If you design, construct, operate or maintain any type of building, it is important to know how that building works.  Understanding how air, moisture, heat, and pressure move and change in indoor environments is critical if you want to create a healthy, energy-efficient environment where people can live, work, learn or play. 

This session will introduce the essential building science concepts that are most often used when:

• making materials choices
• building wall and roof components
• installing heating and ventilation systems
• renovating existing structures
• changing use and occupancy of the building from its original purpose and capacity

Attendees are encouraged to bring their building science stories (success or failure!) to share at the session.

Working Towards Zero-Energy Ready Buildings

Moderator:  Sam Rashkin, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Washington, DC

Case Studies by:

• Alan Gibson, G.O. Logic Architecture and Construction, Belfast, ME (residential)
• Mat Ward, Architect – WBRC Architects & Engineers, Bangor ME; (multi-family)
  Andrew Rudnicki, Mechanical Engineer – WBRC Architects & Engineers, Bangor, ME;
  Brian Bowman, Co-Owner and Vice President, Bowman Constructors, Newport, ME
• Phil Kaplan, AIA, Kaplan Thompson Architects – Portland, ME (school)

Overview. Make no mistake about it. The vast innovation imperative transforming every industry is coming soon to the building industry near you! You can no longer escape the rapidly accelerating rate of change. This is because your buyers are smarter than they have ever been before and not nearly as smart as they will be next year and each year after. Lowest cost per square foot will no longer close the deal.  And we haven’t even begun to talk about the new risks confronting builders as energy codes have reached the building science tipping point…the point where homes and other buildings get wet more easily, can no longer dry if they get wet, provide less fresh air, provide less filtration, and experience longer swing seasons and less air flow.  Zero is the answer:  buildings that dramatically reduce your risk and result in a product that will vastly exceed your buyers’ expectations with better affordability, comfort, health, safety, durability and quality. Americans want this level of excellence. They just don’t know it’s available and how to get it… yet.

This seminar will provide a comprehensive review of Zero-Energy Ready construction including the business case, detailed specifications, and opportunities to be recognized as an industry leader.  In the process, attendees will learn the answers to the following questions:

·         What is the future of housing (and other buildings) and why is it headed there?

·         What critical components define a truly zero-energy ready building?

·         How are builders offering zero-energy ready buildings today at market-based prices?

·         Why are zero-energy ready buildings often the lowest cost option for homebuyers?

·         What eight compelling value propositions are unique to zero-energy ready buildings?

·         How can zero-energy ready buildings substantially lower builders’ risks?

·         How can zero-energy ready buildings be constructed with readily available, tried-and-true technologies and practices?

·         How can builders achieve significant recognition for providing zero-energy ready performance?

·         How can builders improve their ability to achieve higher appraisal valuations for high-performance buildings?

·         What resources are available to assist builders with zero-energy ready projects?

 

Resolving an IAQ Complaint

Presenter:  Ed Light, President – Building Dynamics, LLC – Ashton, MD

Facility managers, employers, building owners, professional consultants and others frequently receive complaints about the healthfulness of the indoor environment.  They are faced with the challenge of trying to both help the individual with the complaint, as well as diagnose and address any building issues.  It can quickly become incredibly complex:  What if the initial building investigation doesn’t find a problem? What if the problem found doesn’t match the health complaint of the occupant?  How much information should be shared with employees, parents, and others about any problems in the building?

This program will explore the challenges faced by building owners, facility managers, health professionals, consultants, and others when handling an IAQ complaint. Guidance will be provided for effective assessment and mitigation of both routine IAQ concerns and complex IAQ complaints. The program emphasizes the value of the approach represented in the U.S. EPA/NIOSH Building Air Quality Guide, which  provides strategies for general evaluation and traditional engineering approaches in lieu of general air sampling. Presentations will include how to communicate with concerned occupants and identify HVAC deficiencies.

The session will focus on practical strategies and proven techniques for:

• Determining whether a health complaint is real or perceived
• Investigating the building
• Evaluating the patient
• Matching the health complaint with building conditions
• Sampling and roblem solving
• Risk management and communications
• Strategies for the future (after the building fix)

Presenter(s):

• Moderator: Ed Light – Building Dynamics, LLC, Ashton, MD
• Paula Schenck, MPH – UConn Health, Farmington, CT
• Kris Anderson,P.E. – KG Anderson, Bath, ME
• Ron Lessard, CIH – Indoor Ecologic, Brunswick, ME

To Test or Not to Test:  A “Debate”

Moderator:  Paula Schenck, MPH, Director of Indoor Environment & Health Programs, University of Connecticut

Indoor Air Quality testing is used by a variety of professionals to assist them in diagnosing problems in indoor environments and/or determining the scope of indoor pollutant contamination.  This session will explore the pro’s and con’s of traditional approaches which rely on interpretation of test results to draw conclusions about the indoor environment, with other available approaches that rely on building inspection/evaluation and problem solving.

The session will start with three, 30 minute presentations on:

• Microbiological testing – Mark Coleman, President, Environmental Safety & Hygiene, Westbrook, ME
• Chemical Testing – Presenter TBA
• Limitations of Testing – Ed Light, Building Dynamics LLC, Ashton, MD

These presentations will then be followed by an open debate of the various viewpoints.  Audience participation will be encouraged!  Moderator:  Paula Schenck, MPH, Director of Indoor Environment and Health Programs, UConn health, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of CT, Farmington, CT