Journal of Indoor Environmental Quality

The story behind energy, entropy, efficiency, exergy and efficacy

We just released our long awaited simplified summary of energy, entropy, efficiency, exergy and efficacy based on our brand new presentation on sustainability and early feedback from industry leaders has been great. It’s all consolidated into a single web page – written of course in basic easy to understand language and linked back to numerous pages within the www.healthyheating.com website.

If you missed the HRAI of Canada’s annual general meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta, saw the sustainability slides posted earlier but wanted the descriptive language – well now you have it.

Also be sure to check out our updated Indoor Air Quality presentation, Inspecting Hydronic Systems and Skill Sets slides from the Canadian Hydronic Council meeting held in the spring.

Manitoba Hydro Place - A New Benchmark for Cold Climate Buildings

I’ve had the opportunity to tour a number of great projects already this year and the latest is Winnipeg’s own - Manitoba Hydro Place.

After three days of presenting the HRAI of Canada’s Indoor Air Quality Awareness program I'd have to say it is by far one of the most comfortable buildings I’ve had the pleasure of teaching in…in fact one of the most striking difference was experienced during our tour of the mechanical rooms which were extremely clean, quiet and cool – a stark contrast to the loud, dirty and hot rooms typically found in buildings across America.

I took numerous photo’s while there and have shared a few here in the blog. (t) Solar chimney, (m) Geothermal manifold, (b) Solar chimney against the smoke stack from the old power plant – my how times have changed!

A big thanks to industry colleague Rob Andrushuk, C.Tech., Mechanical Systems Specialist with Manitoba Hydro for hosting the IAQ course and for arranging the top to bottom tour and to Mark Pauls, B.Sc., EIT, Building Energy Engineer for the pre-tour presentation and walk around…outstanding!

Suggested links:
Project description and history: GreenSource, March Issue
Technical paper: Manitoba Hydro Place, Integrated Design Process Exemplar (PLEA2009 - 26th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Quebec City, Canada, 22-24 June 2009)  

To learn more the concepts used in this project visit these links:

Radiant Cooling

Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems

Indoor Environmental Quality with Radiant Based HVAC System

Thermally Active Surfaces in Architecture

Excerpt: “Departing from the simple question Why do we heat and cool buildings with air?, this book focuses on the technique of thermally active surfaces. This technique uses water in building surfaces to heat and cool bodies - a method that is at once more efficient, comfortable, and healthy. This technique thus imbues the fabric of the building with a more poignant role: its structure is also its primary heating and cooling system. In doing so, this approach triggers a cascading set of possibilities for how well buildings are built, how well they perform, and how long they will last: pointing the way toward multiple forms of sustainability.” Source: Princeton Architectural Press

Learn more here: http://www.papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781568988801

RBc: I’ve just reviewed this new addition to our library of recommended reading for design professionals. Author Kiel Moe is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the Northeastern University School of Architecture and has done an outstanding job illustrating the benefits of thermally active surfaces. We have been preaching thermally activated building systems (TABS) for many years and we’re pleased to see a section in this new resource from www.healthyheating.com contributor Geoff McDonell, B.Sc., P.Eng., LEED™ Ap. For more articles from Geoff use the search feature above.

The quality of this book is equal to any higher education text book on architecture, structural design, interior design and HVAC engineering with outstanding easy to understand graphics. We especially appreciate the inclusion of design details from numerous TABS projects from around the world.

A must have for the student or design professional.

Las Vegas MGM Mirage City Center - Mechanical Facility

Las Vegas MGM Mirage City Center - Tour of Mechanical Facility

Just getting back from the Uponor radiant cooling engineering conference and have to say the tour of the Las Vegas MGM Mirage City Center Mechanical Facility was outstanding.   The entire MGM project covers approximately 18,000,000 square feet and spans 67 acres which includes the Aria, Mandarin, Veer, Harmon, and Vdara Hotels/condos as well as Crystals retail and entertainment district which is the largest retail facility to receive LEED™ Gold Core and Shell certification.

Crystals uses a fully automated mechanical system which includes radiant floor cooling to meet ASHRAE and LEED’s energy and thermal comfort requirements, additional specifications include:

• Remote Central Plant for chilled water allowing more usable space within the complex
• Two 4,000 kW gas turbine generators
• Two 400 BHP waste heat hot water boilers
• Six 5,740 ton dual-compressors, 12.47 kV water chillers for a total of 34,440 tons of cooling
• Six 10,890 gpm of field-erected cooling towers for a total of 65,340 GPM of
condenser water
• Three 1000-BHP hot water boilers which are integrated with the cogeneration system waste heat recover units
• Three 2,500 kW, 12.47 kV, diesel fired emergency generators 

A big thank you to my co-presenter, Peter Simmonds, Ph.D., event host Uponor, and the 700 plus invited conference attendees who made this engineering conference possible.
 

 

Learn more about radiant cooling:
http://www.healthyheating.com/Page%2055/Page_55_i_cooling_eq.htm

2010 Uponor Convention | Radiant Cooling Engineering Summit , Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, April 8-9

 
Join us for the 2010 Uponor Convention — our largest gathering of professionals who install, design and specify PEX radiant cooling and heating systems, plumbing and fire sprinkler systems.

