BBD 2019
Keynote Address by Ruth Ann Norton
Download a copy of the Registration Brochure (PDF)
Download a copy of the Conference Program (PDF)
Attend the workshops to earn continuing education credits. Credit approval is listed after each session description. Passive House Institute of US (PHIUS) credits are approved by day, not by session. Day 1 has been approved for 6 CPHC CEUs. Day 2 has been approved for 4.5 CEUs. Passivhaus Institute (PHI) credits are approved for the full conference at 8 credit points.
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Am I Nothing Yet?
Building Systems, Both Residential and Commercial- David Keefe, Efficiency Vermont
What is net zero? It’s simple in concept, but complicated in details. Can a house that uses a gas kitchen stove ever be net zero? If you send to the grid an amount of electricity equal to the on-site gas use, does that change things? What about a house that uses wood for a portion of the space heat? Should we be talking about net-zero buildings or net-zero properties? Does the gas for the lawn mower matter? If we build a low-energy home out in the boonies, should transportation be considered in the equation? What about net-zero people, or net-zero households? Is zero an exact sum or a round number? If you’re trying to get your house/property/family/life to net zero, how do you know when you get there? Participants are advised that the presenter doesn’t really know the answers to these questions, but has some ideas. Attendees should bring their own ideas to the session, especially if they feel strongly about them, and perhaps together some progress can be made toward answering them.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 3About the Speaker(s)-
David Keefe
David Keefe is a fifth-generation Vermonter and a hippie environmentalist. He has worked for the last 34 years as a contractor, consultant, and teacher, focusing mostly on making existing homes work better. He has received awards from the State of Vermont and the U.S. DOE for energy innovation, and in 2011 Dave was named one of the 25 most influential people in the home performance industry by Affordable Comfort. In 2017, Dave received the Linda Wigington Leadership Award from the Home Performance Coalition. He is currently part of the Home Performance team at Efficiency Vermont.
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Light, Color, and Improved Color Quality Possibilities with LED Solutions
Building Systems, Both Residential and Commercial- Ron Gibbons, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
- Eric Haugaard, Cree Lighting
- Brienne Willcock, Illuminart
Through the ongoing advancements of LED technology, the possibility of providing improved color quality performance and value has never been greater. This presentation will address aspects of color science and the basics of the human visual system. Included will be a review of the most widely adopted methods and metrics for describing all aspects of color quality and performance, for general illumination solutions. Considering both the Indoor and Outdoor environments, examples illustrating the current and future possibilities for accurately predicting color quality performance, color contrast, layering of light and value in the illuminated space will be discussed, including the metrics incorporated in IES TM-30.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, NCQLP
Room: Diamond 1About the Speaker(s)-
Ron Gibbons
Ron Gibbons is the Director of the Center for Infrastructure Based Safety Systems (CIBSS) at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI). He is also the Institute’s lead lighting research scientist. He is currently the PI on projects investigating the impact of outdoor lighting on human health, the Spectral Effects of new light sources on roadways, the visibility of police vehicles and is the subject matter lead for the FHWA office Safety IDIQ contract. Gibbons is the author of over 80 published papers on roadway lighting, photometry, and target visibility. He is a past Director of Division 4 of the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) and a past president of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.
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Eric Haugaard
Eric Haugaard is the director of product technology for Cree Lighting. His career of 31 years includes a variety of positions primarily focused on advanced lighting systems development. Eric holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering, with post-baccalaureate program studies completed at NASA/Ames Research Center at Moffett Naval Air Station. He holds 48 U.S. and 16 foreign patents related to lighting technology.
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Brienne Willcock
Brienne Willcock is a senior associate in lighting design with Illuminart, a division of Peter Basso Associates, near Detroit. Her design perspective has a unique combination of technical insight, creativity, and design sensibility. Brienne often serves as a project manager of in-depth investigations of LED luminaire comparisons and product research, and assists clients with design guidelines, standards, and complex economic analyses. She is past president of the IES Detroit Section, is past IES annual conference chair, and was named an honorary affiliate of the American Institute of Architects.
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Financing Clean Energy in Vermont: A Market Snapshot and Discussion
Business Support, Both Residential and Commercial- Tim Carpenter, Opportunities Credit Union
- Russ Flanigan, Building Energy
- Chris Kramer, Consultant
- Gabrielle Stebbins, Energy Futures Group
Clean energy projects—be they rooftop solar, a deep energy retrofit, an industrial process improvement, or an electric vehicle combined with a charging station—usually require a significant financial investment. What are the current financing offerings? Are they being used? What is working and what is not, in the clean energy finance marketplace in Vermont? Participants will learn what homeowners, businesses, and lenders think with an overview of the first Vermont Clean Energy Finance Report, followed by an audience discussion with a lender, clean energy finance expert, and installer. Attendees can weigh in on what they think is needed in Vermont in the clean energy finance toolbox to propel the state toward its “90% renewable by 2050” goal.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: AmphitheatreAbout the Speaker(s)-
Tim Carpenter
Tim Carpenter is the Senior Lending Manager at Opportunities Credit Union, a Community Development Credit Union. He has been employed with Credit Union for just under 6 years. He has been heavily involved in lending/financing since he started at with Opportunities, including consumer, business, and mortgage loans. Opportunities has been providing energy lending products for over 25 years to Vermonters.
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Russ Flanigan
Russ Flanigan is a Senior Energy Analyst and Solar Project Manager at Building Energy in Williston Vermont. He has been in the building trades since the 80s and deeply involved in the energy efficiency world since 2005 initially managing efficiency programs in Southern California for the Energy Coalition and then then a consulting company called EcoMotion. These programs varied from large residential and commercial efficiency programs in multiple cities in the LA area to smaller scale solar/efficiency programs in Santa Monica to municipal greenhouse gas inventory work in the Coachella Valley. Flanigan split his time between his roots in Vermont and California from 2008 to 2014 working on residential scale energy retrofits in Vermont partnered with Home Performance with Energy Star out of Efficiency Vermont while supporting analysis and construction of commercial solar and energy efficiency projects nationwide through the California consultancy. Most recently Flanigan has focused on the whole house approach to energy efficiency through the multifaceted Building Energy and as a board member of the Vermont Building Professionals Association. He has centered on Zero and near Zero homes as well as the day to day operations of a thriving solar and heat pump division. Flanigan lives with his active family in an 1890s home which has ongoing opportunities for energy efficiency.
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Chris Kramer
Chris Kramer provides consulting services to government agencies, utilities, and consumer and environmental advocates on the development of cutting-edge policies and programs to advance investment in energy efficiency. He has served as a financing consultant to the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board, the California Public Utilities Commission and California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the Rhode Island Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council, and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. He has led or contributed to several studies and papers on energy efficiency financing topics, including a national comparison of state Green Bank programs, evaluation and cost-effectiveness methods for assessing energy efficiency financing programs, accessing secondary market capital for energy efficiency financing programs, data collection on energy efficiency financing performance, lessons learned from on-bill financing and repayment programs, and best practices in residential energy efficiency financing program design.
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Gabrielle Stebbins
Gabrielle Stebbins specializes in the development of policy and programs for promotion of renewable energy, strategic electrification, and energy efficiency, including the three together. She has expertise from her work as a consultant, as director of Vermont’s statewide renewable energy industry trade association, as a member of the Vermont System Planning Committee, and as chair of the board of the Burlington Electric Department. Gabrielle brings a grounded understanding of what it takes to develop and foster clean energy legislation and regulation from her experience with management of residential efficiency programs; small-scale renewable energy incentive programs; and pilot programs promoting efficiency, electrification of space heating, and customer-sited renewables.
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Factory-Built, High Performance and Affordable Homes: Notes from the Field
Integrated Design, Residential- Peter Schneider, VEIC
Over seven years ago, Tropical Storm Irene rolled thru Vermont and disproportionately impacted mobile and manufactured homeowners. In its aftermath, many stakeholders such as the State, UVM, affordable housing organizations and Efficiency Vermont came together to evaluate how to rebuild which resulted in Vermont’s Zero Energy Modular (ZEM) initiative. Five years after delivering the first ZEM home, we’ll look at the progress made to date, lessons learned and opportunities and challenges as we move forward. Attendees can anticipate a detailed overview of the construction, delivery and set of a ZEM home, monitoring systems and the resulting post-occupancy data assessing energy, comfort, IAQ and durability. Attendees will also have an opportunity for a personal tour of a ZEM home which will be sited at the conference.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 1About the Speaker(s)-
Peter Schneider
Peter provides technical support to builders, architects, engineers, affordable housing agencies, and homeowners participating in Efficiency Vermont Certified: High Performance Homes, LEED for Homes, and Passive House. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies and Biology from Middlebury College. Peter’s objective is to help clients design and construct more energy-efficient, healthful, durable, and sustainable buildings. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant and LEED for Homes Quality Assurance Designee. He runs Vermont’s Zero Energy Modular program, and offers technical support to VEIC-led ZEM projects nationwide.
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Healthy Homes Are Here to Stay
Integrated Design, Residential- Laura Capps, VEIC
- Brian Just, VEIC
- Melanie Paskevich, NeighborWorks of Western Vermont
The concept of the healthy home is here to stay. But what precisely qualifies as a healthy home? Can it be achieved as part of renovations? What do homeowners gain from it? How can contractors promote it, and can they increase leads using health as a selling point? What are the latest developments in the link between buildings and health? Have builders and contractors been unknowingly making homes unhealthy? In this session, the presenters begin with the basics of the healthy home. They’ll cover three ongoing research projects in Vermont: two health and weatherization pilot programs taking place with regional hospitals, and a ventilation study that measures indoor air quality in the bedrooms of homes that have large differences in airtightness, ventilation systems, and heating systems. They will share key lessons learned from these efforts and suggest ways to prioritize and include health-based efficiency measures in the scope of contracting and design work, and how contractors should/can discuss with homeowners health conditions and expected health outcomes from performing health-based measures. Attendees will learn what local resources are available for support in this field and how to help customers reduce health triggers, select healthier materials, and make smart long-term design decisions.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 2About the Speaker(s)-
Laura Capps
Laura Capps has provided classroom and field training for over 2,600 professionals nationally on healthy homes and green building. At Efficiency Vermont, Laura facilitates the identification, research, development, and qualification of new disruptive technologies and services for the state’s future energy portfolio. Her current work includes partnering with hospitals and healthcare providers on improving population health through energy efficiency and healthy home interventions in the homes of patients with uncontrolled asthma and COPD. Laura holds degrees in sustainable development and building construction from Appalachian State University and Georgia Tech, respectively, and multiple industry certifications and awards.
