M&V) of energy efficiency measures. She has performed calibrated energy models of large commercial and institutional buildings for evaluation projects, and conducted an educational webinar on the methods of calibrated modeling. She has managed the Vermont Forward Capacity Market and other evaluation engineering teams on M&V and data analysis for more than five years.
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Jennifer Chiodo
Jennifer Chiodo, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, is the managing principal of Cx Associates, a Burlington-based consulting engineering firm. Jen has more than 30 years of experience creating and managing new approaches to increasing energy efficiency in the business sector. She currently consults on the Massachusetts energy efficiency programs and other efficiency program design and evaluation projects. Jen was a founding director of Efficiency Vermont. During her past life as a design engineer, she designed electrical and lighting systems for several noteworthy projects, including the Spaceship Earth at Disney’s Epcot Center and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
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Glare Matters—How to Control It
Building Systems, Commercial & Residential- Donna Leban, Light/Space/Design
As LEDs have become increasingly powerful, glare has moved back into the forefront of discussion in committees of the CIE and IES, the governing bodies that write lighting guidelines. How is glare defined, why does it matter, and what can be done to limit potential problems in both exterior and interior environments, particularly for aging populations? We will look at current research and proposed IES guidelines for glare control, as well as consider how to choose luminaires that effectively diffuse LED light sources.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory Accreditation: AEE, AFE, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED, NCQLP, AIA LU/HSW Room: Diamond 1
About the Speaker(s)-
Donna Leban
Donna Leban is a licensed architect and an NCQLP-certified lighting designer, and owner of Light/Space/Design of South Burlington, Vermont. Donna holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and an M.S. in advanced building studies from Carnegie Mellon University. She has served as president of AIA Vermont and on the board of state and regional environmental organizations since 1980. Donna provides lighting design and consulting services to architects, businesses, and municipal clients, as well as residential, with an emphasis on optimized lighting and control systems. She co-authored Lighting Retrofit and Relighting: A Guide to Energy Efficiency, published in 2011 by Wiley.
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Affordable Passive House Commercial Buildings—Secrets Revealed
Commercial, Commercial- Adam Cohen, Passiv Science
High-performance commercial buildings cost 10–25% more to build than conventional buildings—right? Adam Cohen of Structures Design/Build, LLC, has been designing and building commercial buildings at costs comparable to those of typical new construction and is achieving Passive House–level results. This workshop will explain the basics of using Passive House design principles for commercial buildings. It will then discuss how buildings such as dental clinics and college dormitories can be built at market rates while achieving Passive House standards. Integrated project management will be covered, as will details, equipment, controls, and ways to capture money typically left on the table.
Presentation(s):
Level: Advanced Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED, Passive House Room: Emerald 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Adam Cohen
As an active designer/builder and green building expert, Adam Cohen is a leading North American Passivhaus practitioner whose innovative work on market-rate delivery of commercial high-performance building has made his work known for projects across North America. He has presented technical papers at both national and international Passivhaus conferences. His leadership in commercial Passivhaus design has made him a sought-after speaker, consultant, and teacher of advanced courses in Passivhaus ultra-low-energy design.
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Whole Building Energy Efficiency—a Look at the Energy Champ Challenge in Burlington
Innovative Design, Residential- Brian Reilly, Burlington Electric Department
- Jeremy King, Vermont Gas
This presentation will provide an overview of the Energy Champ Challenge, a whole building approach to energy efficiency targeting multifamily buildings in Burlington. The challenge, which is co-managed by Vermont Gas and Burlington Electric Department, starts with a free energy audit and energy coaching for tenants. Once the audit is completed and the owner commits to moving forward, the program covers up to 75% of all recommended weatherization upgrades, saving some occupants thousands of dollars. The presentation will highlight lessons learned, explain financing options, and describe Burlington’s housing stock, providing weatherization contractors with insights into how to effectively address this hard-to-reach market.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory Accreditation: AEE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Diamond 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Brian Reilly
Brian Reilly is a residential energy services engineer at BED. He is responsible for helping residential customers make informed decisions with respect to their electrical consumption and finding a way to cost-effectively reduce their energy consumption. Brian graduated from UMass Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1997. He spent the next 10 years in Alaska working as an HVAC engineer, a builder, and an energy conservation educator. In 2007, Brian moved to Vermont and continued his work as a builder and HVAC engineer. He and his wife recently completed a deep energy retrofit of their 1890s home.
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Jeremy King
Jeremy King has been active in the residential construction industry since 1969 in various roles from digging ditches, to working in the wind-electric industry in the mid-1970s, to helping build super-insulated houses in the 1980’s and working for a prototype home performance contractor in the late 1980’s. Certified as an energy auditor in the early 90’s he was able to quit his day job and work full time as an energy auditor since 1992 for, variously: Champlain Valley Weatherization, Vermont Gas Systems, VEIC, EVT, and as an independent consultant, finally resolving the question of what he will do when he grows up.
