Noel's Green (make that SUSTAINABLE) Blog » LEED Certified

A Flow Chart for commissioning

noel — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:57:57 +0000

Alright, I will get off my high horse now and back on my regular horse. Back on the subject of energy and high performance buildings. Recently I have had the good fortune of connecting with some very good people and I am busy again at my profession. I am working with a great commissioning team doing LEED projects. I must say, it is gratifying to be using my experience and brains for a good cause: making a better built environment.

Here is a flow chart that I like. Charts are great for reducing complicated processes down to one glance… I like a good flow chart because they are visual, and I tend to be visual, maybe because of my defective ears.

This chart was borrowed from ASHRAE by the National Institute for Building Sciences (NIBS), and is posted on their Whole Building Design Guide web site. Click on the thumbnail to see the full size version.

How to Sustain the Energy Efficient Design

noel — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:40:35 +0000

I am worried now. A new report just came out showing that 85% of CMMS (Computerized Management and Maintenance System) software being purchased is not being used. This is software that is supposed to be used by facilities managers to streamline their work, but apparently without much eagerness.

An excellent commentary in this months Engineered Systems magazine, entitled Tomorrow’s Environment: A Failure to Plan Is A Plan To Fail by Howard McKew, exposes the weak link in the chain between energy efficient design and the long term operation and maintenance of said design. How do we know they are getting what they paid for?

Too often, we don’t know. McKew explains that measurement and verification is often left out of the design due to budget constraints. I think operations often falls under the radar for lack of understanding the need for verifying. And CMMS software, intended to help rectify this problem by making it easier to manage and maintain the many moving parts of a building, apparently doesn’t get used!

I have mentioned ACCOUNTABILITY in previous posts, and here is another sample of what I am talking about. My worrying is well-founded. Filters need to be changed, pump bearings need lubricating, dampers need to be observed in operation, temperature sensors need to be calibrated and so on. HVAC, even when it is designed to be as simple as possible, is still complicated in practice.

What if global warming is actually a hoax?

noel — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:24:56 +0000

What if? Energy independence, green jobs, deal with peak oil , have healthier children, cleaner air and water, save the rainforests….

A better world hoax

Calculating the advantage of a LEED certified building

noel — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:07:23 +0000

This doesn’t need any explanation.

LEED certified office buildings excel

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Additional editorial on LEED and Energy Star marketability