Sieben Blog

"Carbon Nation" Nominated for Environmental Media Award

Sarah Barnes — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:11:00 GMT

A nominee for best documentary at the Environmental Media Awards, “Carbon Nation” is a film very close to Sieben Energy Associates. CEO Craig Sieben was a producer on the film which was released in February 2011. The Environmental Media Association (EMA) advocates for environmental responsibility in the entertainment industry. EMA’s annual Environmental Media Awards honors films and television programming that demonstrates achievements in delivering effective green messages. “Carbon Nation” discusses the issues and the solutions surrounding climate change through interviews with a diverse group of people combating climate change. The film documents how a low-carbon economy would provide not only solutions to climate change, but also address current pressing social and economic problems; including job creation, public health, and national security. The EMA presents their awards October 15, 2011.

Energy Star Unveils Residential High-Rise Program

Liz Brady — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:18:00 GMT

Energy Star has announced a new program focusing on multifamily residential high-rise buildings. According to the program website, this new designation for multifamily high-rises (dubbed “MFHR”) is intended for “new or substantially renovated” buildings. Energy Star aims to incorporate energy efficient design elements such as high-performance insulation and windows, efficient HVAC equipment, and Energy Star rated appliances into these new residential spaces. These elements not only minimize the building’s energy consumption, they also create a comfortable (and less costly) environment for tenants. The EPA highlights the ability of high-efficiency design and properly-installed systems and insulation to ensure temperatures and indoor air quality stay optimal despite temperature and weather shifts. Especially in a climate with significant seasonal changes like, say, autumn in Chicago, an energy efficient high-rise is designed to keep energy usage and costs to a minimum while keeping its tenants warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The EPA also stresses the significant role that energy efficient buildings play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The MFHR program builds on Energy Star’s existing “New Homes” program, available for new single-family homes and units in low-rise buildings. Existing multifamily residential buildings can also pursue an Energy Star rating through the existing building program. Across the board, rating and certification systems such as Energy Star and LEED are diversifying their offerings, an acknowledgement of the distinct energy usage characteristics and operating requirements for residential buildings. With the advent of LEED for Homes and LEED for Neighborhood Development, the new Energy Star MFHR label, and increasingly detailed space types available in Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager, buildings are getting more specialized treatment. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also announced a $25 million pilot program to spur energy efficiency projects in multi-family residential buildings.

The more nuanced space designations, program requirements, and resource investment will encourage sustainable design and building operations that are distinct to the needs of the space. In this case, meeting requirements of programs such as LEED ND, LEED for Homes, or Energy Star for multifamily high-rise will mean that sustainable practices and energy efficiency requirements represent the building as not just a building, but a place where people live. For energy efficiency and sustainability advocates, not to mention tenants in favor of clean air and lower electric bills—this is excellent news.

Energy Efficiency as an Energy Source

Sarah Barnes — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 13:08:00 GMT

We know energy efficiency to be a solid cost-saving strategy and a smart way to minimize one's carbon footprint; but it’s also one of America’s greatest energy sources. Reframing the debate about energy efficiency into one about energy resource and fossil fuel independence could generate it national attention and ultimately a national standard. The research surrounding Energy Efficiency Resource Standards explains energy efficiency as America’s cleanest, cheapest, fastest and most reliable energy resource. Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS) are policies enforced by public utilities commissions mandating reduced energy use upon retail electricity and natural gas providers. EERS have been successfully implemented in 26 states; the first initiative was in Texas in 1999.

Illinois’ first EERS, SB1592, was signed into action in 2007. SB1592 requires electric utilities to reduce energy use by 0.2% through advancements in efficiency by 2009 and a further 2.0% by 2015. Illinois’ second EERS, SB1918, demands state gas utilities reduce their energy use 0.2% by 2012 and 1.5% by 2015. EERS are performing beyond expectations in states that have adopted them; more than half have met and exceeded their efficiency goals - and all have been creating new jobs, dropping household and business utility bills, and improving environmental conditions. Energy efficiency requires no power lines, no pipelines, emits no pollution, and can be assembled in a fraction of the time it takes new fossil fuel or nuclear facilities.

A 2005 study from the Energy Information Administration showed that the U.S. economy has been saving 90 quadrillion Btu’s per unit GDP since a similar study in 1973. This savings comes mostly from improvements in energy efficiency. With that staggering statistic, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) determined that because 90 quadrillion Btu’s is more than the United States’ own domestic energy production (from coal, oil, and gas combined) “energy efficiency can rightfully be called our largest energy source.”