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Brian Just
Brian Just manages a team of energy consultants implementing Efficiency Vermont’s residential programs and works on a variety of energy efficiency initiatives at VEIC. A mechanical engineer, he began his career designing and installing custom testing equipment used in aerodynamics research. His master’s degree work focused on biomass combustion and indoor air quality. He is RESNET, Passive House, and LEED AP accredited, and is a Living Building Challenge ambassador presenter. Brian is committed to serving the residential design and construction community as its members pave the way to a future of highly efficient, affordable, healthy, durable homes.
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Melanie Paskevich
Melanie Paskevich has been the NeighborWorks of Western Vermont HEAT Squad program manager since 2010. Melanie advocates for homeowners, working closely with HEAT Squad’s intake specialists, energy auditors, and outreach and marketing teams. She helps homeowners simplify the comprehensive energy upgrade process by coordinating with local contractors, energy committees, and utilities such as Green Mountain Power and Efficiency Vermont. In 2015, she launched Appalachia HEAT Squad in Kentucky. Melanie has over 25 years of experience in the architectural and construction field and a thorough knowledge of the building envelope and the science and technology of energy efficiency. She holds a master of architecture degree.
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How Small, How Inexpensive, Can an Energy Efficient House Be?
Integrated Design, Residential- John Rahill, Black River Design Architects
- Polly Wheeler, Black River Design Architects
This session will discuss a project in East Montpelier, Vermont, that represents one example of balancing the often competing goals of low cost and high efficiency in designing a house for a client retiring to Vermont. His budget is tight, but he understands the economics of investing in energy efficiency. The 1,100-square-foot house utilizes the most proven economical energy-saving features, while the design creates a nice place to live. This session will discuss how the shape and size of a building impacts energy efficiency; how to balance investments in energy savings with energy generation (incremental energy modeling), and the importance of not losing sight of the goal of creating a nice place to live.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 2About the Speaker(s)-
John Rahill
John Rahill is the founder of Black River Design Architects (BRD) of Montpelier, Vermont, now employing 18 people. John’s career has been committed to sustainable and high-performance design with an emphasis on durability, aesthetics, and occupant comfort. Recently, his firm completed a historic renovation and addition designed to be net-zero water and net-zero energy. The project has received “petal” certification from the International Living Futures Institute, achieving six of the seven Living Building Challenge certification criteria. John is an alumnus of the Harvard Graduate School of Design and has served as president of the Vermont Chapter of the AIA and the Solar Association of Vermont.
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Polly Wheeler
Polly Wheeler has been a designer at Black River Design for 21 years. She did all the construction documents on the project, and lives in an even smaller house that she recently designed and built for her family. She too has been interested in energy efficient design for a long time.
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Vermont's New 2019 ”Commercial Building Energy Standards” Energy Code
Business Support, Commercial- Keith Downes, Navigant
- Eveline Killian, Cx Associates
Vermont’s Comprehensive Energy Plan states that all new construction must be built to net-zero standards by 2030, but how will we get there? Between now and then, four cycles of code updates will progressively step Vermont along to meet the 2030 goal. That first step is expected to be adopted in early 2019 as the next version of Vermont’s energy codes. This session will present the Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES) updates for this most recent code cycle and will provide an update on the new code, highlight the changes from the current code, walk through the changes with the biggest impacts, and provide the information needed to ensure code compliance for future building projects. The presenters will also provide an update and information on the “stretch code”.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: AmphitheatreAbout the Speaker(s)-
Keith Downes
Keith Downes is an associate director for Navigant Consulting in the customers and markets practice area. Keith advises utilities across North America in both program design and program evaluation work, and also conducts best practice studies, baseline/potential studies, and energy code and TRM updates. Prior to working at Navigant, he was an energy advisor at Efficiency Vermont specializing in commercial new construction projects. Keith earned an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University; he is also a certified energy manager.
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Eveline Killian
Eveline Killian is an architectural engineer with over 20 years’ experience in commercial and industrial project management and energy analysis. She has extensive experience in energy-efficient building design and operation, efficiency program design and implementation, and measurement and verification of energy efficiency measures. She has performed calibrated energy models on large commercial and institutional buildings for the NYSERDA new construction evaluation and conducted an educational webinar on the methods of calibrated modeling. She has managed the Vermont Forward Capacity Market and the NYSERDA new construction program evaluation engineering teams on the M&V and data analysis for over six years.
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Benefits of a Large-Scale Monitoring Based Commissioning Program in the State of Kentucky
Commercial, Commercial- Kevin Fuller, Interval Data Systems
- William Gnerre, Interval Data Systems
This presentation will cover the results of a four-year monitoring based commissioning and retrocommissioning program. The session will cover three aspects of the program: 1) collection of thousands of utility bills along with collection of more than 200,000 BAS trends from 170-plus buildings from six different control system manufacturers, 2) the results of analysis of more than 100 buildings identifying more than 700 energy conservation measures and remediation challenges, and 3) what Kentucky has learned from all the data and analysis and how it has changed the way the State works with the members of its facilities ecosystem, such as design engineers, control contractors, and commissioning agents. 4) Time permitting we’ll show the data available through the system for the facilities organization.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 1About the Speaker(s)-
Kevin Fuller
Kevin Fuller, as executive vice president at Interval Data Systems (IDS), is responsible for product development, marketing, and program management for several of IDS’s largest customers. Before joining IDS, Kevin spent 20 years working with relational database and data analytics vendors in technical and marketing roles. He worked on Kentucky’s statewide program, Commonwealth Energy Management and Control System (CEMCS), which has helped Kentucky reduce energy bills by over $3.3 million annually; the state enacted legislation requiring high-performance building standards that affect construction, engineering, and commissioning. CEMCS won national awards from AEE, NASFA, NASCA, and ENERGY STAR. Kevin’s current work is focused on BAS automation software.
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William Gnerre
William Gnerre is CEO and co-founder of IDS. Since its founding in 2003, Bill has kept IDS focused on one vision: “to operate buildings in conformance with comfort and health/safety standards, at the lowest operating cost.” IDS developed one of the first enterprise energy management platforms (EnergyWitness), incorporated operational analysis services, and began offering BAS programming services based upon ASHRAE Guideline 36. Bill’s leadership activities have spanned sales and marketing, analytic services design, and project management. IDS was selected by DOE’s Smart Energy Analytics Campaign as 2017’s Outstanding Monitoring Based Commissioning provider. Bill has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University.
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How to Implement Demand Control Ventilation and Comply with ASHRAE Standards
Commercial, Commercial- Hoy R. Bohanon, Jr., P.E.,
ASHRAE standards 90.1 and 189P require demand control ventilation in some instances. ASHRAE standard 62.1 allows demand control ventilation but places restrictions on its application. Many existing installations do not comply with the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.1. What is required and what strategies and technologies can be used to meet the requirements of the all the standards?
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 1About the Speaker(s)-
Hoy R. Bohanon, Jr., P.E.
Hoy Bohanon, PE, LEED AP, BEAP is principal in Hoy Bohanon Engineering, PLLC, a firm that focuses on improving the performance of existing mission critical buildings. Mr. Bohanon began his engineering career as a research and design engineer, and then gained experience as a project engineer, facilities engineer, facilities manager, indoor air quality research engineer, environmental engineer, and business owner. He has a master’s degree in engineering from North Carolina State University, and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. Mr. Bohanon has written technical papers and articles on indoor air quality, operations, and maintenance and is a frequent presenter at technical society meetings. He is a recipient of the ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award and is chair of ASHRAE Standard 62.1 committee, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. He also serves on the bEQ committee. He is chair of the US Technical Advisory Group panel 1 (general principles) and panel 4 (indoor air quality) for ISO TC205 Building Environment Design. He is a co-author of The Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning and Performance Metric Protocols for Commercial Buildings: Best Practices Guide. He also teaches multiple courses for the ASHRAE Learning Institute addressing ASHRAE 62.1 and IAQ. Mr. Bohanon is also a member of the Professional Engineers of North Carolina, US Green Building Council, and I2SL.
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Stealth Passive House: Boring, Invisible, and Everywhere
Commercial, Commercial- Jesse Thompson, Kaplan Thompson Architects
Early stage Passive House projects often launch with integrated teams, lots of fanfare, and extensive arrays of expensive consultants. That’s all good for the pilot projects, but how do the rest of us take Passive House concepts to mainstream construction projects when we are not allowed all these special resources? This session will lay out the path followed by one architecture firm on several projects on which the Passive House standard was either frowned upon or actively off the table. What are the critical elements of Passive House that all building professionals need to ensure are maintained in every project, no matter the client goals or project situation?
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 2About the Speaker(s)-
Jesse Thompson
Jesse Thompson is a partner at Kaplan Thompson Architects in Portland, Maine. He grew up in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. He received his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Oregon in 1996. He is a Maine licensed architect (NCARB), a president elect of Maine AIA, and a LEED accredited professional. Jesse is an award-winning architect who has become a national leader in green design and building science. He’s always working on balancing elements—engineering with art and design, beauty with affordability, function with potential. He’s relentlessly practical, but also sees beauty in every project, and he loves a good challenge.
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Large Building Enclosure Commissioning: What Works in Wall Assemblies
Envelope, Both Residential and Commercial- Frederick McKnight, Turner Building Science and Design, LLC
Large buildings present their own challenges with the wall and roof assemblies. A variety of components can be used to complete a wall or roof assembly, and the components usually come with complications in terms of ridges, valleys, multiple levels of roof, bump-outs, curtain walls, oblique angles, and many other features that all need to work together as an enclosure. The science, however, remains the same, and the critical values of how the assembly controls water, vapor migration, thermal energy transfer, and the migration of air all have to be addressed if builders are to have a successful enclosure. This presentation will look at some interesting wall and roof assemblies in which the components were assembled to meet the manufacturer’s criteria without compromising the function of each component. The session will review a few real-life design challenges that were encountered during design review with respect to providing something that successfully incorporated all the requirements of a modern enclosure assembly.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 2About the Speaker(s)-
Frederick McKnight
Frederick McKnight has served, since 1980, in various roles in the mechanical engineering field, specializing in energy-efficient design of HVAC systems. His commitment to energy efficiency and superior indoor air quality has led to a focus on building enclosure assemblies and migration of air and moisture through building enclosures. Fred has design, diagnostic, and commissioning experience with high-performance buildings, a variety of convention buildings, and specialized building enclosures. He is the commissioning agent for a number of large buildings on the campuses of UVM in Burlington, Vermont; Providence College in Rhode Island; and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He holds an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering and a B.S. in environmental science.