Taking place at the fabulous five-diamond Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, you won’t want to miss our major industry announcement as well as the premiere of the new Uponor Advantage program.

We’ll also offer product and program seminars and exhibits, fun speakers, evening events and of course, lots of fun. Only Uponor can put on an event like this.

Convention Details Date: April 8 and 9, 2010
Time: Kick off meeting Thursday, 2 p.m.; wind down with a reception Friday evening
Cost: $649 USD initial guests; $300 USD each additional companion sharing the same room
Includes: Two nights lodging at the Bellagio, meals, convention activities and a registration gift

To make registration changes, contact the Uponor Travel Team at 866.247.7478.
___

RBc: I'm looking forward to presenting at this convention...lots of great stuff including the opportunity to hear Peter Simmonds, Ph.D. of IBE Consulting Engineers, talk about some of the unique projects he's worked on including New Yorks Cooper Union…bonus for those attending is to see the City Center Las Vegas project with over 500,000 square feet of radiant cooling courtesy of the summit host – Uponor.

ASHRAE Technology Awards Highlight Outstanding Building Projects

ORLANDO, Fla.–Designers of systems for two office buildings, a warehouse and college library are recognized by ASHRAE for incorporating elements of innovative building design.

First place recipients of the ASHRAE Technology Awards were recognized at the Society’s 2010 Winter Conference, held this week in Orlando, Fla. The recipients have applied ASHRAE standards for effective energy management.

The first place winners in their respective categories are:

1.    The Terry Thomas (Michael Hedrick, Thomas Marseille, P.E. and Long Lam; Stantec Consulting; Seattle, Wash)

2.    Sobey’s Warehouse (Martin Roy, P.Eng.; Martin Roy et Associés, Inc.; Deux-Montagnes, Québec, Canada)

3.    IDeAs Design Facility (Peter Rumsey, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE; Rumsey Engineers; Oakland, Calif)

4.    The Richard J. Klarcheck Information Commons Building (Donald McLauchlan, P.E., Steven Maze and David Lavan; Elara Energy Services, Inc.; Hillside, Ill.)

For further information on these projects contact:

Amanda Dean
Public Relations
678-539-1216
adean (at) ashrae.org

RBc: Congratulations to the winners and of special note is the use of hydronics and floor heating in all the outstanding building projects.

 

Fundamentals of Thermal Comfort and Indoor Air Quality

 

We’ve just uploaded our signature presentation which we do as part of our volunteer activities for the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). This material focuses on the fundamentals of thermal comfort and indoor air quality.

Be sure to sign up for our feed link to stay abreast of new content.

Building knowledge for a sustainable tomorrow - Construct Canada

Uponor Seminar Series Building knowledge for a sustainable tomorrow.

Date: December 4, 2008 Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Room 802 T, in conjunction with Construct Canada.

RSVP, visit www.uponorrsvp.ca and sign up.

The deadline to RSVP is November 28, 2008.

Are you interested in hearing from Canada’s foremost leaders in sustainability, hydronics and fire safety? Uponor is bringing these experts together under one roof in the inaugural Uponor Seminar Series. This must-attend industry event will feature discussions on:

• Some of the emerging trends in sustainable construction presented by John Godden:

John Godden brings more than 20 years of experience to the table as a designer/hands-on builder, working on projects that include the "Clearsphere" CHBC EnviroHome. A graduate of the Bachelor of Environmental Studies program at the University of Waterloo, he is heavily involved in the R2000, ENERGY STAR, EnerGuide and CMHC Healthy Home programs. John dedicates his time and experience to improving the quality of energy efficiency, air quality and building practices throughout the home building industry. John is currently working with twenty Greater Toronto Area builders who are constructing LEED model homes.

• The impacts of radiant-based HVAC systems on sustainability presented by Robert Bean.

Robert Bean is a registered engineering technologist in the field of building construction engineering. He is an avid student of industrial design (the way things look) and indoor environmental ergonomics (the way things feel). In 2007, Robert was selected as a distinguished lecturer for the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers speaking on the Human Factor in HVAC, Radiant-based HVAC Systems and Snow Melting Systems. He is the editor for The Journal of Indoor Environmental Quality, and www.healthyheating.com, a not-for-profit website on anthropology, architecture and indoor environmental ergonomics.

• How an effective residential fire safety system can provide homeowners with a safe and sustainable home presented by John Caruso.

John Caruso is the Chief Fire Prevention Officer for the City of Vaughan. John has been involved in fire service for 23 years, spending 21 of those years in fire suppression. He is also the Community Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Vaughan.

Uponor Westcoast AIA ConEd slides now available

John Siegenthaler and I had the opportunity to work with Uponor, an AIA registered provider in delivering a continuing education program in Seattle, Portland, Oakland and Los Angeles. You can view the slides on indoor environmental quality and radiant cooling and heating at this link:

Thanks to Team Uponor for hosting a great event!
RB

Radiant Panel Association REX 2008 Slides Available

Thanks to the Larry and the entire staff from the Radiant Panel Association and to the attendees of the 2008 Radiant Exhibition held in Chicago, Il. It was another wonderfully warming event!

Slides for the conference are noted below.

Sustainable Construction Practices

Making Radiant Systems Simple and Affordable

Be sure to visit the Radiant Panel Association, where you can find all kinds of resources on panel heating and cooling.