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Interstitial Cavities—Pathways to the Unknown in Your Retrofit
Envelope, Commercial & Residential- Elliott Curtin, Weatherization And Renovation of Montpelier, LLC
- Kyle McNary, Weatherization And Renovation of Montpelier, LLC
We will explore the different types of interstitial cavities in your retrofit. We will also cover how to identify and address them correctly with diagnostic tools. These overlooked areas can be highly problematic to both homes and commercial buildings. During the remediation of a leaky building, these areas need to be addressed to reduce the symptoms they create. We will discuss the use of tools such as the infrared camera, blower door, and manometer to ensure that problems in these interstitial cavities have been resolved. This will optimize the building’s performance and reduce fuel consumption.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Diamond 1
About the Speaker(s)-
Elliott Curtin
Elliott Curtin is the owner of Weatherization and Renovation of Montpelier. He has been operating the business for eight years as a BPI-certified contractor. He has performed an extensive number of both commercial and residential retrofits throughout New England.
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Kyle McNary
Kyle McNary has worked for Weatherization and Renovation of Montpelier for five years. He is currently a BPI-certified auditor for the organization. Before he became an auditor he was a crew chief. He has performed numerous retrofits to homes and commercial buildings throughout New England.
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An Introduction to OLEDs—the Other Solid-State Lighting Technology
Building Systems, Commercial & Residential- Dr. John W. Curran, LED Transformations, LLC
LEDs are the main topic of conversation when it comes to lighting. However, there is another solid-state lighting family member that is starting to attract attention. Organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs, are beginning to move from being high-priced novelty products to being more mainstream illumination solutions. OLEDs offer new and exciting capabilities wherein the light becomes the luminaire. In this presentation, Jack Curran will provide an introduction for those unfamiliar with the technology. Included will be a comparison of OLEDs with LEDs, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages that OLEDs offer, as well as what the future holds for this unique technology.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED, NCQLP Room: Amphitheatre
About the Speaker(s)-
Dr. John W. Curran
Dr. Jack Curran has spent more than 25 years in the area of product development. With 32 patents issued, he has been responsible for a wide range of products. Currently he is president of LED Transformations, LLC, a New Jersey–based technology consulting company specializing in providing guidance to companies entering the solid-state lighting field. He is a member of the SPIE, IESNA, OSA, and ASA. He has given numerous talks to the lighting industry on the correct use of LED technology for general illumination applications both for his own company and on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy.
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Taming the 900-Pound Gorilla: Using Integrated Design to Create a Net-Zero Dining Hall
Commercial, Commercial- Megan Nedzinski, Maclay Architects
- Bill Maclay, Maclay Architects
- Andrew Shapiro, Energy Balance, Inc.
Proctor Academy, an independent school in New Hampshire, is taking on the challenge of building a net-zero dining hall. Dining facilities have large process loads, making net zero difficult to achieve. This session will explore the mechanical and energy aspects of designing an all-electric commercial kitchen and will highlight an intensive, integrated design process employed from the outset of design. Critical considerations: make-up air (the 900-pound gorilla), cooking culture, hot water approaches, and economics. Numerous options were evaluated that used comparative energy modeling and financial analysis both to achieve net zero energy and as decision- making tools to facilitate timely, cost-effective solutions.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Diamond 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Megan Nedzinski
Megan Nedzinski is a senior project manager at Maclay Architects. Megan considers emerging research, applied technology, and the surrounding environment to deliver high-performing projects. Analyzing and communicating the relative benefits of comparative design strategies is the focus of her work. Prior to joining Maclay, Megan drove her West Virginia firm to elevate the mission of sustainability in a coal-focused economy. She also taught courses at West Virginia University on sustainable construction and forest resource conservation. Megan is an architect, LEED-accredited professional, and certified Passive House consultant.
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Bill Maclay
Bill Maclay is the author of The New Net Zero, published by Chelsea Green in 2014, and founding principal of Maclay Architects of Waitsfield, Vermont. Bill has been recognized as a leader in innovative, ecological planning and architectural design since 1971. Maclay Architects specializes in net-zero energy design and was the recipient of the 2012 NESEA Zero Net Energy Building Award. Among the firm’s net-zero, near-net-zero, and net-zero-ready projects are NRG Systems, an office and manufacturing facility; the Bennington State Office Building; the George D. Aiken Center at the University of Vermont; the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Bosarge Family Education Center; and numerous homes.
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Andrew Shapiro
Andrew Shapiro, president of Energy Balance, Inc., has provided high-performance building energy analysis, design, and monitoring consulting services for 30 years to a wide variety of clients, including owners, architects, engineers, builders, housing developers, universities, businesses, and efficiency programs. He provides guidance and technical expertise along the path of conceptualization, design, construction, commissioning, and post-occupancy assessment, in order to help optimize the environmental impact of the building, indoor environmental quality, operating and maintenance costs, and building durability. He is also the director of science and engineering education for the Vermont Energy Education Program, promoting energy literacy among the next generation.
