Tag: energy efficiency

Eco-Ambassadors Tour the SEC

Recently, the Science and Engineering Complex (SEC), located on the Medford/Somerville campus at 200 College Avenue, received LEED Gold certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a voluntary green building rating system that recognizes high-performance, energy efficient and sustainable buildings.

On Wednesday afternoon, 11 Eco-Ambassadors went on a tour of the SEC to better understand what makes the building so energy efficient.

Elliott Miller and Michael Skeldon from Facilities Services along with Bruce Panilaitis, the Director of the Science and Engineering Complex, led the group through the architecturally stunning building to explain the inner workings of this state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind building.

Repurposing Tufts’ History

The exterior of an older building accents the new modern building’s interior

In the initial planning stages, the SEC was set to be built next to the location of the older Robinson and Anderson Halls, with potential plans to demolish Robinson Hall. However, they later decided to preserve both of the older buildings and convert them into wings of the new SEC. Not only is this more sustainable, it also helps preserve the history of the University. What is left is a stunning juxtaposition of old and new with the exposed brick visible within the modern interior of the atrium of the building.

The SEC houses several departments including Biology, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, as well as the offices and labs of several other departments. The structure of the spaces provides ample opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Energy Efficiency

The SEC is designed for maximum energy efficiency. The building has tight doors and a white reflective roof to reduce the summer cooling load. While having an all-glass exterior may seem inefficient, the triple glazing on all SEC windows reduces heat loss in cooler months and helps keep the building cool in warmer months.

The volume of air that goes in and out of the building is tightly controlled. Conditioned air is recirculated from office and classroom areas and blended in with outside air for laboratory use. The building also uses low and medium temperature chilled water to provide year-round cooling. The chilled water has two systems and different supply temperatures (38°F and ~60°F) to optimize the efficiency of the CEP (Central Energy Plant) chillers and to provide efficient condensation free cooling without risking dripping from the chilled beam cooling.

Scheduling and occupancy sensors are built into each lab and office in the SEC and daylight dimming sensors automatically control the light levels in rooms to adjust for varying amounts of sunlight. There are also carbon dioxide air quality sensors in meeting rooms. When there are more people, more air is let into the room to maintain a consistent minimum air quality level and a comfortable temperature. If no one is detected in the room after a preset amount of time, the lighting is turned off and the heating or cooling set-points are significantly relaxed to minimize energy use until someone reoccupies the space.

Exposed piping on the ceiling of a lab in the SEC

Exposed piping on the ceiling of a lab in the SEC

A striking aspect of the building is the exposed ductwork and piping which actually has a very practical purpose — having all of the valves and airflow controls exposed allows technicians to easily see the control position indicators of the equipment and troubleshoot a malfunction, often without even having to get a ladder. This allows for quicker repairs which reduce the amount of time when energy can be wasted as the problem is being solved.

Sustainable Lab Design

A typical lab bench in the SEC, with components plugged into the ceiling which can be easily removed and replaced to suit the researchers' needs

A typical lab bench in the SEC

The SEC’s new LEED Gold certification is particularly notable because of how difficult it can be to achieve a sustainable design in a laboratory building. These types of buildings tend to be highly energy dependent and unsustainable due to necessary safety precautions and the complex needs of lab occupants. Air changes in lab spaces are particularly important as they make sure that the air stays clean of contaminants and at a moderated temperature.

One of the tour guides, elliott miller, points to the exposed piping in the ceiling to explain the air ventilation systems in a lab

Elliott explaining the air ventilation systems

 

The building’s lab spaces use a minimum amount of air changes to reduce the amount of heating or cooling necessary to maintain the laboratory environment. To help optimize the air change rates, an air quality system monitor made by Aircuity, a company headquartered in Newton MA, measures certain parameters like VOCs, dust, humidity, and CO2, and compares them to the outside air. The system samples the air every 15 minutes and if abnormalities are detected, the frequency of air changes (air from the laboratory gets sucked out and replaced by new air coming in from the outside) is increased until the contaminants in the air are back down to an acceptable level.

Normally,  a minimum of five air changes occur each hour during the day, and less at night when no one is in the building. Mike explained that this is much less than some other laboratories that are designed to constantly exhaust 10 to 12 air changes in an hour.

The labs also have high-efficiency low flow fume hoods that are able to sense how much air should be flowing based on whether the fume is open or shut and if there is a person present. When no one is present, less air is drawn through which helps to further conserve energy.

The labs also accommodate a wide range of research needs while respecting sustainability. “A key aspect of efficiency is adaptability,” Michael explained. In the SEC, each level has the same basic layout even though the building is used by many different departments.

In addition, the individual labs are designed to be easily modified. The furniture is not fixed so that it can be easily moved at any time and infrastructure aspects such as vacuums, chords, chemicals, and gas can be easily installed or removed from fixtures on the ceiling. This allows the needs of the researchers occupying the lab at any given time to be easily met without needing to significantly change the physical space.

Utilizing the SEC

The SEC is as functional and practical as it is energy-efficient and beautiful!

One of the biggest challenges of introducing a new, state-of-the-art building such as the SEC comes after the construction is completed. A building with many sustainable functions cannot live up to its full potential without the understanding and support of its occupants. For example, even though air is tightly controlled to ensure the highest possible energy efficiency, this is rendered useless if the occupants decide to leave the windows open in their office all day.