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Green River Commons, an Affordable Net-Zero Ready Development
Integrated Design, Residential- Roger Cooney, Wright Builders, Inc.
This session will highlight Green River Homes LLC and Wright Building Incorporated (WBI) recent work on lowering the cost for the purchase of a high performance condo/home. There will be an overview of our public private relationship which helped make the project possible. We’ll also cover the funding package(s) that made this mix of affordable and market rate units approachable for many. The presentation will include the benefits of designing and building an all-electric home with grid-tied photovoltaic panels and an overview of the building design and mechanical systems included in these buildings. We’ll also share what we learned from our mistakes. Q & A during the session is welcome.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 3About the Speaker(s)-
Roger Cooney
Roger Cooney has a career committed to high performance sustainable design and construction. This work includes involvement in projects that meet or surpass the standards of the EPA’s ENERGY STAR, LEED for Homes, Deep Energy Retrofits, and the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge. Wright Builders recently completed its Hinckley Trace Zero Net Ready development, Village Hill development which is built to both ENERGY STAR and LEED for Homes (Silver, Gold & Platinum certifications) standards, a Passive House–inspired home in southern Vermont and two Living Building Challenge projects. Roger, formerly owned Full Circle Design, is a Co-Founder of Creative Environments LLC and has been with Wright Builders for 14 years.
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Elm Place: Post-Occupancy—Solving the Data Puzzle
Building Systems, Both Residential and Commercial- Karen Bushey, VEIC
- Miranda Lescaze, Cathedral Square
- Craig Simmons, VEIC
Elm Place, an affordable senior living development in Milton, Vermont, was the first multifamily Passive House building in the state. Cathedral Square’s motivation to pursue Passive House was rooted in not only extremely low operation costs, but also the desire for a building that would be comfortable, resilient, durable, and healthy. But is Passive House delivering on its promises? The presenters will discuss key design decisions including the challenges of rightsizing heat pumps and selecting suitable mechanical systems for a low load building. A building management system (BMS) has been particularly valuable for analyzing energy use data—which have suggested significant differences between modeled and actual energy use. This session will cover the importance of post-occupancy monitoring to uncover mechanical issues that can significantly increase actual energy consumption and how monitoring has been critical to arriving at actionable data and interpretations. The team will also highlight cost-effective strategies for incorporating data monitoring in other multifamily projects.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: AmphitheatreAbout the Speaker(s)-
Karen Bushey
Karen Bushey, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC, joined Vermont Energy Investment Corporation as a residential energy consultant with the goal of helping homeowners, builders, and architects create comfortable, durable, low-energy homes that optimize building performance. As a licensed architect, certified Passive House consultant, and PHIUS+ rater, and with over 20 years of experience in the field of building design and construction, Karen has been key to the success of many residential and commercial projects in New England. Her work on the Elm Place Senior Housing project won three national awards from the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS). Karen earned an architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University, and she is secretary of Vermont Passive House.
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Miranda Lescaze
Miranda Lescaze is a real estate developer for the affordable housing nonprofit Cathedral Square. Miranda is interested in community development, and has over 15 years’ experience working for community-based nonprofits. At Cathedral Square, she leads affordable housing development projects from inception through permitting, funding, design, and construction. Her previous experience includes serving as the director of the Center for Workforce Development and Diversity at Vermont EPSCoR, and as the technical coordinator for the Lake Champlain Basin Program, among other pursuits linking natural resources and community development. She has a master’s degree in natural resources from the University of Vermont and a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College.
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Craig Simmons
Craig Simmons, P.E., has more than 10 years’ experience in commercial building energy analysis, utility programs, and building codes compliance. In his role at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), Craig identifies, advocates for, and advises on energy efficiency improvements in new construction and existing industrial, commercial, and multifamily buildings. Craig is a project engineer for Commons Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of VEIC that provides ESCO services for smaller, public-purpose buildings and owners. Craig previously worked as a consultant in Boston, providing guidance to owners and designers in pursuit of LEED certification, utility incentive programs, federal tax credits, and energy code compliance.
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A Year of Massive Change in Digital Marketing: Understanding the New Online Advertising Landscape—Facebook, Local Services Ads, Google Ads, Purchased Leads, Reviews, and More
Business Support, Residential- Peter Troast, Energy Circle
Over the last 12 months, there have been massive changes in the digital advertising and lead generation landscape as it affects home performance, HVAC, and efficiency contracting businesses. Google AdWords (pay per click) is an increasingly cost-effective lead generation source, but are growing in complexity. Google’s new product - Local Service Ads - has been progressively rolling out across the country and will have a major impact on all searches related to HVAC and insulation. HomeAdvisor merged with Angie’s List. Facebook, under pressure from privacy concerns, has significantly changed their targeting options. If there is one truism, it’s that the digital marketing landscape is ever- changing. In this session, Peter Troast, Energy Circle's Founder and CEO, will cover everything attendees need to know about these recent changes, and how their company can take advantage of these new lead generation opportunities.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 2About the Speaker(s)-
Peter Troast
Peter Troast is recognized as one of the country’s foremost authorities on marketing for home performance, solar, HVAC, and other efficiency/renewable energy–related contracting companies. He and his team have helped more than 350 companies in 50 states 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 about marketing for contractors at HPC/ACI, RESNET, ACCA, BPI, and EGIA conferences and events. He is the recipient of the Tony Woods Award for excellence in advancing the home performance industry and serves on the Board of the US Building Performance Association.
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Commissioning, Operating and Maintaining Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Systems
Commercial, Commercial- Hoy R. Bohanon, Jr., P.E.,
How does one commission energy savings equipment such as air-to-air energy recovery? What are key performance factors that must be measured? When can you simulate and when must you measure? Devices addressed include air-to-air energy recovery plates and wheels, desiccants, run around loops, and water-side economizers.
Presentation(s):
Level: Advanced
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 1About the Speaker(s)-
Hoy R. Bohanon, Jr., P.E.
Hoy Bohanon, PE, LEED AP, BEAP is principal in Hoy Bohanon Engineering, PLLC, a firm that focuses on improving the performance of existing mission critical buildings. Mr. Bohanon began his engineering career as a research and design engineer, and then gained experience as a project engineer, facilities engineer, facilities manager, indoor air quality research engineer, environmental engineer, and business owner. He has a master’s degree in engineering from North Carolina State University, and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. Mr. Bohanon has written technical papers and articles on indoor air quality, operations, and maintenance and is a frequent presenter at technical society meetings. He is a recipient of the ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award and is chair of ASHRAE Standard 62.1 committee, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. He also serves on the bEQ committee. He is chair of the US Technical Advisory Group panel 1 (general principles) and panel 4 (indoor air quality) for ISO TC205 Building Environment Design. He is a co-author of The Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning and Performance Metric Protocols for Commercial Buildings: Best Practices Guide. He also teaches multiple courses for the ASHRAE Learning Institute addressing ASHRAE 62.1 and IAQ. Mr. Bohanon is also a member of the Professional Engineers of North Carolina, US Green Building Council, and I2SL.
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Tier 3 Statewide Total Energy Program: One of Vermont’s Most Effective Climate Protection Strategies
Commercial, Both Residential and Commercial- Richard Faesy, Energy Futures Group
- Brian Otley, Green Mountain Power
- Darren Springer, Burlington Electric Company
- Patty Richards, Washington Electric Co-Op
Tier 3 of Act 56 of 2015 (also known as Statewide Total Energy Program, STEP Beyond Fossil Fuels) is one of Vermont’s best-kept climate strategy secrets. This session will provide an overview of what it is, what it is doing for Vermont now, its projected impacts for the future, and how it can help Vermonters meet their climate and energy goals. The presenters will highlight some of the programs and projects the utilities are currently offering to make it real and provide some of the resulting data. Finally, they will present an analysis that examines the rate impacts of implementing Tier 3/STEP by electrifying the heating of buildings, transportation, and commercial facilities and weatherizing buildings that shows the potential for rate reductions while helping meet the State’s climate goals.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 1About the Speaker(s)-
Richard Faesy
Richard Faesy is a principal and co-founder of Energy Futures Group in Hinesburg, Vermont. As a certified energy rater, LEED accredited professional, and DOE home energy score assessor, he specializes in residential buildings, technologies, and markets. He has expertise in residential new construction and retrofits, energy rating and labeling, building codes, financing, green building, the integration of renewables and energy efficiency, and effective energy efficiency policy, program design, and implementation. He works with clients throughout the U.S. and Canada.
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Brian Otley
Brian Otley joined Green Mountain Power in 2008 as the Chief Information Officer, leading the company’s advances into Smart Grid and Smart Metering. Shortly after Green Mountain Power acquired Central Vermont Public Service in 2013 he became Chief Operating Officer of the company. Prior to Green Mountain Power, Brian spent 20 years in the software sector leading product development, product management teams.
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Darren Springer
Darren Springer was appointed and confirmed as General Manager in October 2018. Formerly, Darren served as Burlington Electric’s Chief Operating Officer and led the Center for Innovation team which includes the Policy & Planning, Finance, Information Technology and Energy Services divisions. Prior to joining BED, Darren served as Chief of Staff for the Office of Governor Peter Shumlin. Before working in the Governor’s Office, Darren was appointed as Deputy Commissioner at the Vermont Public Service Department, leading the advancement of the 2014 net metering law and 2015 renewable energy standard. Previously, Darren worked for 4 years in the Washington, D.C. Office of U.S. Senator Bernard Sanders as Senior Policy Advisor for Energy & Environment, and later as Chief Counsel. He has also worked for the National Governors Association as Program Director for Energy and Transportation. Darren has a B.A. from Florida Atlantic University and earned a J.D. and Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School. While at Vermont Law School, he was selected as Managing Editor of the Vermont Law Review, and clerked for U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He is a member of the Vermont Bar, Virginia Bar, and Florida Bar. Darren has also served as a Policy Fellow on Climate Change and Renewable Energy at the University of Vermont Center for Research on Vermont, and in that capacity published a law journal article on the future of utility regulation in the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review.