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Achieving Net-Zero Energy Affordably Today—The Modular Housing Innovation Project
Innovative Design, Residential- David Pill, Pill - Maharam Architects
- Peter Schneider, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Many newer manufactured housing units suffer from poor indoor air quality, high energy costs, and overall poor construction quality. A factory in Wilder, Vermont, builds net-zero energy mobile home replacement units. This session will discuss manufactured and mobile homes, including financing and depreciation, attributes of the net-zero energy replacement modular home, the design and build process, and the comprehensive whole-house monitoring system. We will share detailed energy and environmental data collected from two years of occupancy. We will discuss design challenges associated with cost, prefabrication, and transportation of these units. We will also consider what is needed to bring the project to the Passive House level.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 1
About the Speaker(s)-
David Pill
David Pill is the principal of Pill-Maharam Architects in Shelburne, Vermont. He has been involved with sustainable design practices since founding the firm in 1991. David’s passion lies in creating sculptural, pragmatic, and environmentally responsible zero-carbon-emission buildings. His work has been featured in numerous publications and has received a number of local and national awards.
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Peter Schneider
Peter Schneider works as a Senior Consultant at the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation in Burlington, Vermont. He provides technical support to builders, architects, engineers, affordable housing agencies and homeowners participating in a number of different programs such as Efficiency Vermont’s High Performance Homes and Mobile Home Replacement programs, LEED for Homes and Midrise & Passive House. Peter’s goal is to help his clients design and construct more energy-efficient, healthy, durable and sustainable buildings. Peter is a certified Energy Rater, Passive House Consultant and LEED for Homes QAD.
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Innovative Opportunities for Financing Energy Efficiency Upgrades
Innovative Design, Commercial & Residential- Brian Buckley, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)
- Chris Burns, Burlington Electric Department
- Mark Kelley, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
This session will focus on financing options available for building retrofits related to energy efficiency and generation. The first section will broadly survey financing options available to building owners for building retrofits. The next section will discuss the Burlington Electric Department’s financing programs and incentives. The last section will discuss the varying options for financing energy upgrades available through Efficiency Vermont.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Brian Buckley
Brian Buckley is policy research and analysis associate with Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships. He focuses on expanding and maintaining policies to promote energy efficiency as a first-order resource in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. This includes research, tracking, and analysis of legislation and regulatory proceedings, providing both comment and education to the relevant stakeholders throughout the region.
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Chris Burns
Chris Burns is director of energy services for Burlington Electric Department. He is responsible for supervising the delivery of BED’s customer and residential energy service offerings to BED’s customers. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont and a longtime Burlington resident. He has more than 25 years of experience in the electric utility and energy efficiency sectors. When not thinking about energy efficiency issues, he is busy helping to raise two children and playing outdoors in our beautiful Vermont.
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Mark Kelley
Mark Kelley works within Efficiency Vermont as the program manager focused on financing. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Johnson State College with a degree in business management and accounting. He has a tremendous amount of experience working with local banking institutions to arrive at creative and organizationally sound financing mechanisms that drive business objectives. Mark has formal training and experience in program and project management and has a track record of developing strong working relationships with stakeholders.
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Multifamily Retrofits—the Path Forward for Multifamily Efficiency Programs
Innovative Design, Residential- Charlie Taylor, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)
- Scott Campbell, 3E Thermal (Formerly Vermont Fuel Efficiency Partnership)
- Christa Shute, Commons Energy
This panel will highlight the successes and barriers faced by two innovative organizations working to retrofit Vermont’s aging low-income multifamily housing stock. Case studies and detailed program-level savings data will be presented to provide insight into 3E Thermal’s efforts to date. Commons Energy will cover its unique public-purpose energy services company (PPESCO) approach to financing and guaranteeing energy efficiency projects. We will explore the huge opportunity to increase retrofits in this historically underserved market and identify policies for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions that would ensure deep energy savings and long-term program sustainability.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 3
About the Speaker(s)-
Charlie Taylor
Charlie Taylor works with the high-performance buildings team at NEEP to provide research and analysis on programs and policies that drive energy efficiency in the built environment. In this role he compiles data, develops resources, and provides technical guidance to advocates, energy offices, and policy makers. Prior to joining NEEP, Charlie conducted hundreds of residential energy assessments in Massachusetts as an energy auditor. He is a certified building analyst with the Building Performance Institute (BPI) and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
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Scott Campbell
Scott Campbell is project director of 3E Thermal, energy efficiency experts for Vermont’s apartment housing (formerly Vermont Fuel Efficiency Partnership). The company provides technical support and incentive funding to owners of affordable multifamily properties statewide. 3E’s mission is to help owners achieve much greater energy performance, by coordinating with the Weatherization Program , Efficiency Vermont, and other programs, and by providing cash incentives, close support, and inspection services. Scott’s background is as a builder, contractor, building designer, and weatherization program director. He has presented at national and regional conferences, and is the author of the Building Energy Audit and Savings Estimate Tool (BEAST), approved by the US Dept of Energy and used by the Vermont Weatherization Program.
