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- Institute Testifies
in Support of High-Performance Building Standards
- 2008 Annual Report
- Meet the Board
- Celebrating Building Safety Week
- Award Nominations
Wanted
- Paper Competition:
Standards, Environment
- Institute Annual
Meeting
- CRSC Plans Code
Participation Strategy
- Coalition Prepares
Report for Congressional Caucus
- DOE Building Energy Codes
Program
- Precast Concrete BIM
Standard
- Students Design
Schools of the Future
- FREE Webinar on
Interoperability
- Ed. Celebrates
Earth Day
- WBDG Adds Beyond Green
Case Studies
- COBIE Challenge
- COBIE Webinar
May 20
Consultative
Council Meeting
Washington, DC
May 21
Board of
Directors Meeting
Washington, DC
May 22
Registration
Deadline for AECOO-1 Webinar
May 27
BETEC RCCs
Meeting
Washington, DC
May 27
BEC Chairs
Meeting
Washington, DC
May 27
6th Green Buildings Conference
Toronto, ON
May 28
AECOO-1 Phase 1 Testbed Webinar
May 28
BETEC Board
Meeting
Washington, DC
June 2-4
School Building Expo
Pittsburgh, PA
Jun 2-4
CONNECTIONS: The Digital Living Conference and Showcase
Santa Clara, CA
June 8-11
ConnectivityWeek 2009
Santa Clara, CA
June 8-11
NFPA Conference
Chicago, IL
June 9
WBDG Board and
Advisory Committee
Washington, DC
June 12-13
European Conference on the Latest Technologies in Air
Conditioning and Refrigeration
Milan, Italy
June 15-19
3rd CIB International Conference on Smart and Sustainable
Built Environments
Delft, Netherlands
June 16-17
BuildingsNY
New York, NY
June 16-19
CSI Annual Convention
Indianapolis, IN
June 24-25
Virtual Energy Forum
June 28-30
BOMA International Conference
Philadelphia, PA
July 12-15
The American Federation of Teachers' QuEST Conference
Washington, DC
July 22-25
ASPE National Estimating Academy, Estimator EXPO &
Convention
St. Louis, MO
August 4
NIBS G2B Meeting
Washington, DC
August 5
LCM Advisory
Committee Meeting
Washington, DC
August 6
SPie Meeting
Washington, DC
August 9-12
GovEnergy
Providence, RI
September 9
WBDG Board and
Advisory Committee Meeting
Washington, DC
September 23
Consultative
Council Meeting
Washington, DC
September 24
Institute Board of
Directors Meeting
Washington, DC
September 24-25
AISC Annual Meeting
Braselton, GA
October 7
World Standards Day
U.S. Celebration
Washington, DC
October 7-9
IFMA's World Workplace 2009 Conference & Expo
Orlando, FL
October 11-15
SMACNA Annual Convention
Palm Desert, CA
October 21-23
SUPERCOMM
Chicago, IL
October 24-31
ICC Code Development Hearings
Baltimore, MD
November 1-4
ICC Annual Conference
Baltimore, MD
November 4-11
ICC Code Development Hearings
Baltimore, MD
December 7-10
Institute Annual Meeting
Washington, DC
December 9
Consultative
Council Meeting
Washington, DC
December 10
Institute Board of
Directors Meeting
Washington, DC
A Principal’s Guide to On-Site School Construction
published by the Institute's
National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
Journal of Building Information Modeling (JBIM)
Journal of Building Enclosure Design (JBED)
DOE 2008 Annual Report Now Available
The U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Codes Program has released its
annual report. Enhancing Energy Efficiency Nationwide: Fiscal Year 2008 Annual
Report is now available online.
View the report.
Green Building Standard Open for Public Comment
The Proposed Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High Performance, Green
Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, being developed by the American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers in conjunction
with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC),
is now open for public comment. With additional energy savings over the previous
draft, the nation’s first standard for high-performance green buildings began
its third public review period May 1, marking the first draft released by the
newly reconstituted Standard 189.1 Committee. Comments on the draft standard
will be accepted through June 15.
Learn more.
Energy-Saving Steps May Result in Tax Savings
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds individual and business taxpayers that many energy-saving steps taken this year may result in bigger tax savings next year. The recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
of 2009 contained a number of either new or expanded tax benefits on
expenditures to reduce energy use or create new energy sources.
Read the release. View the
larger listing of ARRA energy-related tax
benefits.
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MAY 2009 |
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Institute Testifies in Support of High-Performance Building Standards
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The National Institute of Building Sciences testified before the House
Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and
Environment to promote the development and use of high-performance
building standards. Dr. William J. Coad, P.E., FASHRAE, Chairman of the
High Performance Building Task Group and Member of the National
Institute of Building Sciences Board of Directors, was one of five
witnesses to provide testimony during the Subcommittee hearing, “Pushing
the Efficiency Envelope: R&D for High-Performance Buildings, Industries
and Consumers.”
Learn more.