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Patty Richards
Patricia (Patty) Richards has served as General Manager of Washington Electric Cooperative since 2013. Prior to joining WEC, she spent three years as a Senior Consultant with La Capra Associates, a Boston based energy consulting firm. In this role she performed a wide array of power supply related work on both the regional and national level. Before that she was the Director of Power Supply and Transmission for the Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, where she managed power supply for a number of small municipal utilities as well as WEC’s interactions with the New England regional power grid. She started her utility career at Burlington Electric Department in Vermont, where she worked for 17 years in various roles including administrative and energy efficiency related positions before becoming Director of Resource Planning. She has a masters in business from Saint Michaels College.
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Beyond CFM50: Blower Door Diagnostics
Envelope, Both Residential and Commercial- David Keefe, Efficiency Vermont
This session for blower door practitioners will focus on using diagnostic techniques to find air leaks and to verify air-sealing effectiveness. It will start with issues of accuracy, including temperature correction, dealing with wind, and maintenance. The use of chemical smoke and infrared scanning will be covered. There will be an introduction to zone pressures and how they can be used to assess both pre and post conditions. Connections to garages and attics will be emphasized. The presenter will discuss how to evaluate airflow through rooms and other spaces without going into them. Attendees should be knowledgeable about blower door testing and ready to become more skilled at understanding airflows in buildings.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 3About the Speaker(s)-
David Keefe
David Keefe is a fifth-generation Vermonter and a hippie environmentalist. He has worked for the last 34 years as a contractor, consultant, and teacher, focusing mostly on making existing homes work better. He has received awards from the State of Vermont and the U.S. DOE for energy innovation, and in 2011 Dave was named one of the 25 most influential people in the home performance industry by Affordable Comfort . In 2017, Dave received the Linda Wigington Leadership Award from the Home Performance Coalition. He is currently part of the Home Performance team at Efficiency Vermont.
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Advanced Wood Heat in Highly Efficient Buildings
Integrated Design, Both Residential and Commercial- Emma Hanson, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
- Juliette Juillerat, VEIC
- Adam Sherman, VEIC
Wood heating has been a cornerstone of heating buildings in Vermont for a very long time. In the past decade there have been significant advancements in wood heating technology – systems are now more efficient, cleaner, and highly automated. At the same time, building construction has improved dramatically - making envelops tighter and considerably reducing demands for space heating and high output HVAC equipment. This session will explore the intersection of advanced wood heating and highly efficient buildings and highlight the continued importance of wood fuels to Vermont's renewable energy, GHG, economic development, and “working landscape” goals. Presenters will cover how to utilize this technology in today's highly efficient buildings, with presenters focusing on both residential and commercial applications. We will discuss strategies typically used to achieve a high level of efficiency and tight building envelope, and the benefits and risks of tight buildings. We will provide an overview of the pros and cons of the different heating systems suitable to low load buildings, and what cost range to expect for different HVAC options for a New England climate. We will discuss when modern wood heat is appropriate in a tight building, the options currently available in the market, and discuss when heat pumps are a better choice.
Presentation(s):
- Advanced Wood Heat in Highly Efficient Buildings (handout)
- Advanced Wood Heat in Highly Efficient Buildings (Hanson)
- Advanced Wood Heat in Highly Efficient Buildings (Juillerat)
- Advanced Wood Heat in Highly Efficient Buildings (Sherman)
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 2About the Speaker(s)-
Emma Hanson
Emma brings a diverse background in sales, communications and environmental policy to the world of wood energy. After staffing the Forestry Committee of the Working Lands Enterprise Board at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture for two years, she took on the new position of Wood Energy Coordinator at the VT Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation. She holds a M.S. in Agriculture, Food & Environmental Policy from Tufts University in Boston.
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Juliette Juillerat
Juliette has over 5 years of experience providing modern wood heating consultancy. She has conducted numerous energy efficiency and renewable energy program reviews to assess program impacts and provides guidance on optimal rebate levels to balance market uptake with cost effectiveness. She has conducted dozens of site visits and prefeasibility assessments for converting public and commercial buildings to wood chip and pellet heating systems. Juliette has completed wood heating trainings in the US and Austria, including the intensive Hydronic-Based Biomass Heating Systems course, and the International Training Seminar Biomass Heating Market Development and Technologies - hosted by the Upper Austrian Energiesparverband. She is working towards her Passive House US (PHIUS) Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) certification and holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences from McGill University, and a Master of Science from the University of Vermont.
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Adam Sherman
Adam Sherman is a Manager of the Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) housed at VEIC. Adam has more than 20 years of experience in the advanced wood heat sector, and has directed BERC’s technology and fuel supply activities for over twelve years. His work covers a wide range of topics – from policy and regulatory issues to energy program design and delivery, technical consulting services to assess technologies, fuels, and energy project feasibility. Adam consults frequently for public and private clients exploring the feasibility of district heating systems in communities across North America. He serves on the Advisory Board for the Alliance for Green Heat, as the Chairman of the Northeast Biomass Thermal Working Group (NEBTWG) and also serves on the Editorial Board of Biomass Magazine. Prior to working for the Biomass Energy Resource Center, Sherman was the General Manager of a commercial composting operation in Burlington, Vermont for ten years. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont. Adam lives in Richmond, Vermont in a home heated with wood pellets and his kids attend the local high school that is heated with woodchips.
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Lessons Learned with Biomass Heating Systems (extended session: 9:00AM - 12:30PM)
Building Systems, Both Residential and Commercial- John Siegenthaler, Appropriate Designs
Biomass boiler systems (fueled by wood pellets and cordwood) represent a growing sector of the renewable thermal heat source market. The Northeast has become the epicenter for biomass boiler system installations within the United States. These boilers have operating requirements that are distinctly different from those for boilers operating on conventional fuels, most notably the need to operate with long on cycles followed by long off cycles. This session will describe critical design and installation requirements that have been learned after several years of experience with NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority)-supported installations. It will address details on sizing, venting, thermal storage, controls, and hydronic distribution systems. It will also cover how contractors currently involved with heating system installation can expand their market to include biomass boiler systems.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 2About the Speaker(s)-
John Siegenthaler
John Siegenthaler, P.E., is a mechanical engineering graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a licensed professional engineer, and professor emeritus of engineering technology at Mohawk Valley Community College. "Siggy" has 40 years of experience in designing modern hydronic systems. He is a member of the Radiant Panel Association Hall of Fame and principal of Appropriate Designs, a consulting engineering firm in Holland Patent, New York. He is the author of two textbooks: Modern Hydronic Heating (Delmar Cengage Learning; 3rd ed., 2011), and Heating with Renewable Energy (Delmar Cengage Learning, 2016). John currently writes about hydronics technology for several trade publications.
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Making Building Systems Sing in Harmony: Retrocommissioning in Vermont
Building Systems, Commercial- Daniel Tuhus-Dubrow, Cx Associates
Retrocommissioning (RCx) often results in significant energy savings while delivering additional benefits such as improved occupant comfort, better indoor air quality, and reduced operations and maintenance costs. RCx measures are typically low-cost and do not require large capital expenditures for implementation. The biggest challenges to increasing customer adoption of this relatively low-cost energy efficiency tool are the reluctance of customers to invest in engineering studies and a lack of customer familiarity with the opportunities. Vermont's Energy Efficiency Utilities recently established retrocommissioning programs to reduce the barriers by financially supporting the qualification stage for RCx studies, resulting in significant market uptake. This presentation will discuss common measures identified, identify best practices, and quantify the potential benefits for a cohort of projects that have gone through the retrocommissioning qualification stage. We will address key lessons learned and how to overcome obstacles to measure implementation, highlighting a few projects that have proceeded through the implementation phase.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 1About the Speaker(s)-
Daniel Tuhus-Dubrow
Daniel Tuhus-Dubrow is a mechanical engineer focused on improving energy efficiency and reducing energy costs in buildings. He has performed energy auditing and retrocommissioning activities for over 20 projects, including several for Local Law 87 (New York City) and Executive Order 88 (New York State) compliance, and has extensive experience with retrocommissioning programs in Vermont. He has experience with LEED certification, energy modeling, energy efficiency design, and measurement and verification.
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Smart Home or Smart Homeowner?
Building Systems, Residential- Peter Hooper, State of Vermont
- Mary Jane Poynter, VEIC
What does it mean to have a connected home? Are we really smarter than ever because of the technology we surround ourselves with? We'll explain why being a smart homeowner can be more effective than a owning a home filled with smart devices. This session will provide examples of how connecting with your residential properties can save energy, increase equipment life, and help avoid emergencies. The market is flooded with meters, software, and gadgets that make a dwelling space connected. We will highlight several technologies and take an in depth look at their primary functions, how they interconnect, and how the owner interacts with them. Also included will be an introduction to the Parsons Platform, a cloud-based energy database being used by Housing Vermont to monitor its large portfolio of buildings and identify underperforming buildings.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 2About the Speaker(s)-
Peter Hooper
Peter Hooper is an electrical engineer and project manager with the State of Vermont's Energy Office. He works primarily in project development and oversight work, including the planning, completion, and verification of energy efficiency, energy conservation, and renewable energy projects. Prior to working at the State of Vermont, Peter was employed by Northern Power Systems, where he worked on the development and installation of utility-scale wind turbines. He holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Norwich University.
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Mary Jane Poynter
Mary Jane Poynter is a senior energy consultant at the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. She specializes in commercial, governmental, industrial, and multifamily building energy projects, working primarily with Efficiency Vermont and DC Sustainability Energy Utilities. A 20-year veteran of the energy efficiency industry, she has worked on projects across the spectrum of new construction and renovation, and in the affordable housing market. Mary Jane is a certified energy manager, a certified master gardener, and a 17-year member of her local ASHRAE chapter. She holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota.