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Christa Shute
Commons Energy
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Evaluating Heat Pump Efficiency
Building Systems, Commercial & Residential- Carsten Steenberg, PowerWise, CEO
PowerWise Systems is undertaking a state-funded study to evaluate the efficiency of heat pumps. In this presentation, we will explain the monitoring configurations for different heat pumps, how to ensure consistent data streams, how to use wireless communications to simplify installation, and how to calculate energy efficiency ratio and coefficient of performance.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, NATE Room: Emerald 3
About the Speaker(s)-
Carsten Steenberg
Carsten Steenberg, PowerWise CEO, is a proven innovator of monitoring technologies. He co-invented the eMonitor (now known as SiteSage) in 2008. Carsten is experienced in bringing together a talented team of software and hardware developers, engineers, and salespeople to create a strong company. Before founding Powerhouse Dynamics and PowerWise Systems, Steenberg was president of Phase One, a high-end digital camera company. Steenberg has an MBA from Copenhagen Business School in his native Denmark, and lives with his wife and two children in Penobscot, Maine.
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Indoor Environmental Quality and Energy Performance of 21 Vermont Homes
Building Systems, Residential- Ty Newell, Build Equinox
- Peter Schneider, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Efficiency Vermont and Build Equinox have monitored and analyzed 21 Vermont homes. Fourteen homes are identically constructed, manufactured homes that provide a rich collection of data for examining occupancy impact. All homes included in this study have achieved significant gains in energy performance relative to conventionally constructed homes while maintaining excellent indoor environmental quality. The presentation will showcase data and analyses from the homes that describe the air quality, comfort, and energy usage of the homes.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, NATE Room: Emerald 1
About the Speaker(s)-
Ty Newell
Ty Newell is professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois and a co-owner of Build Equinox and Verde GSE (verdegse.com). He has more than 40 years of experience working in building science, renewable energy, energy conversion, and energy efficiency. Ty lives in a 100% solar-powered home in Urbana, Illinois, and Build Equinox is a 100% solar-powered 4,500-square-foot facility in Urbana.
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Peter Schneider
Peter Schneider works as a Senior Consultant at the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation in Burlington, Vermont. He provides technical support to builders, architects, engineers, affordable housing agencies and homeowners participating in a number of different programs such as Efficiency Vermont’s High Performance Homes and Mobile Home Replacement programs, LEED for Homes and Midrise & Passive House. Peter’s goal is to help his clients design and construct more energy-efficient, healthy, durable and sustainable buildings. Peter is a certified Energy Rater, Passive House Consultant and LEED for Homes QAD.
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Keys to Marketing High-Performance Homes
Building Systems, Residential- Peter Troast, Energy Circle
The term high-performance home can mean many things to a consumer looking to build or retrofit an existing home, especially in a growing marketplace of recognizable brands, such as Passive House, net zero, and others. We’ll review how consumers identify the high-performance home, look at who is buying, and discuss how to reach the top three kinds of buyers in the sustainable building arena. We’ll also consider websites that generate leads, and review the latest trends in website functionality, from user-centric web design to compelling project case studies. You will learn what you need to bring your company to the forefront of this expanding market.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Peter Troast
Peter is recognized as one of the country’s foremost authorities on marketing for home performance, HVAC, and other efficiency-related contracting companies. He and his team work with more than 350 companies in 49 states to help grow their business through services such as website design and development, search engine optimization, lead generation, and strategic content production. He is a popular and high-ranking speaker on marketing for contractors at ACI, RESNET, ACCA, BPI, and EGIA conferences and events. In 2015, he received the Tony Woods Award for excellence in advancing the home performance industry.
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The State of the Art—Present-Day Building Automation Systems (BAS)
Building Systems, Commercial- Rick Stehmeyer, Cx Associates
It’s 2016 and hyper-connectivity has become the norm. It’s easy for everyday professionals to lose themselves amid growing feature sets and new technologies. Rick Stehmeyer, a 12-year veteran of the controls industry in Vermont and New York City, will discuss the current landscape of Building Automation Systems (BAS) and their offerings from a practical perspective. We’ll explore the dichotomy created by computer systems evolving exponentially over the expected life span of a BMS. We’ll also cover how to future-proof your system and avoid red flags hidden from the everyday business owner and design engineer.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Amphitheatre
About the Speaker(s)-
Rick Stehmeyer
Rick Stehmeyer is a senior engineer at Cx Associates in Burlington, Vermont. Rick is an expert in building system controls programming and has extensive experience with many different control systems, systems integrations, and energy management systems. Rick has a keen ability to find ways to optimize building systems for increased efficiency through controls programming. His analyses of algorithms implemented by controls contractors have enabled the energy efficiency optimization of the controls systems during commissioning.
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Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx) at the Waterbury State Office Complex—Lessons Learned from the Perspectives of Architect, Builder, and Commissioning Agent
Commercial, Commercial- Jon Haehnel, Zero by Degrees
- Jesse Robbins, Freeman French Freeman, Inc.
- Andrew Shapiro, Energy Balance, Inc.
- Anne Minor, PC Construction Company
Learn about the building enclosure commissioning (BECx) process for over 200,000 square feet of new and gut rehab historic construction on a tight time schedule. BECxA / owner / contractor / architect collaboration was vitally important, especially the meetings with the subcontractors to facilitate materials compatibility and to optimize sequencing issues. The technology used on this project, which included having updated “conformed” drawing sets accessible anywhere on the construction site, was instrumental in making this complicated project work. We will share the successes and challenges of keeping this project as true to the design intent as possible in the real world!