Read the
written testimony.
|
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 Dr. William J. Coad, P.E., FASHRAE (center), Chairman of the High
Performance Building Task Group and Member of the National Institute of
Building Sciences Board of Directors, testifies before the House
Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and
Environment. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Steve Chalk (left); United
Technologies Corporation Science and Technology Senior Vice President
Dr. J. Michael McQuade (right); American Council for an Energy-Efficient
Economy (ACEEE) Economic and Social Analysis Program Research Staff Dr.
Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez and Industrial Energy Consumers of America
President Paul Cicio (both not pictured) were also witnesses. |
2008 Annual Report Provides Overview of Institute Activities
 The 2008 National Institute of Building Sciences Annual Report to the President
of the United States, now available online, exemplifies some of America’s great
strengths—the problem solving abilities, volunteerism, teamwork and
inventiveness of its people.
The Institute serves an important role because it brings together
representatives from all levels of government, members of the construction
industry, manufacturers, insurance representatives, educators, researchers and
others to work together to make homes and other buildings safer, more energy
efficient, higher performing and cost effective to build, and better able to
withstand natural and manmade disasters. See what these dedicated individuals
accomplished in 2008.
Read the report.
Meet the Board
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The
“Meet the Board” section provides readers with the opportunity to get to
know more about the 21 individuals who make up the 2009 National
Institute of Building Sciences Board of Directors. In this issue, we
focus on Chairman Ronald L. Skaggs and Vice Chair Jim. W. Sealy. Both Skaggs and Sealy are Texas architects elected to the Board to serve in the public interest category. Skaggs is Chairman Emeritus of HKS Architects in Dallas. Sealy heads Jim. W. Sealy/Architect/Consultant in Dallas. Read more about
Skaggs and
Sealy.
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Skaggs |
Sealy |
Celebrating Building
Safety
 James “Tim” Ryan (right), secretary of the National Institute of
Building Sciences Board of Directors and member of the International Code
Council Board of Directors, talks with Jane Bullock during a Building Safety
Week reception held at the International Code Council. Bullock, founding partner of Bullock & Haddow,
LLC, was chief of staff for the Federal Emergency Management Agency from
1992-2000, under Director James Lee Witt.
Some People Deserve Recognition: Award Nominations Wanted
Each year, the National Institute of Building Sciences recognizes
individuals and organizations that have made an exceptional contribution to
the nation and the building community. If someone familiar fits that
description, the Institute Awards Committee wants to know. The Committee is
seeking nominations for the 2009 Institute Honor Award and the 2009
Institute Member Award. Award recipients will be honored at the 2009 Annual
Award banquet, to be held during the Annual Meeting in December. Download
the nomination forms:
Member Award
or
Honor Award.
Paper Competition Focuses on Standards, Environment
Write a paper for a chance to win $2,500! The U.S. Celebration of World
Standards Day Planning Committee and the Standards Engineering Society invite
paper submissions for the 2009 World Standards Day Paper Competition. This
year’s theme is “Standards for Environmental Stewardship.” Cash prizes are
awarded for the three best papers submitted. Winners will be announced and given
their awards during the World Standards Day Dinner, to be held October 7 in
Washington, D.C. The National Institute of Building Sciences is a member of the
Planning Committee, which hosts the U.S. World Standards Day Dinner and
Reception.
Competition rules.
Be sustainable, smart and spending savvy
Attend the National Institute of Building Sciences Annual Meeting
Learn the latest about sustainable practices, smart buildings, and high-performance building design at the National Institute of Building Sciences
Annual Meeting, December 7-10, at the Washington Convention Center in
Washington, D.C. The Annual Meeting, to be held in conjunction with Ecobuild®
America, keeps travel expenses down by collecting a number of building-related
events under one roof.
Learn
more.
CRSC Plans Code Participation Strategy
The Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) Code Resource Support Committee (CRSC)
met to plan its strategy for participation in the International Code Council (ICC)
2009-2012 code development cycle. Discussion focused on how the Committee can
achieve its goal of ensuring that the model building codes reflect the concepts
presented in the 2009 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings
and Other Structures, given recent changes in the ICC schedule. One matter
of considerable concern is whether developers of the 2010 edition of ASCE 7, the
primary reference standard of the Provisions, can process all of the
major changes recommended by the 2009 Provisions in time to meet the new ICC
deadlines. Following the meeting, which occurred March 19, the CRSC held
several teleconferences to finalize the change proposals to be submitted to ICC.
This ongoing project is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Learn more.
Coalition Prepares Report for Congressional Caucus
The High Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition (HPBCCC) issued a
report earlier this month to promote the widespread development of
high-performance federal buildings.
HPBCCC developed the report, Producing High-Performance Federal Buildings,
at the request of Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-Mo., co-chair of the High-Performance
Building Congressional Caucus. The Institute is an active member of the
Coalition, which works to heighten awareness and inform policymakers about the
major impact buildings have on health, safety and welfare.
Read the
release and
view the report.