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Starving for Darkness: How Exterior Lighting Affects Our Wildlife
Building Systems, Both Residential and Commercial- Jane Slade, Anatomy of Light
Since the Industrial Revolution and the invention of the electric light bulb, the natural ecosystems of the Earth spend more and more time bathed in artificial light within a 24-hour cycle. How do artificial light and the lack of darkness impact wildlife? How does the obstruction of the night's sky affect bird migration and whale migration? This talk will review scientific studies showing the impacts of light upon wildlife. From zooplankton, to insects, to bats, all species are either directly or indirectly affected by light and light pollution. The talk will conclude with a discussion on how a rethinking of design and codes can alleviate some of these harmful effects.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, NCQLP
Room: AmphitheatreAbout the Speaker(s)-
Jane Slade
Jane Slade, MID, LC, IES is a lighting designer and researcher at Anatomy of Light, researching the many ways in which light impacts our environment, human health, wildlife, biodiversity, and interdependence. Slade is a recent Richard Kelly Grant recipient for her explorations into the social and emotional impacts of light and lighting, through her work in creating lighting fixtures from waste materials in India, and through art installations focused on manipulating emotional experiences with light and color. Slade is the Vice President of the DLF of New England, chairing the scholarship which sends university students to both Light + Building in Germany, as well as Lightfair in North America. Slade is also a member of the IES Committee for Outdoor Environmental Lighting, and the IES Annual Conference Steering Committee. Slade practices art in her studio, Waterlight, and also teaches yoga in her home city, Cambridge, MA.
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High Performance, Affordability, and Efficiency in High-Ventilation Buildings: The UVM STEM Complex
Commercial, Commercial- Allan Ames, BR+A Consulting Engineers
- Alex Halpern, Freeman French Freeman
- Bryan Rydingsward, BR+A Consulting Engineers
- Lynn Wood, University of Vermont
The University of Vermont STEM building is a multipurpose laboratory and classroom building that has demanding requirements for makeup air and code-required ventilation. Laboratories include fume hoods that require a substantial amount of energy and expense to operate year-round. To achieve performance requirements and remain affordable within the given program, mechanical systems were designed with specially engineered energy recovery systems that also maintain separated exhaust and supply air. This session will describe the keystone system manufactured by Konvekta, an enhanced glycol heat recovery system with specially designed coil circuiting and tubes. For the winter of 2017-2018, building automation trend logs, as well as remote monitoring by Konvekta, indicated that the system performed better than anticipated. This modeling illustrated that the initial cost of $500,000 for this specialty heat recovery system would return nearly $100,000 in annual energy cost savings. The discussion will focus on the design and application of this technology for laboratory buildings and space with high ventilation loads that require substantial quantities of outside air.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 1About the Speaker(s)-
Allan Ames
Allan Ames, president of BR+A, is a registered professional mechanical engineer in 18 states and a LEED accredited professional. With over 35 years of experience, he is a frequent presenter at industry symposia including the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Tradelines, and the New England Chapter of I2SL (formerly Labs21). Allan is heavily involved in engineering design for a broad range of project types for academic, research, healthcare, pharmaceutical, and corporate clients nationwide. In addition, he is a building systems committee member for the Healthcare Associated Infections Foundation and ASHE.
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Alex Halpern
Alex Halpern, AIA, is vice president of Freeman French Freeman, Architects, in Burlington, where he has led projects both large and small for over two decades. Projects include the new STEM Complex and James Jeffords Hall at the University of Vermont, the Dion Family Student Center at Saint Michael's College, the forthcoming new facility for the Greater Burlington YMCA, and the Burlington International Airport.
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Bryan Rydingsward
Bryan Rydingsward, P.E., LEED AP, is a mechanical engineer and senior project manager with nearly 20 years' experience in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system design, primarily for laboratory and hospital environments, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and innovation. Brian has been involved with many high-profile, state-of-the-art projects, including buildings at the University of Vermont, MIT, Brown University, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School.
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Lynn Wood
Lynn Wood is the Davis Zone Manager at the University of Vermont. She leads a team of Physical Plant personnel that provide maintenance and operations support, for 27 buildings that cover 1.2 million square feet, the STEM Facility is one of these buildings. During the Stem Laboratory construction and commissioning, Lynn was the Retro-commissioning Engineer for the University. She worked extensively in the design phase providing electrical, mechanical and controls review, sequences, and specification enhancements that were consistent with other laboratory and hvac standards across campus. She has over 20 years of experience in controls and mechanical systems, with a focus on laboratory systems.
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Rethinking the Rules on Minimum Foam Thickness
Envelope, Residential- Martin Holladay, Green Building Advisor
When installing a continuous layer of rigid foam on the exterior side of wall sheathing, it's best if the foam is thick enough to keep the sheathing above the dew point during the winter. But some builders who use thinner rigid foam than the rules call for claim that their walls stay dry, due in part to the margin of safety provided by an interior vapor retarder or vapor barrier. Because balancing the benefits and risks of walls with exterior foam and interior vapor retarders is complicated, builders are looking for guidance. This session will provide that guidance.
Presentation(s):
Level: Advanced
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 3About the Speaker(s)-
Martin Holladay
Martin Holladay is the editor of Green Building Advisor and a senior editor at Fine Homebuilding. His weekly blog, "Musings of an Energy Nerd," focuses on energy-efficient residential construction. He built his first passive solar house in northern Vermont in 1974, and has lived off the grid since 1975. Before working as an editor, Holladay was a roofer, remodeler, and builder. He has also worked as a project manager for a nonprofit developer of low-income housing.
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Carbon-Based Life Forms Creating Carbon-Free Buildings
Building Systems, Both Residential and Commercial- Eric Corey Freed, Morrison Hershfield
In the last decade, carbon levels increased by 20 parts per million (from 380 to 403), the population grew by 1 billion, global temperature increased by half a degree Celsius, and 25 percent more people moved into cities. The world is changing rapidly. This session will explore dozens of disparate trends in technology, sustainability, and the construction industry and connect the dots to get a glimpse into how we can save the world and save our businesses at the same time. Participants will forecast opportunities in the green building space. Climate change is redefining building design parameters. Future solutions will need to measure and manage energy, water, and health outcomes in innovative ways. During this energetic and entertaining session, attendees will collaborate to better address systemic barriers to healthy, high-performing, sustainable, resilient buildings. The session will discuss the challenges and complexities facing project teams pursuing net-zero or zero-carbon projects and how to identify new risks. This lively discussion will change how participants look at the future, regardless of how bleak it may seem!
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 3About the Speaker(s)-
Eric Corey Freed
Eric Corey Freed is an award-winning architect, author, and global speaker. As sustainability disruptor for Morrison Hershfield, he identifies solutions to problems most teams didn't know were holding them back. He was founding principal of organicARCHITECT, a visionary design leader in biophilic and regenerative design. Eric is the author of 11 books, including Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies (For Dummies, 2007). In 2012, his business was named one of the 25 "Best Green Architecture Firms" in the U.S., and he was named one of 10 influential green architects . He holds a prestigious LEED Fellow award from the U.S. Green Building Council.
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Affordable and Profitable: An Oxymoron? We Don't Think So!
Business Support, Both Residential and Commercial- Mel Baiser, HELM Construction Solutions LLC
- Kate Stephenson, HELM Construction Solutions LLC
This session will address the question of how to make healthy, energy-efficient buildings more affordable, but not at the expense of the builder's business sustainability. How can builders deliver an affordable high-performance project without losing their shirt on it? The first step is understanding what it costs to run the business. This session will walk builders through the process of developing an operating budget for their company. Participants will learn how to calculate labor burden and gross profit margin, how to understand the difference between a margin and a markup, and how to use that information to develop a project estimate that covers the cost of running the business and making a profit. The presenters will talk about strategies for managing client expectations with regard to budget and the art of value engineering using an integrated team approach.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 1About the Speaker(s)-
Mel Baiser
Mel Baiser is a partner in HELM Construction Solutions, which works with owners, designers, and builders to create high-performance and sustainable buildings and businesses. Mel has over 15 years of experience in the construction industry, both in the field as a carpenter and weatherization installer and in the office as a project manager and estimator. Mel has completed certifications with the Building Performance Institute and the Passive House Institute US. With a background in social justice and community organizing, Mel is passionate about weaving together efforts for climate justice, building high-performance homes, and improving the process of doing construction while maintaining triple-bottom-line business principles for the professionals involved.
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Kate Stephenson
Kate Stephenson is a partner in HELM Construction Solutions, which works with owners, designers, and builders to create high-performance and sustainable buildings and businesses. She's worked with businesses and nonprofits to achieve triple-bottom-line metrics, develop business systems, and plan for a dynamic and resilient future. She led the Yestermorrow Design/Build School for over 13 years. Kate is a facilitator for NESEA's BuildingEnergy Bottom Lines program, chairs the Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee, and serves on the board of the Vermont Council on Rural Development. She holds an M.S. in management from Antioch University New England.
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Vermont's New 2019 Residential Building Energy Standards Energy Codes
Business Support, Residential- Richard Faesy, Energy Futures Group
- David Keefe, Efficiency Vermont
Vermont's Comprehensive Energy Plan states that all new construction must be built to net-zero standards by 2030, but how will we get there? Between now and then, four cycles of code updates will progressively step Vermont along to meet the 2030 goal. That first step is expected to be adopted in early 2019 as the next version of Vermont's energy codes. This session will present the Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES) updates for this most recent code cycle and will provide an update on the new code, highlight the changes from the current code, walk through the changes with the biggest impacts, and provide the information needed to ensure code compliance for future building projects. The presenters will also provide an update and information on the "stretch code".
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: AmphitheatreAbout the Speaker(s)-
Richard Faesy
Richard Faesy is a principal and co-founder of Energy Futures Group in Hinesburg, Vermont. As a certified energy rater, LEED accredited professional, and DOE home energy score assessor, he specializes in residential buildings, technologies, and markets. He has expertise in residential new construction and retrofits, energy rating and labeling, building codes, financing, green building, the integration of renewables and energy efficiency, and effective energy efficiency policy, program design, and implementation. He works with clients throughout the U.S. and Canada.
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David Keefe
David Keefe is a fifth-generation Vermonter and a hippie environmentalist. He has worked for the last 34 years as a contractor, consultant, and teacher, focusing mostly on making existing homes work better. He has received awards from the State of Vermont and the U.S. DOE for energy innovation, and in 2011 Dave was named one of the 25 most influential people in the home performance industry by Affordable Comfort . In 2017, Dave received the Linda Wigington Leadership Award from the Home Performance Coalition. He is currently part of the Home Performance team at Efficiency Vermont.