A national EERS proposal was submitted to the House of Representatives in 2009. HR889, the “Save the American Energy Act” set out to amend the 1974 Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act and put in place “standards at levels reflecting the maximum achievable level of cost-effective energy efficiency potential.” America’s national agenda cites energy independence as a high priority and reframing the debate to include energy efficiency as an immediate solution for energy independence will only strengthen the chances of achieving that goal.

SEA Shares MBCx Success with BOMA Conference Attendees

SEAadmin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:35:00 GMT

On Sunday, June 26^th, Jerry Burin and Chris Philbrick presented “Monitoring Based Commissioning Success” at the International Conference of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) in Washington, D.C. Their presentation explored the monitoring-based commissioning (MBCx) process, an innovative, data-driven approach to achieving improved energy efficiency. SEA’s MBCx assignment at 311 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, served as a case study for the presentation. 311 S. Wacker is one of the city’s most recognizable skyscrapers.

The presentation provided attendees an overview of the new technologies driving MBCx and the benefits of tracking and acting on building performance data. MBCx uses web-based data tracking that enables SEA to identify energy saving opportunities. Jerry and Chris demonstrated how MBCx generates information that enables building owners to optimize HVAC performance while maintaining occupant comfort. Data-driven energy management is nothing new to SEA. MBCx is an emerging trend in the industry, however, and Jerry and Chris were pleased to present SEA’s success in MBCx to the international conference audience.

For more information about SEA’s 311 S. Wacker Drive MBCX assignment, read our press release announcing it.

The Myth of Low Hanging Fruit

Jerry Burin — Tue, 17 May 2011 08:08:00 GMT

“Low hanging fruit” is a term commonly referring to targets or goals which are easily achievable and don’t require a lot of effort. The term is a convention in the energy efficiency space, referring to easily identifiable, readily achievable measures to produce energy savings.

Rooting out and replacing high wattage lighting with lower wattage lamps is often referred to as low hanging fruit. So is modifying operating schedules of energy-consuming equipment to meet occupancy needs, and turning off equipment that continues to run when it’s simply not required. Eliminating the waste associated with simultaneous heating and cooling and employing re-set strategies, for example, on chilled water temperature, are among energy saving initiatives commonly described as low hanging fruit. Finding and repairing leaks in compressed air systems is another energy saving opportunity the often earns a place in the low hanging fruit family.

To some, the term “low hanging fruit” is derogatory, even insulting, as if such opportunities are dangling right before our eyes – hitting us squarely in the face, completely aligned with the common sense we all employ in the workplace, long ago found, solved, done. Hasn’t all the low hanging fruit, in every enterprise, certainly in the energy efficiency space, been “picked” long ago?

Except it ain’t so.

There’s a corollary to the low hanging fruit dictum – it’s just as important for the “will” to change something to exist as it is to realize the obvious opportunity. Many obvious energy efficiency opportunities – the low hanging fruit of energy efficiency – are left to wither on the vine for lack of understanding the true impact of change. Missing is the understanding gained by sound analysis of the proposed modification – one reflecting both operating results and cost implications.

Those of us in the business of identifying low-cost energy efficiency opportunities are familiar with such common refrains as “Our employees will be uncomfortable if we change that” or “My boss doesn’t like the color of that type of lighting” or, the most prevailing reason to allow juicy, tantalizing opportunities to keep rotting away on the branch, “It’s not my priority right now.” Those boughs laden with ripe opportunities hang lower and lower to the ground, turning into waste, spoilage, and loss that can never be recovered, but invariably pointed to in the future, ever again, as low hanging fruit, the easy pickings for reducing energy use and saving money.

Don’t get me started on “the no brainer.”

SEA Featured in Environment Illinois Efficiency Report

SEAadmin — Thu, 12 May 2011 02:29:00 GMT

Environment Illinois highlighted Sieben Energy Associates in their “Saving Energy Growing Jobs” report , which was released today. The report describes SEA’s history and the growth of the energy efficiency industry in Illinois stating how “customers who wouldn’t have considered paying for an energy audit in 1990 now actively seek [SEA] out.”

It makes special note of our recent partnership with the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC), working with hospitals to tackle their specific sustainability and energy efficiency challenges. The partnership with MCHC demonstrates the increase in public and private awareness of energy efficiency, and the role that SEA has played in that development.

Visit the Environment Illinois Website to read the entire report that includes the SEA case study.