Visit DOE Building Energy Codes Program for Energy Information
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Energy Codes
Program (BECP) is an information resource on national model energy codes. BECP
staff work with other government agencies, state and local jurisdictions,
national code organizations, and industry to promote stronger building energy
codes and help states adopt, implement and enforce
those codes. Architects, engineers, designers, builders and code officials can
benefit from BECP's code education and training materials, no-cost code
compliance software and code development work.
Learn more.
Precast Concrete BIM Standard Development Progresses
Development of a precast concrete construction standard progressed during a
recent workshop at the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) Committee
Days event in Chicago last month. A candidate standard for the National Building
Information Modeling StandardTM (NBIMS), the developing exchange
standard addresses all precast products, including structural and architectural,
from early design, through engineering, production, logistics and erection. The
first phase is expected to be ready for implementation by the end of 2009.
Read the
details.
Students Design Schools of the Future
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Two middle school students
from the Gereau Center in Rocky Mount, Virginia, field questions from a
jury panel about components of their sustainable school design during
the 2009 School of the Future Design Competition. |
Photo by Mike Olliver |
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Middle schools from across the country participated in the 2009 School
of the Future Design Competition, held by the Council of Educational
Facility Planners International (CEFPI).
The students submitted school designs that integrate sustainability, technology and community
involvement. They incorporate reused materials, green roofs, greywater
recycling, compost piles and organic gardens.
The annual competition
challenges student teams to redesign their schools to enhance learning,
conserve resources, be environmentally responsive, and engage the
surrounding community. A jury of professionals, which included National
Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities Associate Director Judy Marks,
heard the student presentations and reviewed the team projects. The
winning schools received cash prizes donated by the National Association
of Realtors at a ceremony at the association’s national headquarters in
Washington, D.C. Read
more. |
Free Webinar Will Demonstrate Interoperability for Building Energy, Construction Costs
The Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner and Operator (AECOO-1) Phase
1 Testbed, a nine-month effort to increase interoperability among software used
by architects, construction companies, cost estimators and building energy
analysts, is now complete. The buildingSMART allianceTM, Open
Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC®) and AECOO-1 Phase 1 Testbed
sponsors and participants will conduct a free webinar Thursday, May 28, from
12:00-2:00 p.m. EDT, to demonstrate the results.
Effective management of buildings and other capital facilities increasingly
requires information exchange among all disciplines and professions that have a
stake in the design, construction and operation of those facilities. The AECOO-1
Testbed exchanged building information using Industry Foundation Class (IFC)
standards to analyze tradeoffs between construction cost and energy efficiency.
This work was preliminary to possible future development of open standards for
web service interfaces. Results will be submitted for consideration by the
National Building Information Modeling Standard (NBIMS) Project Committee.
Learn more.
The registration
deadline is May 22.
Register online.
Department of Education Celebrates Earth Day
The Department of Education focused on green schools during its 2009 Earth Day
celebration. The Department brought in leading experts to give employees and
senior leadership a briefing on the potential for the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to positively impact green schools. National
Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities Associate Director Judy Marks, one of
the presenters, discussed the stimulus package and highlighted green school
resources on the Clearinghouse website. The event, which was open to the public,
also was broadcast to the Department’s local and regional offices.
Get green
school resources.
Whole Building Design Guide adds three Beyond Green Case Studies
The WBDG Whole Building Design Guide® recently added three
award-winning, high-performance building case studies contributed by the
Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC). The featured buildings are all
recipients of the SBIC 2008 Beyond Green High-Performance Building
Awards. The projects include a demonstration project, a public office building
and a historic rehabilitation. The case studies detail project goals, the
design and construction process, product and system choices, energy and indoor
environmental considerations, and project results.
Read about the buildings. Visit the
WBDG Case Studies and High-Performance Building Database.
COBIE Challenge Puts Facility Maintenance Software to the Test
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Most building project contracts require project designers and contractors to hand over all building equipment lists, preventive maintenance manuals/schedules, warranties, etc. that owners and property managers will need to operate, manage and maintain the facility when a new building is constructed. The Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBIE) simplifies this paperwork collection and transfer process. COBIE is a computerized, open-standard format for collecting this
data. Five software firms took part in the second COBIE Challenge, held
during the National Facilities Management and Technology Conference in March
in Baltimore, Maryland.
Read all about it.
|
 Bill East explains how
COBIE can take a process that used to take several weeks and reduce it
down to 35 seconds. |
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Webinar Involvement Signals Interest in COBIE
A free webinar on the new standard for design and construction data exchange
known as Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBIE) may be a
signal of the industry’s interest in this new technology. With only a few days
notice, more than 300 people signed up for the dial-in webinar, which included a
computerized walk-through tour of COBIE.
The U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, the U.S. General Services Administration, NASA and other
federal agencies are beginning to require COBIE for their government contracts.
COBIE allows users to track building information electronically from design,
through construction and commissioning phases, into the owner’s Facility
Management systems. Bill Brodt of NASA and Igor Starkov of Tokmo Solutions
organized the event, which occurred April 29. Brodt, who chairs the Facility
Maintenance and Operations Committee, expects to organize similar webinars in
the future. Stay tuned for upcoming dates.
Learn more about COBIE. | |