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The Value of Flexible Demand and Storage: Aligning Building and Grid Efficiencies
Commercial, Commercial- Morgan Casella, Dynamic Organics
- Marcus Jones, VEIC
- Jeff Monder, Green Mountain Power
- John Sohl, Brattleboro Retreat
The Brattleboro Retreat hospital in Brattleboro, Vermont, requires significant air conditioning during the summer, with peak demands of 110-120 kW. Previously under CVPS's time-of-use rates, the Retreat utilized an ice-storage system to load shift hospital cooling demands to off-peak times. Since 2014, the ice storage asset had been underutilized and improperly controlled. During 2017 and 2018, Efficiency Vermont worked with the Retreat and Dynamic Organics (DO) to recommission the existing system and upgrade the campus building management system. This session will describe how DO and Green Mountain Power are developing an innovative pilot in collaboration with Efficiency Vermont to investigate the value of the ice storage in providing capacity, energy, and greenhouse gas savings for the customer and the grid. The group is testing different charging and discharging strategies at the Retreat following different forecast and real-time signals. The team is leveraging behind-the-meter controls to effectively use buildings as batteries, while aligning both building and grid efficiency.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 2About the Speaker(s)-
Morgan Casella
Morgan Casella is managing partner of Dynamic Organics (DO), where he has worked for over 10 years in sustainable energy and HVAC efficiency project development, design, construction, and operations and maintenance. Morgan has experience with solar development, anaerobic digestion, landfill gas-to-energy generation, and building energy systems including HVAC design, optimization, installation, and retrofits. Through DO, Morgan has provided development and consulting work for companies interested in alternative energy, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, and alternative waste reduction strategies. Morgan has an extensive background in the development and design of renewable energy and efficiency projects, with a focus on distribution, transmission, and efficiency utility regulatory requirements. He holds a B.S. from Skidmore College.
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Marcus Jones
Marcus Jones is an energy consultant with VEIC. Marcus brings an extensive background in electrical and efficiency engineering to the organization. He has worked with VEIC for the last five years helping to transform the Vermont electric grid.
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Jeff Monder
Jeff Monder has over 26 years of experience in the utility industry, mostly dedicated to information technologies and project and organizational leadership. For the past three years, Jeff has been on a journey through the core mission of the utility business as a leader in innovation development, devising and introducing new programs to help residential, commercial, and industrial customers increase efficiency and productivity, reduce their carbon footprint, and save money. Jeff is passionate about the environment, and is deeply engaged in the evolution of the utility model to meet new opportunities and challenges, while satisfying the highest standards for reliability, cost-effectiveness, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility.
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John Sohl
John Sohl has been the director of facilities at the Brattleboro Retreat Hospital since June 2015. Previously he worked at Lennox Hill Hospital in New York City as director of engineering and spent 17 years at Franklin Hospital in Valley Stream, New York, starting as a carpenter and finishing as the director of support services. In his current position, John also serves as the senior director of environmental operations for the Brattleboro Retreat.
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Your Next Breakthrough-Efficient Emerging Technologies for Your Home and Business
Integrated Design, Both Residential and Commercial- Lara Bonn, Efficiency Vermont
- Laura Capps, Efficiency Vermont
- Rachael Mascolino, Efficiency Vermont
- Lauren Morlino, Efficiency Vermont
What's new and exciting in the world of energy efficiency? What more can you do for your home or business? This session will feature the Efficiency Vermont Emerging Technologies and Services team, who will engage the audience by presenting accessible, healthy, efficient options for homes and businesses during a confusing and rapidly advancing technological era. The team has been working to fill Efficiency Vermont's portfolio with new technologies and services in order to continue to offer Vermonters valuable technical assistance and low energy costs. The group will highlight projects including Efficiency Vermont's Healthy Homes initiative, indoor agriculture, natural refrigerants, connected homes/Internet of Things, vegetable oil-powered elevators, lab ventilation, comprehensive building control systems, and more.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, NCQLP
Room: Emerald 1About the Speaker(s)-
Lara Bonn
Lara Bonn is the director of Efficiency Vermont's Emerging Technologies and Services Department, which facilitates new and disruptive opportunities for energy efficiency in Vermont. In the past, she was a staff manager in the Strategy and Planning Department as well as the strategic planning manager for efficient products, creating the strategic vision, designing new program approaches, and running research and development pilots for the lighting, appliances, and consumer electronics programs. Lara promotes multi-utility and cross-country partnerships to accomplish greater impact. Prior to working for Efficiency Vermont, Lara worked as a consultant with Optimal Energy and as a senior consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton working exclusively for the U.S. EPA.
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Laura Capps
Laura Capps has provided classroom and field training for over 2,600 professionals nationally on healthy homes and green building. At Efficiency Vermont, Laura facilitates the identification, research, development, and qualification of new disruptive technologies and services for the state's future energy portfolio. Her current work includes partnering with hospitals and healthcare providers on improving population health through energy efficiency and healthy home interventions in the homes of patients with uncontrolled asthma and COPD. Laura holds degrees in sustainable development and building construction from Appalachian State University and Georgia Tech, respectively, and multiple industry certifications and awards.
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Rachael Mascolino
Rachael Mascolino is a Senior Energy Consultant in VEIC�s engineering department. Her work includes a focus on advanced wood heating as an emerging HVAC technology through design review, evaluating project feasibility, developing repeatable best practices, outreach, and informing EVT programs. Supporting the sustainable and renewable modern combustion of fuel grade forest stock and the engineering of the comprehensive systems that the equipment is connected to is a personal and professional interest. Other recent areas of focus include VRF applications in the northeast and institutional energy savings through continuous engagement evaluating predicted and actual energy use.
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Lauren Morlino
Lauren Morlino researches, tests, and plans programs, services, and their strategies for the statewide energy efficiency utility Efficiency Vermont. Her work has accelerated statewide market transformation in lighting and other technologies, while meeting the evolving needs of Vermont ratepayers for cost-effective solutions. A VEIC program manager for four years, Lauren has researched and designed initiatives for lighting, controls, and consumer electronics. In her current role as Emerging Technologies and Services Manager, Lauren is prototyping exciting, innovative, and efficient technologies and services for Vermont residents and businesses. She has also disseminated the results of her work at national conferences including ACEEE, DesignLights Consortium, and E Source. Lauren holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Vermont.
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Hands-On Air Sealing and Basement Insulation Skills
Building Systems, Both Residential and Commercial- David Keefe, Efficiency Vermont
This session is intended for those who do air sealing and insulation with their own hands, those who would like to, and those who specify and inspect that work. We will start with an overview of our goals and approach, then move to a review of air sealing materials used for residential and stick-framed commercial buildings. Three-dimensional props will be used for a live demonstration of common air sealing measures, focusing primarily on attics. There will also be a discussion of basement insulation and a review of options for basement walls. The focus will be primarily on existing homes, although most of the information is also applicable to new construction.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 3About the Speaker(s)-
David Keefe
David Keefe is a fifth-generation Vermonter and a hippie environmentalist. He has worked for the last 34 years as a contractor, consultant, and teacher, focusing mostly on making existing homes work better. He has received awards from the State of Vermont and the U.S. DOE for energy innovation, and in 2011 Dave was named one of the 25 most influential people in the home performance industry by Affordable Comfort. In 2017, Dave received the Linda Wigington Leadership Award from the Home Performance Coalition. He is currently part of the Home Performance team at Efficiency Vermont.
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The Mechanical Aspects of "Practical Green" Commercial Buildings
Commercial, Commercial- Roy Swain, Kohler and Lewis
We will discuss a comprehensive list of the best "practical green" plumbing and HVAC design elements from more than four decades of engineering experience. We will begin by identifying the multiple and often conflicting objectives of mechanical systems in buildings, and then explore the specific practical green elements to achieve each objective. We will also feature interesting cases of "how not to do it" - too expensive, too complicated, or most often both. Examples and photos will be from actual projects.
Presentation(s):
Level: Advanced
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 1About the Speaker(s)-
Roy Swain
Roy Swain is the owner of Kohler and Lewis Mechanical Engineers in Keene, New Hampshire, He specializes in helping commercial building owners understand and optimize their mechanical systems. He designs practical and efficient HVAC, plumbing and control systems, including those for numerous LEED buildings, net zero projects, and Living Building Challenge buildings. Previously, Roy managed the development of the McQuay MicroTech line of DDC controllers and was a senior project engineer at the Carrier Corporation.
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Utilizing Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) to Achieve Affordable Efficiency for Residential and Commercial Multi Story Builds
Envelope, Both Residential and Commercial- Paul Camozzi, Amvic
Presentation will begin with a brief history of the ICF industry, and then move to an in depth description of what an Insulated Concrete Form is including performance and technical information. Focus will then address on whats happening on a national level in regards to energy efficiencies and how ICF directly mitigate these changes in one simple application. Actual residential and commercial builds will be examined and explained with quotes from consumers and design professionals many of who do not go back to conventional builds. Affordable efficiency is easily applicable to ICFs on two fronts - first significant energy reductions and downsizing of complimentary systems, 2nd efficiencies gained in actual field performance due to a 9-1 construction methodology.Wrap up will include project profiles and statements from the likes of Avalon Bay and Developer /owners who have had wonderful experiences with our technology.
Presentation(s):
Level: Advanced
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: AmphitheatreAbout the Speaker(s)-
Paul Camozzi
Paul Camozzi, CET, educates architects, engineers, builders, and consumers on the benefits of building with insulated concrete forms (ICFs). His career started in structural steel, a key component in ICF construction methodologies. He has been the past chairman of the Insulating Concrete Form Association and is active with the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, which is embracing ICF promotional programs across the United States. Paul holds a diploma in mechanical engineering. He has personally built two ICF homes and can speak on this technology from conceptual design incorporating net-zero goals to a renewed focus on resilient, sustainable construction.