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Diamond 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Jon Haehnel
Jon Haehnel has been testing and inspecting institutional and commercial buildings for more than 13 years. Jon has tested buildings ranging in size from a city block in Manhattan to an 81-square-foot automated weather station slated for Antarctica. Jon’s expertise is in building envelope testing and design. Most of his work focuses on new and retrofit commercial and institutional construction, but he also does forensic testing to determine the root cause of high energy costs, mold, ice dams, and pipe freeze-ups. Jon is a certified Building Performance Institute (BPI) building analyst and envelope specialist and a Level I thermographer. Jon has taught blower door and energy auditor classes for Vermont Technical College.
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Jesse Robbins
Jesse Robbins, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is a project architect for the Waterbury State Office Complex. Early in his career at SmithGroup in Washington, D.C., he worked on the first LEED Platinum building. He joined Freeman French Freeman in Burlington and became a founding board member and president of the Vermont Green Building Network, a USGBC chapter. His project experience includes the National Institutes of Health, the Smithsonian Institution, the UVM Medical Center, and five LEED-certified projects in Burlington, at UVM, and at Norwich University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Syracuse University.
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Andrew Shapiro
Andrew Shapiro, president of Energy Balance, Inc., has provided high-performance building energy analysis, design, and monitoring consulting services for 30 years to a wide variety of clients, including owners, architects, engineers, builders, housing developers, universities, businesses, and efficiency programs. He provides guidance and technical expertise along the path of conceptualization, design, construction, commissioning, and post-occupancy assessment, in order to help optimize the environmental impact of the building, indoor environmental quality, operating and maintenance costs, and building durability. He is also the director of science and engineering education for the Vermont Energy Education Program, promoting energy literacy among the next generation.
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Anne Minor
Anne Minor, LEED AP BD+C, office engineer, is enrolled in the Leadership Development program at PC Construction. She has undergraduate and graduate degrees in civil engineering and an MBA in supply chain management. Her construction experience includes field-supervising site crews in New York City on a $600 million bridge project and handling submittals, RFIs, schedules, change orders, and quality control on the Waterbury State Office Complex (WSOC) project in Waterbury, Vermont. Anne has been assigned to WSOC since the project started in August 2013.
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Commercial Net Zero–Design and Construction Lessons Learned through Efficiency Vermont’s Commercial Net Zero Pilot Program, Part 1
Commercial, Commercial- Chris Huston, BreadLoaf Corporation
- Bill Maclay, William Maclay Architects & Planners
- Ashar Nelson, Vermont Integrated Architecture
- David Roy, Wiemann-Lamphere Architects
- Craig Simmons, Vermont Energy Investment Corp.
- Jeff Stetter, Gossens Bachman Architects
- Nick Thiltgen, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
This extended session will discuss the commercial net-zero design and construction process as experienced through five projects that are currently participating in Efficiency Vermont’s Net Zero Pilot Program. This is a rare opportunity to explore a wide variety of net-zero targeted projects and personalities and gain insight into the successes and difficulties of each. The presenters will provide an overview of each project, but the discussion will focus on lessons learned about designing and building for commercial net zero performance in Vermont. Come learn effective methods for implementing commercial net zero.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Diamond 1
About the Speaker(s)-
Chris Huston
Chris is the Vice President of Architecture at Bread Loaf Corporation and has been practicing architecture for over 24 years. Since joining Bread Loaf in 2004, he has managed a wide range of projects from simple to more complicated, multi-phased projects over $40 million. Working in an award winning architectural firm in Boston for 14 years prior to joining Bread Loaf, Chris led the firm's sustainable design initiatives for significant public and private schools. Chris is a firm believer that we can all have a positive impact on our environment. He is currently working on several net zero energy projects in Vermont.
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Bill Maclay
Bill Maclay is the author of The New Net Zero, published by Chelsea Green in 2014, and founding principal of Maclay Architects of Waitsfield, Vermont. Bill has been recognized as a leader in innovative, ecological planning and architectural design since 1971. Maclay Architects specializes in net-zero energy design and was the recipient of the 2012 NESEA Zero Net Energy Building Award. Among the firm’s net-zero, near-net-zero, and net-zero-ready projects are NRG Systems, an office and manufacturing facility; the Bennington State Office Building; the George D. Aiken Center at the University of Vermont; the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Bosarge Family Education Center; and numerous homes.
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Ashar Nelson
Ashar Nelson, AIA, LEED AP, is a lifelong Vermonter with over two decades of experience in design and construction. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in art history from Middlebury College and a Master’s Degree in architecture from the University of Oregon. Ashar worked for many years in the construction industry and in 2011 ended a 12-year stint as an architect at Bread Loaf Corporation where he designed and managed projects both large and small, including the new $34 million Paretsky Student Center at Williams College. As a Principal Architect at VIA and faculty member in the Architectural Studies program at Middlebury College, he is committed to promoting sustainable building designs and innovative construction methods for all his projects. Ashar believes that an integrated design process, representing building users, constructors, estimators, and craftsmen, as well as design professionals, is essential in achieving high-performance buildings.
