Green Intelligent Buildings Conference Baltimore, April 2-3, 2008

Jeff Seewald, PE, Intelligent Building Systems Engineer

More than 170 people attended the Green Intelligent Buildings Conference produced by Engineered Systems in Baltimore April 2-3 to learn about and discuss intelligent buildings and how they deliver on sustainability and to network with industry experts and peers. Attendees included building owners and facility managers, energy managers, consulting engineers, system integrators, and suppliers.

Jeff Harris of the Alliance to Save Energy kicked off the event with a keynote presentation summarizing recently enacted landmark energy legislation, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. In workshops, Bob Bittner, Director of Energy and Physical Plant for Wake County Public School System, and Thomas Russo, Chief Technology Officer for Akridge, a commercial real estate firm, engaged and inspired attendees by sharing their experiences and aspirations, and how they pursue green and intelligent buildings in their roles as stewards of building operations and energy management. Then, over the next two days, this premiere educational industry event covered a broad range of topics, including:

• Emerging technologies
• Industry programs
• Lighting controls
• Benchmarking, assessing, and improving building performance
• Maintaining building intelligence
• The role of controls in green and sustainable buildings
• Industry case studies
• Energy and demand response

In all sessions, attendees interacted with industry experts. Common threads throughout the conference illustrated a strong connection to sustainability, linking intelligent buildings and green buildings. Here are some highlights from the sessions:

• Graham Martin, Founder of EnOcean Alliance, presented self-powered wireless sensors and switches.
• C-H Zah of Interface presented a concept for an intelligent floor that creates an internal map of a building, enabling a variety of new applications.
• Sharon Dinges of Trane shared the user-centered design methodology used to develop HVAC and building automation products that are more attuned to the user.
• Paul Ehrlich, President of Building Intelligence Group, provided an update on the Commercial Buildings Initiative (or CBI). A broad-based public/private partnership, CBI will drive market transformation and implementation of zero net energy commercial buildings.
• Rebecca Ellis, President of Questions and Solutions Engineering, discussed commissioning of intelligent buildings, including LEED commissioning.
• Mark Jewell, Founder and President of RealWinWin Inc., described commercial real estate energy efficiency programs and how green and intelligent building systems and practices create value.
• Lighting controls experts provided an overview of intelligent lighting and daylighting controls. This panel included:
    o Meg Smith, Lightolier
    o Daniel Trevino, WattStopper/Legrand
    o Ron Poskevich, Lumisys
    o George Strickland, Somfy
• Jack McGowan, President of Energy Control Inc., moderated a very strong session on Energy and Demand Response that ranged from utility perspectives to state-of-the-art demand response technology.

A networking reception at the conclusion of the first day featured exhibits by sponsors of the event, including Trane, Johnson Controls, Lumisys, Tridium, AirTest, Encelium, EnOcean Alliance, Viconics, and ELODRIVE.

This coming fall, another conference will again illustrate the contribution of building automation and controls to sustainability as Engineered Systems Magazine joins with BACnet International to produce the Green Sustainable Building Controls Conference in Dallas, September 22-24, 2008.

For additional coverage of the Green Intelligent Buildings Conference, please see: Making Green Buildings Intelligent: How to Link Green Buildings and the Smart Grid.

About the Author

Jeff Seewald is a licensed professional engineer who brings nearly 20 years of experience in commercial buildings systems applications engineering and systems optimization to Building Intelligence Group.

He is experienced in IT networks, integrated controls, HVAC equipment and applications engineering. Most recently, Jeff has been involved in the definition, development, and deployment of next generation web based building automation products. Prior experience includes supporting building systems applications and engineering analysis involving heat transfer and fluid dynamics for which he has been awarded several patents. His work reflects a passion for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability.

At Building Intelligence Group, Jeff provides commercial building clients with analysis and solutions to help them achieve greater levels of functionality, efficiency, and intelligence in buildings.

Jeff earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.

About Building Intelligence Group LLC
Building Intelligence Group LLC is an independent consulting firm that provides technical and strategic consulting services with a focus on sustainability and intelligent buildings. For more information please visit: www.buildingintelligencegroup.com. 

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