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Building for "Forever": High-Performance Design for Everyone
Integrated Design, Residential- Brian Just, VEIC
Much of what defines quality in home materials-durability, livability, simplicity, beauty, and resilience-has been around for centuries. A lot of historical design aligns perfectly with today's concepts of affordability, especially when combined with modern materials and building techniques. This presentation explores enduring design guidelines from a non-architect perspective. After a crash course on influences including Victorian artist John Ruskin, "old" Audels Builders Guides, pattern language, and classic New England building forms, this session will dive into design features that have survived and those that have not. Participants will learn how modern-day principles of LEED and Passive House can be incorporated cost-effectively and attractively. The session will give striking examples of how high performance can be done simply and how design decisions can promote occupant comfort and health while making future additions or upgrades less complicated. These principles will be supported by solid data, including real-world photos and infrared images from Vermont's countryside. This session is all about the intersection of affordability and quality. It is designed for builders, architects, plumbers, engineers, real estate professionals, and homeowners.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 2About the Speaker(s)-
Brian Just
Brian Just manages a team of energy consultants implementing Efficiency Vermont's residential programs and works on a variety of energy efficiency initiatives at VEIC. A mechanical engineer, he began his career designing and installing custom testing equipment used in aerodynamics research. His master's degree work focused on biomass combustion and indoor air quality. He is RESNET, Passive House, and LEED AP accredited, and is a Living Building Challenge ambassador presenter. Brian is committed to serving the residential design and construction community as its members pave the way to a future of highly efficient, affordable, healthy, durable homes.
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Evaluating What Matters Most: Revisiting Design to Meet Budgets and Keep the Dream Alive
Integrated Design, Residential- Colin Lindberg, Shelterwood Construction
- Parlin Meyer, BrightBuilt Home
- Jesse Thompson, Kaplan Thompson Architects
Making decisions when building one's dream home has never been easy. Making those decisions in today's landscape of lumber tariffs, no incentives, and busy contractors is nearly impossible. In this session, the presenters will look at the journey undertaken by a couple who set out to build their dream home together, and ventured well into design only to realize their dreaming had begun to outstrip their needs (and their budget). They took a look at what they really wanted, and requested a redirect with their architects. In concert with the builder, the clients and the architects worked together to arrive at a Plan B-one that captured the essence of the clients' wants and needs, and more aggressively pursued their budgetary considerations. This session will look at each of the designs proposed, and speak to the thinking behind forms, volumes, and area, as well as the associated costs of each.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 2About the Speaker(s)-
Colin Lindberg
Colin Lindberg, certified Passive House builder, is the owner of Shelterwood Construction, a residential construction firm specializing in high-performance, energy-efficient building. His career has focused on building high-quality, long-lasting homes. Colin has a B.A. from Warren Wilson College (near Asheville, North Carolina) in outdoor leadership. His first career involved leading outdoor education trips all over North and South America. When it was time to get a real job, he turned to high-end carpentry and building. Shelterwood Construction is based in central Vermont. When Colin is not working or chasing his son around, you can find him on his mountain bike, surfboard, or snowboard, or climbing up a mountain.
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Parlin Meyer
Parlin Meyer is director at BrightBuilt Home, a design firm in Portland, Maine, that uses off-site construction manufacturers to build modified and custom versions of its high-performance home designs. After 10 years at sea as a licensed captain and deck officer, Parlin changed tack to begin a second career in the built environment by earning a master of architecture degree and a master of real estate development degree from the University of Maryland in 2012. She still enjoys sailing whenever possible.
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Jesse Thompson
Jesse Thompson is a partner at Kaplan Thompson Architects in Portland, Maine. He grew up in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. He received his bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Oregon in 1996. He is a Maine licensed architect (NCARB), a president elect of Maine AIA, and a LEED accredited professional. Jesse is an award-winning architect who has become a national leader in green design and building science. He's always working on balancing elements-engineering with art and design, beauty with affordability, function with potential. He's relentlessly practical, but also sees beauty in every project, and he loves a good challenge.
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Testimonials from an Affordable Housing Developer and Her Consultants
Integrated Design, Both Residential and Commercial- Julie Klump, Preservation of Affordable Housing
- Ken Neuhauser, Building Evolution Corporation
- Wesley Stanhope, Building Evolution Corporation
This team of affordable housing developer and building performance consultants (with expertise in HVAC and enclosures) have been through many battles together, including high-performance new construction projects, moderate scope rehab, deep energy retrofits, retrocommissioning projects, and lots of why-isn't-this-&*#!-system-working investigations. The presenters will regale workshop participants with such tales as 1) the elusive breath of fresh air-getting good indoor air quality in renovations of existing multifamily buildings; 2) integrated construction-why integrated design is not enough and why it's important to have designers engaged throughout construction; 3) retroCx (because it wasn't running right the first time); 4) the high cost of not super-insulating; and 5) "What's the payback?" and other unhelpful questions. The focus will be on larger multifamily buildings and will cover several states and multiple climates. The presenters will share lessons learned and also probe the workshop participants for solutions to perennial challenges in affordable housing building performance.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 1About the Speaker(s)-
Julie Klump
Julie Klump, as vice president for design and building performance at Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), is responsible for design and energy efficiency for development projects as well as POAH's owned portfolio. She provides building investigation, energy budgeting, scope development, and cost estimates. Julie authors POAH's product and performance specifications, manages data collection and analysis, and serves as a subject matter expert. A certified Passive House consultant and LEED-certified architect with an undergraduate degree in environmental design, Julie has worked as an architect, construction manager, owner's project manager, and executive director of the Texas Historical Foundation. She received her master of architecture degree with a certification in historic preservation. Julie is a year-round bicycle commuter.
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Ken Neuhauser
Ken Neuhauser has nearly 20 years of building science and building performance experience. Ken believes that building performance includes many aspects, among them economic performance, environmental impact, risk management, operation, and maintenance. He is adept at diagnosing building performance problems through on-site investigation and remote data analysis. Ken is a certified energy manager, a certified Passive House consultant, and a lifetime Northeast Sustainable Energy Association member. He earned both a master of architecture and master of science degree in architecture from the University of Michigan.
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Wesley Stanhope
Wesley Stanhope has over 15 years of leadership experience in the built environment on both sides of the Atlantic, working with construction, facility conditions assessments, energy management, and commissioning projects. As principal of Stanhope Developments, he brought over 370 commercial and residential construction projects from proposal through to design and completion in Ireland and the U.K. After returning to the U.S., Wes managed the energy auditing and retrocommissioning of more than 23 million square feet of federal facilities. Wes has extensive experience with assessment and commissioning of large-scale private universities, commercial properties, state facilities, nonprofits, and large multifamily developments. In 2016, Wes founded Building Evolution Corporation.
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Energy Improvements in Public Purpose Buildings: PPESCO Case Studies
Building Systems, Both Residential and Commercial- Mike Davey, Energy Efficient Investments (EEI)
- Paul Kervick, Awakening Sanctuary, Inc.
- Craig Simmons, VEIC
- Marc Therrien, BROC Community Action
Commons Energy is a company that offers significant energy savings for buildings that serve a public purpose. These can include educational institutions, healthcare facilities, municipal and other community buildings, and multifamily affordable housing. The Commons Energy Public Purpose Energy Service Company (PPESCO) model combines a full complement of energy services with patient capital from several sources in an approach that helps organizations take advantage of energy savings from building improvements. This presentation will explain the PPESCO model and provide two very different case studies of recently completed energy performance projects. The first case study is a senior care facility in Montpelier, Vermont, where energy upgrades included an innovative application of a heat pump water heater. The second case study is the headquarters of a community services organization in Rutland, Vermont, that includes a food shelf and whose building systems were on the verge of failure prior to the energy retrofit. The presentation will explore the various technical solutions but also the project process and financing structures.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Diamond 1About the Speaker(s)-
Mike Davey
Mike Davey is the business development manager for Energy Efficient Investments (EEI), a midsized performance contractor that focuses on energy-efficient and renewable solutions. The EEI team has completed comprehensive performance contracts for Bennington School District, BROC, and Addison Northwest School District. Mike has been in the energy efficiency and construction industry for more than 15 years. He holds a bachelor's degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology and a master's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
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Paul Kervick
Paul Kervick is an entrepreneur, social architect, educator, and minister. Paul's passion in life is working creatively in areas that help all life to become vital and sustainable. Currently, Paul is co-founder, director, and president of Awakening Sanctuary, Inc. (dba Living Well Group), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and charitable organization whose central focus is innovative approaches to holistic, vital, and sustainable community-based eldercare. It has locations in Bristol, Vermont, the Living Well Residence; Burlington, Vermont, the Ethan Allen Residence; and Montpelier, Vermont, the Heaton Woods Residence.
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Craig Simmons
Craig Simmons, P.E., has more than 10 years' experience in commercial building energy analysis, utility programs, and building codes compliance. In his role at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), Craig identifies, advocates for, and advises on energy efficiency improvements in new construction and existing industrial, commercial, and multifamily buildings. Craig is a project engineer for Commons Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of VEIC that provides ESCO services for smaller, public-purpose buildings and owners. Craig previously worked as a consultant in Boston, providing guidance to owners and designers in pursuit of LEED certification, utility incentive programs, federal tax credits, and energy code compliance.
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Marc Therrien
Marc Therrien is the program director for BROC's Weatherization and Energy Conservation program. Through that program, Marc is responsible for delivering weatherization services for low-income families throughout Vermont. Marc also acts as facilities manager for BROC's headquarters building in Rutland, Vermont, which recently underwent a significant energy retrofit and which is a participant in Efficiency Vermont's Deep Energy Retrofit program.
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The New Wave of State Appliance and Lighting Energy Efficiency Standards
Building Systems, Both Residential and Commercial- Christopher Granda, Appliance Standards Awareness Project
- Curtis McCormack, Vermont House of Representatives
Two bills designed by the Appliance Standards Awareness Project have been signed into law as Acts 42 (2017) and 193 (2018) in Vermont. They include 17 new Vermont state energy efficiency mandatory standards. These standards do not exist at the federal level, and in several cases had not been put in place by any other state. In our region, Rhode Island and Massachusetts may also have passed similar legislation by the time of the BBD conference. By taking this leadership position, Vermont and other states are continuing the 40-year legacy of commonsense energy efficiency standards that are being threatened by the Trump administration. In this presentation, we will talk about the role of energy efficiency standards in reducing consumer costs and environmental impacts, and review the specific requirements and paths to compliance.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED, NCQLP
Room: Diamond 2About the Speaker(s)-
Christopher Granda
Christopher Granda is a senior researcher/advocate at the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, a nonprofit organization that works on mandatory energy efficiency standards for lighting and appliances. He has over 30 years of experience in the energy efficiency field with a focus on lighting and residential appliances. He came to ASAP in 2015 after operating as an independent consultant for seven years for clients including CLASP, electric utilities, and state and federal governments. Chris also spent eight years at the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, where he helped design and implement energy efficiency programs. Prior to that, Chris worked on efficiency programs in China, Vietnam, and South Africa for international groups.