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David Roy
David earn his Associates Degree in architecture & building engineering technology at Vermont Technical College in 1988 and his Bachelor Degree of architecture at Kansas State University in 1992. David worked for an architecture firm in Wichita Kansas until October 1994, when he moved back to Vermont and joined the team at Wiemann Lamphere Architects. Just seven years later he was made a partner and in 2014 he took over as President of the firm. He and his brother, Vice President Steven Roy, represent the next generation of leaders at Wiemann Lamphere and have brought creative sustainable solutions to the forefront of the firm’s design philosophy and core values. From their own Net-Zero homes to energy efficient municipality buildings, they are focused on the future of design and how the built environment affects us but the environment at large. Dave enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, knee boarding and boating in his spare time.
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Craig Simmons
Craig Simmons has more than nine years’ experience in whole building energy analysis, computer simulations, utility programs, and code compliance. As an engineering consultant at Efficiency Vermont, Craig advises on and analyzes energy efficiency improvements in new construction and existing commercial and industrial buildings. Craig specializes in commercial new construction programs, including Efficiency Vermont’s net-zero pilot program. Craig previously worked as an energy consultant in Boston, providing guidance to owners and designers in pursuit of LEED certification, utility incentive programs, federal tax credits, and compliance with state energy efficiency requirements throughout New England and internationally.
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Jeff Stetter
Jeff is the son of a carpenter. Building, Design, and Art have always been a part of his life. While attending the University of Cincinnati's School of Architecture, and going thru its co-operative education program, Jeff met Gregg Gossens while working at the Burley Partnership in Waitsfield. After completing school and working at a variety of firms, Jeff landed at Gossens Bachman Architects in 1994 and continues to work at the firm as a Project Architect. Jeff has been instrumental in the completion of multiple LEED and high performance buildings, and has helped establish the firm as a design leader. Projects include LEED certified Waterfront Housing on the Burlington waterfront, LEED Gold VSECU Branch in Rutland, Montpelier's Bio-Mass Plant, and most recently Northfield Savings Bank Central Operations Center which is enrolled in Efficiency Vermont's Net Zero program. Jeff lives in Montpelier with his wife and 2 children.
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Nick Thiltgen
Nick Thiltgen is an energy consultant at the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation specializing in commercial new construction. He focuses on HVAC and is also knowledgeable about lighting and building envelope. For the last five years, Nick has worked primarily through the nation’s oldest and leading statewide energy efficiency utility, Efficiency Vermont. He is Vermont’s first licensed architectural engineer, is a LEED-accredited professional, and holds a B.S. in both construction management and architectural engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
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All About Windows
Envelope, Residential- Mike Duclos, DEAP Energy Group, LLC
Windows could well be the most important architectural element in a home, affecting the appearance, comfort, energy use, ventilation, cost, maintenance, and overall enjoyment of our homes in a number of ways—some not so obvious. Window “language,” design, construction, energy balance, and performance specification will be discussed, along with ways of evaluating the solar resource. Data from five homes will be used to explore the energy, comfort, durability, HVAC impact, and passive survivability impact of window performance. High-performance window prices are dropping, and some new products have impressive price/performance points. Attendee questions and discussion are encouraged in this interactive session.
Presentation(s):
Level: Advanced Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, Passive House Room: Diamond 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Mike Duclos
Mike Duclos is a principal and founder of the DEAP Energy Group, LLC, a consultancy providing a wide variety of consulting services related to deep energy retrofit, zero net energy, and Passive House. Mike is the PHIUS-Certified Passive House Consultant responsible for the design and certification of the second certified Passive House in Massachusetts and has worked with both PHIUS and PHA on multiple Passive Houses. He is a certified PHIUS Plus rater, a HERS rater with the Massachusetts. Residential New Construction program, and a Building Science-certified infrared thermographer. He holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from UMass Lowell, and two patents.
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Designing for Performance—A Data-Driven Approach to Complete Building Performance
Envelope, Commercial & Residential- Paul Malko, Foard Panel, Inc.
A building's performance can be measured in many ways. Minimal energy consumption is a key performance goal, but it should not compromise the structural integrity or long-term durability of the building. Sometimes, the components required to meet the building's performance goals can conflict with one another. This session will present examples and concise studies to help the designer choose the best compromise for his or her project. The presentation will compare the impact of different details on whole- building energy consumption.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 1
About the Speaker(s)-
Paul Malko
Paul Malko has worked at Foard Panel, a structural insulated panel manufacturer and installer, for more than 11 years. He works with residential and commercial clients to optimize durability, structure, and energy performance. Paul has lectured extensively on SIP design, structural performance, and long-term durability in New England. He is the chairman of the SIPA code listing committee and a member of the manufacturing and technical committees. Paul has been deeply involved with the Timber Framers Guild for more than 15 years, is a founding member of the Timber Frame Engineering Council, and has been a board member of the Timber Frame Business Council.
