Engineered Systems - March 2008 - (Page 8)

Editor’sNote BY ROBERT BEVERLY FRESH IDEAS Setting Sail Creative solutions are in the air, whether coming from readers or heading to Baltimore. Now that the annual AHR/ ASHRAE whirlwind has subsided, I want to share something from the mailbag that I’ve been holding onto for a while. Thomas J. Becker, a building engineer with the Second District Court of Appeal in Lakeland, FL was kind enough to write in with an interesting inquiry. Upon reading Joanna R. Turpin’s article, “Dry and On Time,” (August 2007) I had a revelation. Microwaves generated by magnetrons could be used to heat the silica gel, thereby removing moisture in an efficient manner. I have tested this idea with small silica gel packets and a home microwave oven in the past, thereby recycling the packets for a second use. Because microwave energy is primarily directed towards exciting the water molecules previously absorbed in the silicate, perhaps this could be an efficient manner in which vaporization can be achieved and silicates renewed. Also, the germicidal benefit of using microwaves to renew silicates would be an advantageous side effect of the process. So, any of you care to weigh in with comment about the science and/or the practical application of this idea? I’m sure many other readers, not to mention Mr. Becker, would be interested, especially if we get to a multitasking piece of equipment that can avoid IAQ problems and also pop popcorn. (Of course, many office workers know that burnt popcorn can be a recurring IAQ issue of its own, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.) BALTIMORE CONFERENCE: WHERE FRESH IDEAS SET SAIL While many of us were wrapping up our holiday shopping (no pun intended, honest) last December, or perhaps looking for a parking space to do said shopping, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. From lighting to efficiency requirements to a new focus on net-zero energy buildings, the legislation will influence an array of buildings in many ways in the coming years. Did you notice at the time? It’s OK if you didn’t; that’s why we’re happy to bring the Alliance To Save Energy’s Jeff Harris to our spring Green Intelligent Buildings Conference on April 2-3 in Baltimore. Harris is the Alliance’s VP for Programs, so he not only knows the bill intimately, but he also knows what makes a good event. Throw in the Alliance’s participation in helping to shape various passages of the bill, and you couldn’t ask for a better keynote about the repercussions and opportunities the Act represents for commercial buildings. As usual, our conference features a flexible, two-track approach, so we can cover more ground and you can go to whichever session interests you most at a given time. Workshops for schools/government and commercial/office sectors deliver a new twist, illustrating real projects in action. From there, the agenda includes sessions on everything from lighting control to the role of controls in sustainable buildings. Other topics include demand response, how to maintain sustainable buildings effectively, benchmarks and assessing performance, and master planning. A separate session on the availability of various industry program and rating systems — including the USGBC’s Mike Opitz — could justify the trip alone, whether you’re seeking LEED® certification or looking for other assistance in maximizing facility performance. Throughout the two days, we’ll put a premium on citing real-world applications and discussing your own scenarios. And whether at receptions or meals, GIB attendees, presenters, and our magazine staff will also take advantage of the multiple networking opportunities that have become a hallmark of the event. And as coincidence would have it, the Orioles are even in town, so you can even take in some baseball with your crabcakes and professional education. Drop by our website today and register to join us for a quick spring break sure to be a hit. ES ES Events APRIL 2-3 Green Intelligent Buildings Conference Co-sponsored by LonMark and CABA. Baltimore. For info, visit www.greenintelligentbuildings.com/conference. APRIL 10 Webinar — Controlling Humidity In Schools Thomas H. Durkin, P.E. Sponsored by Nortec and Munters. For info, visit www.esmagazine.com and click on Webinars. Calendar of Events For more events and details, visit ESOnline at www.esmagazine.com. APRIL 3-6 Gulf Coast Green: The Third Green Building Symposium & Expo Houston Chapter of AIA’s Committee on the Environment Houston. For info, visit www.gulfcoastgreen.org. 16 National Conference on Building Commissioning PECI Newport Beach, CA. For info, visit www.peci.org/ncbc. APRIL 22-24 th MAY 4-6 Niagara Summit 2008 Tridium Wesley Chapel, FL. For info, visit www.niagarasummit.com. MAY 14-15 West Coast Energy Management Congress 2008 Association of Energy Engineers Seattle. For info, visit www.energyevent.com. 8 En gi neer ed Sy stem s March 2008 http://www.greenintelligentbuildings.com/conference http://www.greenintelligentbuildings.com/conference http://www.esmagazine.com http://www.esmagazine.com http://www.gulfcoastgreen.org http://www.peci.org/ncbc http://www.niagarasummit.com http://www.energyevent.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Engineered Systems - March 2008

Engineered Systems - March 2008 Contents Editor’s Note Back2Basics HVAC Challenge Case In Point Commissioning Building Automation Energy Wiz HVACR Designer Tips Application Checklist Exemplary Design = Elementary Success The Modern Unit Ventilator On A Mission VAV Systems And Green Design – Part II Issues & Events Products Glossary Classifieds Advertiser Index Tomorrow’s Engineer

Engineered Systems - March 2008

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