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Curtis McCormack
Curt McCormack was a member of the Vermont House representing the City of Rutland from 1983 until 1996. He moved to his current district in Burlington in 2008. He chaired the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy for five years and was chair of the Joint House/Senate Energy Committee, vice chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Environment Committee, and representative on the NCSL High Level Radioactive Waste Repository Task Force. He was also co-chair of the New England Recycling Council and vice chair of the Vermont Rail Council. He was the sponsor of Act 78, Vermont's comprehensive solid waste law. Curt is also an electrical contractor.
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A Vapor-Open Airtight Wall Assembly That Improves the Drying of the Envelope
Envelope, Residential- Nick Stone, rk MILES
Consumers today are saying, "I am more confused now than ever before about what material I need to put into my wall system" or"I am concerned that certain products won't work well in conjunction with each other; what should I do?" The presenter's company has developed and tested a wall system called VOAT-WALL that uses vapor-open products that work in harmony with each other to make a high performing wall system that is durable and effective. It combines a drainable mineral fiber insulation with a fully adhered weather-resistant barrier to make the system airtight along with a fully insulated EPS buck system around windows openings to allow for a continuous thermal break.
Presentation(s):
Level: Introductory
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: AmphitheatreAbout the Speaker(s)-
Nick Stone
Nick Stone is a passionate conceptual designer focusing on wall performance design in residential housing. As an employee of rk MILES, Nick applies all the latest technology offered in the lumber and building material industry to the emerging concepts related to efficient energy management as a result of the construction process. The VOAT (vapor open, airtight) system focuses on the integration of high-performance products, creating a durable, long-lasting wall. Nick holds an associate's degree in construction management from Vermont Technical College. Nick and rk MILES have completed about 24 houses with this system and many more with variations of the system all across Vermont.
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Affordable Multifamily Housing: Net Zero and Passive House? Challenges, Opportunities, Mistakes, and Solutions
Envelope, Both Residential and Commercial- Laura Bailey, Maclay Architects
- Tim Estes, Estes & Gallup, Inc.
- Bill Maclay, Maclay Architects
- Andrew Winter, Twin Pines Housing
If high-end clients can't "afford" either Passive House or net zero energy (NZE) certification, how can nonprofit housing developers possibly afford both? Twin Pines Housing is taking on this challenge at a 29-unit affordable housing project in West Lebanon, New Hampshire. The project addresses a challenging combination of long-term capital costs, incentives, financial requirements, and limited budget. The session will show how this team addressed these numerous uncertainties and its reasoning in pursuing combined NZE and Passive House certifications. Pursuing NZE certification was agreed to near the beginning of design for financial reasons; Passive House certification is being pursued as potentially achievable with the building as designed for NZE. The presenters will share where the project is in the NZE and PHIUS certification processes and will investigate the financial aspects of both NZE and Passive House and how they can contribute to high-performance multifamily housing's financial success and long-term affordability on other projects.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 3About the Speaker(s)-
Laura Bailey
Laura Bailey is the research director at Maclay Architects and works on energy-efficient design, analysis, and monitoring. Her past work has included permaculture, biodiesel production, solar installation, and off-grid design/build. She was also a research fellow at the Energy Studies in Buildings Lab at the University of Oregon. At Maclay Architects, she executes comparative energy and cost analysis to develop financial information on proposed designs. Additionally, she has worked on projects and master plans combining site, program, and client needs for creative future-oriented solutions. Laura holds a B.A. in environmental design from Williams College and a master of architecture degree from the University of Oregon, and is a certified Passive House consultant.
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Tim Estes
Tim Estes is the president of Estes & Gallup, Inc., which was first incorporated in 1972 and since that time has steadily and proudly built a stellar reputation, first in residential construction, and for the past decade in commercial, industrial, institutional, and retail construction and renovation. Tim is a skilled construction project manager with over 20 years of experience. His specialty is pre-construction and project programming along with construction phase management. He particularly enjoys being a member of the project team from conception and tackling tough logistical issues.
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Bill Maclay
Bill Maclay is the author of the comprehensive resource for net-zero building design, The New Net Zero (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2014), and founding principal of Maclay Architects of Waitsfield, Vermont. Bill has pioneered a replicable model for net zero and environmentally sustainable architecture. Through practice, advocacy, and outreach, Bill has influenced thousands in creating a renewable planet. By making sustainability inherent to his practice, Bill has been at the forefront of designing innovative projects that have served as replicable, concrete, and cost-effective models for over four decades. His firm has designed more than 14 net-zero and net-zero ready buildings, including office, educational, manufacturing, municipal, and commercial buildings in cold climates.
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Andrew Winter
Andrew Winter is the executive director of Twin Pines Housing, the leading developer and provider of affordable housing in the Upper Connecticut River Valley region for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes in Vermont and New Hampshire. He is an experienced real estate professional with a varied background in the affordable housing industry as a developer, lender, and investor. He is an attorney with low-income housing tax credit experience, as well as lending and underwriting experience.
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Beyond Energy Efficiency-Why Embodied Carbon in Materials Matters
Envelope, Both Residential and Commercial- Chris Magwood, Endeavour Centre
- Ace McArleton, New Frameworks Natural Design/Build
- Jacob Racusin, New Frameworks Natural Design/Build
The impact of materials and the construction process on a building's carbon footprint are referred to as "embodied carbon." With today's more energy-efficient enclosures and mechanical systems, as well as cleaner energy sources, some of the largest carbon impacts can come before the building has been occupied. The good news is that building materials can store large amounts of carbon taken from the atmosphere and act as "carbon sinks," banking carbon emissions for generations. This session will look at why embodied carbon matters and how it relates to operational carbon emissions. The panel will present both real-world case studies and modeled scenarios to illustrate the impact different materials and methods have on the embodied carbon profile of the building. Presenters will make recommendations on a range of strategies that designers and builders can use to reduce their buildings' carbon footprint and turn them into carbon sinks. Finally, the session will discuss activities of the Embodied Carbon Network, a national professional group tackling this issue head-on and showcasing the most cutting-edge strategies.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 1About the Speaker(s)-
Chris Magwood
Chris Magwood is obsessed with making energy-efficient, beautiful, and inspiring buildings without wrecking the planet. He co-founded Camel's Back Construction and has designed or built around 20 homes and a few commercial buildings, mostly with straw bales and often with renewable energy systems. He brings this experience and passion to his role as curriculum developer and instructor at Endeavour. He loves working with learners and collaborating with professionals and newcomers alike to create remarkable buildings and communities. Chris has won numerous design and teaching awards, including a Home Sweet Home Award for Affordable Housing.
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Ace McArleton
Ace McArleton started out as an apprentice in the union masonry trades doing commercial construction in urban areas. He founded New Frameworks Natural Design/Build to offer green remodeling and new construction services, blending natural building materials and methods with high-performance design. Ace teaches in the Natural Building certificate program at the Yestermorrow School, is co-author of The Natural Building Companion (Chelsea Green, 2012), and led his business's conversion to a worker cooperative in 2016. Ace is passionate about finding practical, regional solutions to build healthy, just communities now into the future.
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Jacob Racusin
Jacob Deva Racusin is co-owner of New Frameworks Natural Design/Build, offering services in green remodeling, new construction, consultation, and education, featuring low-impact, high-performance building technologies. Through his work as a designer, builder, consultant, and educator, Jacob is able to merge his passions for fine craft, ecological stewardship, relationship to place, and social justice. Jacob is Program Director of the Certificate in Building Science and Net Zero Design at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School, and is a BPI-certified contractor and certified Passive House consultant. Jacob wrote Essential Building Science (New Society, 2016) and The Natural Building Companion (Chelsea Green, 2012), which he co-authored with Ace McArleton.
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Meeting the Passive House Airtightness Standard in a Historic Downtown Building
Envelope, Both Residential and Commercial- Lynn Cetrano, Black River Design Architects
- Sue Cobb, Housing Vermont
- Jon Haehnel, BVH Integrated Services
- Dave Stanley, Trumbull-Nelson Construction Company
The Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) has one of the most stringent building airtightness standards in the United States. This standard is very challenging to meet in new construction of multifamily housing. Is it even possible to meet the same standard in an existing historic downtown Montpelier multistory building? This panel discussion will describe the strategies taken to meet the PHIUS standard. There will be four presenters. The architect and building enclosure commissioning agent will describe what areas were focused on to ensure that the 0.05 CFM50/exterior surface area standard was met. The owner representative will discuss why the Passive House airtightness goal was important to the long-term affordability of the property. The site superintendent will talk about the challenges of implementing the details on the job site.
Presentation(s):
Level: Intermediate
Accreditation: AEE, AFE, AIA LU/HSW, ASHRAE, BPI, CSI, LEED
Room: Emerald 2About the Speaker(s)-
Lynn Cetrano
Lynn is a project manager at Black River Design Architects. She has worked on both new and renovation projects over the past 19 years with the company. Lynn has worked on various project types including education, hospitality, institutional care, housing, medical office and historic preservation. She enjoyed the collaborative approach of the French Block project as the team worked on finding the best solutions to combine energy efficiency, historic preservation and housing standards from design through construction.
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Sue Cobb
Sue is a project manager at Housing Vermont and has worked on many historic renovations projects in her 28 years with the company. Sue is particularly interested in balancing energy efficiency strategies, resident comfort, and capital and operating costs, with building code, ventilation requirements and historic preservation standards.
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Jon Haehnel
Jon has been testing and inspecting institutional and commercial buildings for over 16 years. Jon has tested buildings as large as a city block in downtown Manhattan and as small as 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. Jon is currently the blower door and energy auditor instructor for Vermont Technical College and the coauthor of the paper Setting Airtightness Standards in the ASHRAE Journal. He has also presented on building envelope commissioning at the Better Buildings by Design Conference in Burlington, VT in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
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Dave Stanley
Dave Stanley has been with Trumbull-Nelson for 33 years. He has run projects since he was 23 years old, starting with small residential projects and working his way up to large commercial projects. Dave enjoys all the challenges that constructing new or old buildings bring.