Week Puts Focus on High-Performance Buildings

Members of the High Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition (HPBCCC), which sponsored High-Performance Building Week, have declared the 2010 celebration a success. Participation during the week’s events was high, with a variety of well-attended activities.

The week began with a Monday afternoon tour of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL) hosted by BFRL Director Dr. Shyam Sunder. Tuesday included a Capitol Hill briefing hosted by the National Institute of Building Sciences kicked off by Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.), co-chair of the High Performance Building Congressional Caucus, with industry presentations on “Getting the Whole Picture of High-Performance.” Tuesday evening, Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.), co-chair of the Caucus, spoke at a reception about the importance of improving building performance for the economy and the planet. On Wednesday, the American Society of Landscape Architects hosted a reception on the green roof of its building. Thursday, events continued with meetings of the HPBCCC and the High Performance Building and Energy Efficiency Roundtable. Friday concluded with a congressional briefing on “Partnerships for Net-Zero Energy Buildings.” Throughout the week, HPBCCC members made live and virtual visits to congressional offices. See the photos. Read remarks about HPBW in the Congressional Record.

Legislative Correspondent David Lyons (center left) and Legislative Assistant Ken Reidy (center right), both from Congressman Russ Carnahan’s office, try out infrared heat-sensor devices during a tour of the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL) hosted by BFRL Director Dr. Shyam Sunder (left).

Meeting Focuses on Haiti Reconstruction Effort

Industry participants developing a toolkit to help Haiti with its reconstruction efforts met last month with key relief organizations working to provide shelter to those affected by the earthquake. While current efforts in Haiti are focused on providing short-term housing, members of the toolkit effort are concerned about the need for a long-term building program in Haiti. They are working to establish a building program structure with requisite codes and standards, education and training, and enforcement. The industry participants developed a white paper on what needs to be considered to establish such a program, which is being shared with representatives from donor organizations and the Haitian government. The Institute also wrote the Senate Committee regarding the new legislation S. 3317 - Haiti Empowerment, Assistance and Rebuilding Act of 2010. Read the letter. View the white paper.

Annaliese Hepping (standing, left) and Eddie Argenal (standing, right), of CHF International, provide an overview of the activities their organization is working on in Haiti. CHF International was one of a number of relief organizations that participated in a meeting at the Institute to discuss long-term reconstruction activities in Haiti.

Nominations are Due July 23

DOE FEMP to Host O&M Training July 1

The Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) will provide a free, online training program, Operations, Maintenance, and Commissioning, on July 1. The training will include an overview of operations and maintenance (O&M) best practices with a focus on corrective, preventive and predictive infrastructure requirements and commissioning for existing buildings. Register now.

BEC Boston Holds Air Barrier Challenge

Institute Becomes USGBC Provider

The National Institute of Building Sciences has earned recognition as an Education Provider by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Education Providers are third-party organizations offering green building education and training that has been peer-reviewed and approved by USGBC. The Institute received the status for six courses on its WBDG Whole Building Design Guide website. Read the release.

NCS Project Committee Reviews Ballots