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Better Than Before—HVAC System Improvements via Engineered Retrofits
Building Systems, Commercial- Brent Weigel, Cx Associates
- Matthew Napolitan, Cx Associates
The inevitable replacement of HVAC equipment opens up opportunities for engineered retrofits that improve system-level HVAC performance. The presenters will show how to take a systems-level approach to equipment replacement scenarios to reduce both the first cost and the operating cost of HVAC equipment. The presenters will share real-world examples of engineered retrofits of HVAC systems. The example projects illustrate the application of new, higher-efficiency HVAC technologies, and how these technologies can enable engineered retrofits of HVAC systems with improved life-cycle performance.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED, NATE Room: Amphitheatre
About the Speaker(s)-
Brent Weigel
Brent Weigel, PhD, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, a senior engineer at Cx Associates in Burlington, Vermont, is a mechanical and civil engineer with expertise in design, research, and commissioning. Brent has a passion for helping clients and collaborators achieve their highest potential for project delivery and building performance. Brent has experience designing mechanical building systems, performing detailed building energy simulations and calibrated modeling, and commissioning high-performance buildings. Brent holds a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and is a registered professional engineer as well as a LEED-accredited professional.
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Matthew Napolitan
Matt is a mechanical engineer with over 15 years of experience in energy efficient building design and operations. His commissioning experience includes major renovations, new construction, and retrocommissioning of commercial, industrial, educational, health care, and military facilities. Mr. Napolitan has extensive expertise in HVAC system efficiency and DDC controls optimization, as well as experience delivering meaningful, permanent measurement and verification systems. Mr. Napolitan has been the mechanical design engineer and project manager on nearly $1 billion worth of construction.
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Commercial Net Zero–Design and Construction Lessons Learned through Efficiency Vermont’s Commercial Net Zero Pilot Program, Part 2
Commercial, Commercial- Chris Huston, BreadLoaf Corporation
- Bill Maclay, William Maclay Architects & Planners
- Ashar Nelson, Vermont Integrated Architecture
- David Roy, Wiemann-Lamphere Architects
- Craig Simmons, Vermont Energy Investment Corp.
- Jeff Stetter, Gossens Bachman Architects
- Nick Thiltgen, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
This extended session will discuss the commercial net-zero design and construction process as experienced through five projects that are currently participating in Efficiency Vermont’s Net Zero Pilot Program. This is a rare opportunity to explore a wide variety of net-zero targeted projects and personalities and gain insight into the successes and difficulties of each. The presenters will provide an overview of each project, but the discussion will focus on lessons learned about designing and building for commercial net zero performance in Vermont. Come learn effective methods for implementing commercial net zero.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA, LU/HSW, ASHRAE, CSI, LEED Room: Diamond 1
About the Speaker(s)-
Chris Huston
Chris is the Vice President of Architecture at Bread Loaf Corporation and has been practicing architecture for over 24 years. Since joining Bread Loaf in 2004, he has managed a wide range of projects from simple to more complicated, multi-phased projects over $40 million. Working in an award winning architectural firm in Boston for 14 years prior to joining Bread Loaf, Chris led the firm's sustainable design initiatives for significant public and private schools. Chris is a firm believer that we can all have a positive impact on our environment. He is currently working on several net zero energy projects in Vermont.
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Bill Maclay
Bill Maclay is the author of The New Net Zero, published by Chelsea Green in 2014, and founding principal of Maclay Architects of Waitsfield, Vermont. Bill has been recognized as a leader in innovative, ecological planning and architectural design since 1971. Maclay Architects specializes in net-zero energy design and was the recipient of the 2012 NESEA Zero Net Energy Building Award. Among the firm’s net-zero, near-net-zero, and net-zero-ready projects are NRG Systems, an office and manufacturing facility; the Bennington State Office Building; the George D. Aiken Center at the University of Vermont; the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Bosarge Family Education Center; and numerous homes.
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Ashar Nelson
Ashar Nelson, AIA, LEED AP, is a lifelong Vermonter with over two decades of experience in design and construction. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in art history from Middlebury College and a Master’s Degree in architecture from the University of Oregon. Ashar worked for many years in the construction industry and in 2011 ended a 12-year stint as an architect at Bread Loaf Corporation where he designed and managed projects both large and small, including the new $34 million Paretsky Student Center at Williams College. As a Principal Architect at VIA and faculty member in the Architectural Studies program at Middlebury College, he is committed to promoting sustainable building designs and innovative construction methods for all his projects. Ashar believes that an integrated design process, representing building users, constructors, estimators, and craftsmen, as well as design professionals, is essential in achieving high-performance buildings.
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David Roy
David earn his Associates Degree in architecture & building engineering technology at Vermont Technical College in 1988 and his Bachelor Degree of architecture at Kansas State University in 1992. David worked for an architecture firm in Wichita Kansas until October 1994, when he moved back to Vermont and joined the team at Wiemann Lamphere Architects. Just seven years later he was made a partner and in 2014 he took over as President of the firm. He and his brother, Vice President Steven Roy, represent the next generation of leaders at Wiemann Lamphere and have brought creative sustainable solutions to the forefront of the firm’s design philosophy and core values. From their own Net-Zero homes to energy efficient municipality buildings, they are focused on the future of design and how the built environment affects us but the environment at large. Dave enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, knee boarding and boating in his spare time.