While there will be a slight learning curve to using the building, the SEC is sure to provide a comfortable and exciting learning and innovating space for students, faculty, and other researchers for years to come.

Regional EM&V Forum Internship, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (Lexington, MA)

Intern Responsibilities May Include:

Research and Analyses

• Track and collect recently completed evaluation studies from the Forum region and update the Forum’s Repository of State & Topical EM&V Studies
• Research state, regional and national evaluation policies and activities and update the Forum’s EM&V Resource Library
• Provide support to the REED Manager to review and conduct QC on data submitted to REED, including analysis of data and cross referencing with savings assumptions from state Technical Reference Manuals (TRMs)

Project Management Assistance

• Proof read documents and reports
• Attend project subcommittee teleconferences/meetings and take notes
• Compile information for project management updates
• Assist with communications to project subcommittees

Administrative

• Assist with Forum website updates (e.g. monthly calendars, subcommittee membership lists, subcommittee meeting information)
• Complete Forum contact list updates (e.g. distribution lists, tracking worksheets, private website user permissions)

The Intern may take on other tasks, based on needs and the Intern’s interest and ability.

 

Application Deadline: 4/21/2015
Apply on Jumbo Jobs

Energy Efficiency Residential Outreach Intern (Boston, MA)

MASS ENERGY CONSUMERS ALLIANCE

284 Amory Street, Boston, MA 02130

This intern will work closely with the outreach team to organize, promote, and staff community events and Renew Boston workshops. Additionally, the intern will research and help implement new strategies to connect Boston residents and landlords with the appropriate programs to save energy, save money, and reduce their carbon footprint. Intern will also have the opportunity to assist with Mass Energy’s Discount Heating Oil, Green Power, and Renewable Thermal initiatives. For more information, please contact Eugenia Gibbons at eugenia@massenergy.org.

Deadline to apply is Friday, February 13 at 5 PM

Energy Efficiency Market Development Lead (St. Louis, MO)

KCM Consulting Services, Inc. – St. Louis, MO

An innovative, nationally recognized non-profit Company that provides energy efficiency and green-building services is seeking candidates to fill our opening for a new Market Development Lead position. The Market Development Lead will be responsible for managing the operations of our new office opening in the East St. Louis (Metro area).

Our mission is to deliver smarter energy use for all. We design and implement energy efficiency programs that lower costs, protect the environment, and ensure the benefits of energy efficiency reach those who need them most.

The new office will provide energy efficiency and cost-effective green building services that improve the performance, health and durability of buildings in East St. Louis (Metro area as well as down state IL). Our clients are typically owners of multifamily housing, (with an emphasis on affordable housing) but we also provide services to community-based projects such as municipal, and educational buildings. These projects will include buildings that are being newly constructed, as well as those being renovated, or those only seeking improved energy efficiency. The work requires technical competency in building science and/or construction management and/or energy efficiency, as well as experience with: business development, marketing, customer relationships, management, and finance.

The Market Development Lead will effectively engage local stakeholders to develop a local presence and cultivate relationships with affordable housing owners and managers to generate a robust pipeline of projects for our multifamily energy efficiency services.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Development & Stakeholder Engagement

• Coordinate and host meetings with local stakeholders (such as state housing officials, financing agencies, utilities, trade organizations and others) to develop key partnerships necessary to establish a presence in the St. Louis metro area and Southern Illinois as a multifamily energy efficiency service provider. 

• Cultivate relationships with subsidized and unsubsidized affordable multifamily building owners and organizations that interface with property owners and managers to develop a client base and project pipeline for multifamily energy efficiency services. 

• Engage local utilities, lenders, state agencies and other potential entities that may finance or incentivize energy efficiency improvements to develop a full package of support for owners to move forward with energy improvements. 

• Represent the Company with clients and with local, state, and national energy efficiency stakeholders 

at meetings, conferences, etc. 

• Communicate regular project/program updates and results to internal and external stakeholders.

Project Management

• Eventual set up and management of a satellite office for the Company located in the East St. Louis metro area. Including hiring staff as needed. 

• Manage multiple projects and prospective client engagements simultaneously. Specifically, energy efficiency services for multifamily properties going through a substantial or moderate rehabilitation and/or applying for green building certification to meet Low‐income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Allocation Plan requirements. 

• Develop business strategy to grow Elevate Energy’s operation in the St. Louis metro area 

• Conduct energy efficiency audits and inspect energy efficiency retrofits, as needed 

• Communicate with contractors and oversee construction management as necessary 

• Perform other duties as required in assistance to and in cooperation with other Company staff.

QUALIFICATION/SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree very desirable. At least 5 years’ experience in affordable multifamily housing, energy efficiency, building science or related field required. 

• BPI, CEM, HERS, and/or LEED accreditation and experience certifying projects a plus. 

• Experience conducting energy audits and building inspections 

• Demonstrated ability to manage projects and client engagements. 

• Excellent writing and public speaking skills required. 

• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines with high degree of accuracy. 

• Excellent organization skills. 

• Willingness to travel extensively throughout the St. Louis metro area. 

• Valid Driver’s License

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or job applicant based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age disability, veteran status, or marital status. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, termination, promotion, transfer, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Required experience:

  • building science, construction management, energy efficiency, marketing, leadership: 5 years of related experience.

Please send your resume and cover letter to kasey@kcmconsultingservicesinc.com

Thanks for your help!