Free Energy Audits Available in Cook County

Jim Lyon — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:12:00 GMT

At the beginning of this year, the Cook County Energy Efficiency Block Grant Program opened to buildings in several communities and neighborhoods throughout Cook County. This program is terrific for small- to medium- sized buildings of nearly any type, including commercial, industrial, non-profit, places of worship, and health care. The program involves:

Either one or two site visits by SEA, depending on the size/complexity of the building being audited
Deployment of data loggers to trend temperature, humidity, light levels, and power draw on large equipment for up to one week
Analysis similar to what is found in an ASHRAE Level II Audit, including utility analysis, energy use analysis, building envelope examination, and energy saving measures
Peer-review of audit reports by the Delta Institute, a non-profit organization that is administering the program
A meeting with the Delta Institute and representatives from the building about financial and technical assistance available to implement the identified energy efficiency measures, including how to receive funding through government and utility incentives.

The building will receive all this at no cost.

Unlike many offers for free energy audits, the Cook County Energy Efficiency Program offers truly no-cost, no-commitment energy audits. It provides an excellent opportunity for facilities that may have never had an energy audit and are looking for ways to reduce their costs and carbon footprint.

The no-cost, no-commitment aspect of this program appeals to buildings of all sizes and energy use. For the buildings SEA has worked with through the program, an average energy use reduction of 18% per building was identified. This includes all energy savings measures and has a simple payback of less than 2 years (before rebates are applied). These audits took place in both commercial and industrial buildings, ranging in size from 5,000 to 160,000 square feet.

If you believe your building could benefit from an analysis of its energy-consuming systems with a focus on increasing the overall building efficiency and reducing energy costs, check out more information about the program to see if your building is eligible to receive a free energy audit.

SEA at USGBC Commissioning Panel Event

Erin Hatcher — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:11:00 GMT

The USGBC Illinois Chapter is hosting a Commissioning Panel Discussion on Thursday, April 7^th and SEA will be well represented. Mike Kuk, SEA’s Director of Technical Services and Commissioning, is one of four panelists speaking at the event. The firm is also sponsoring the event, and additional staff members (myself and Bart Lazarczyk) will be there for the discussion and to answer questions and meet attendees at the SEA table.

The event promises to be an interesting and informative discussion of the value of Commissioning, Retro-Commissioning, and how the process is integrated into LEED. For more event info, visit the USGBC website.

SEA Founder Chosen for Emanuel's Transition Team

SEAadmin — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:10:00 GMT

Craig Sieben, SEA’s founder and CEO, has been chosen to join Chicago Mayor-Elect Rahm Emanuel’s Transition Team. As a member of the Energy, Environment, and Public Space Committee—a team of community, business, and non-profit leaders from the Chicago-land area –he will help draft and provide recommendations to Mayor-Elect Emanuel concerning a number of issues facing the city . The insight and expertise of the Energy, Environment, and Public Space committee will help the Mayor-Elect address the impact of environmental and energy policy on Chicago’s economy, public safety, efficiency in social services and healthcare, and energy use.

Possible Big Changes For Commissioning Scope in LEED 2012

Bart Lazarczyk — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:53:00 GMT

The USGBC is hard at work on its latest Building Design and Construction LEED Rating System, simply referred to as LEED 2012. Among the sea of changes that have been proposed, I will briefly discuss the vastly expanded scope of commissioning services under both Fundamental and Enhanced commissioning.

Under the previous LEED guidelines, commissioning services typically focused on heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment, as well as the building automation systems that drive the sequence of operations for HVAC systems and lighting controls. LEED 2012 proposes that the process go beyond HVAC to include the following under the Fundamental Commissioning guidelines:

Building envelope, which includes roofing assemblies and systems; and thermal, air, and vapor transmission properties of walls, roofs, windows and doors
Any monitoring and measuring devices for potable or reclaimed water entering the buildingAutomatic sensing devices in plumbing
Irrigation systems
Cooling tower chemical treatment and bleed rates
Rain water collection systems
On-site waste water treatment systems

The proposed scope of work under the Enhanced Commissioning guidelines includes:

Subterraneans water-proofing and penetrations
Exterior wall assemblies and fenestration systems
Above grade penetration
Stormwater control and removal systems and associated pumping systems

While this is a significant change to the scope of work for commissioning, in my opinion it’s a good change. Commissioning has been proven to provide real value, both practical and financial, to new construction projects so it makes sense to expand into additional areas. A building envelope can greatly impact a building’s energy usage and occupant comfort levels, so an owner would want to know that the envelope has been built to design. Reduction in water usage is also playing a growing role in the LEED guidelines, so it makes sense to start including the multiple water systems under the commissioning scope.

The LEED 2012 guidelines are not finalized yet and will inevitably go through multiple iterations, so the above list will undoubtedly see changes. However, it is encouraging to see that the USGBC continues to raise the bar and challenge us to build better, more efficient, and more comfortable buildings for us to work, live, and play.