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Craig Simmons
Craig Simmons has more than nine years’ experience in whole building energy analysis, computer simulations, utility programs, and code compliance. As an engineering consultant at Efficiency Vermont, Craig advises on and analyzes energy efficiency improvements in new construction and existing commercial and industrial buildings. Craig specializes in commercial new construction programs, including Efficiency Vermont’s net-zero pilot program. Craig previously worked as an energy consultant in Boston, providing guidance to owners and designers in pursuit of LEED certification, utility incentive programs, federal tax credits, and compliance with state energy efficiency requirements throughout New England and internationally.
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Jeff Stetter
Jeff is the son of a carpenter. Building, Design, and Art have always been a part of his life. While attending the University of Cincinnati's School of Architecture, and going thru its co-operative education program, Jeff met Gregg Gossens while working at the Burley Partnership in Waitsfield. After completing school and working at a variety of firms, Jeff landed at Gossens Bachman Architects in 1994 and continues to work at the firm as a Project Architect. Jeff has been instrumental in the completion of multiple LEED and high performance buildings, and has helped establish the firm as a design leader. Projects include LEED certified Waterfront Housing on the Burlington waterfront, LEED Gold VSECU Branch in Rutland, Montpelier's Bio-Mass Plant, and most recently Northfield Savings Bank Central Operations Center which is enrolled in Efficiency Vermont's Net Zero program. Jeff lives in Montpelier with his wife and 2 children.
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Nick Thiltgen
Nick Thiltgen is an energy consultant at the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation specializing in commercial new construction. He focuses on HVAC and is also knowledgeable about lighting and building envelope. For the last five years, Nick has worked primarily through the nation’s oldest and leading statewide energy efficiency utility, Efficiency Vermont. He is Vermont’s first licensed architectural engineer, is a LEED-accredited professional, and holds a B.S. in both construction management and architectural engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
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How to Build High-Performance Homes for Less Than $150/Square Foot
Innovative Design, Residential- Nate Hayward, Hayward Design Build
- Matt Sargent, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Net-zero and high-performance homes are being constructed every day, and interest in these buildings is at an all-time high. This advanced session will present techniques used on dozens of projects that keep the costs down and the performance up. Efficiency Vermont has recently revised its high-performance home certification requirements in ways that help make high-performance building viable in today’s market. Join the discussion with Matt Sargent as he reveals cost-effective building assemblies, mechanical systems, and design concepts for today’s high-performance homes.
Presentation(s):
Level: Advanced Accreditation: AEE, AIA, LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED Room: Emerald 2
About the Speaker(s)-
Nate Hayward
Nate Hayward was inspired by taking a net-zero energy building course with Marc Rosenbaum. His first high-performance home project was a steep financial learning curve, but Nate was not discouraged, considering it the price of his HPH education. His company has now constructed more than six high-performance homes, including a Passive House. He will be breaking ground on a high-performance community health center this spring. Through his commitment to energy performance, continuous improvement, and partnerships with Efficiency Vermont and other subcontractors, Nate aspires to lead the field in cost-effective high-performance building, making it accessible to the mainstream, not just the select few.
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Matt Sargent
Matt Sargent is a senior energy consultant at Efficiency Vermont. He is a former builder of high- performance homes and a Best of the Best award winner at BBD 2004. He has more than 20 years of experience working as an energy efficiency consultant. Matt worked on the development of Efficiency Vermont’s High-Performance Homes Program and has been helping builders and homeowners create homes that use a fraction of the energy of a typical new home while maintaining comfort, durability, and indoor air quality.
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Passive House Strategies—Outside the Box
Innovative Design, Commercial & Residential- William Ryall, Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects
- Ted Sheridan, Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects
The Passive House approach to energy-efficient design is rapidly gaining popularity in Vermont. This approach typically reduces heating and cooling requirements to about 20% of standard code construction. But Passive House methods also tend to reduce architectural forms to very condensed, basic volumes. These effects can prove challenging to architects, who often wish to develop articulated plans, maximize balanced natural light, and create interesting architectural volumes. This presentation is designed to demonstrate strategies and specific methods for opening up the Passive House to more ambitious formal and natural lighting goals that offer greater experiential and aesthetic opportunities for designers and occupants.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate Accreditation: AEE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, Passive House Room: Emerald 3
About the Speaker(s)-
William Ryall
William Ryall, AIA VT, LEED, PHIUS, attended Cornell University for his undergraduate architectural studies and received a master of architecture degree from the University of Virginia, where he serves on the architecture school’s advisory board. William has participated in numerous architectural juries and has taught integrated building systems at the Rhode Island School of Design. He is certified as a Passive House consultant through the Passive House Institute (PHI).
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Ted Sheridan
Ted Sheridan, AIA VT, ASA, LEED AP, is a partner at Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects. He earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and his professional architecture degree at the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Canada. Ted’s areas of expertise include high-performance, low-energy building design and the science of architectural and musical acoustics. An instrument maker and musician, he has taught courses on architectural acoustics and musical instrument physics at the Parsons School of Design in New York, and has lectured on the subjects at the University of Virginia, Ryerson University, the University of Toronto, and New York University.