Construction Solutions Conference |
Program
Presentations (in PDF format) are now available for download below. (Acrobat Reader is required to view PDFs.)
7:45am – 8:30am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30am – 9:00am
Conference Overview: Are Green Buildings Healthy Buildings?
Concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ) in commercial buildings first surfaced in the mid-1970s. IAQ problems were then associated with misdirected efforts to reduce energy use in buildings. Now in the new millennium the real estate and development industries are once again faced with a significant energy management challenge. This time the focus of attention is on energy conservation and efficiency to mitigate the disparity between growing demand and declining supply of conventional sources; and to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions to reverse the effects of Climate Change. We are in the midst a massive paradigm shift toward "green" innovations in design and construction. To accomplish this, there’s been a rapid adoption of green building certification systems for both new and existing buildings.
But are all green buildings healthy buildings?
Mike Schell, VP Marketing and Sales, AirTest Technologies Inc. (download presentation)
9:00am – 9:45am
IEQ Commissioning for Sustainable Buildings
Sustainable buildings promise high quality indoor environments. The building commissioning process proactively and continuously improves the quality of the indoor environment. It documents and verifies achievement of indoor environmental goals. Indoor environmental requirements may involve sound and vibration, air quality, lighting, temperature and humidity, security, ventilation, and more. Starting at pre-design and continuing throughout the life of the facility, the building commissioning process evaluates the success of meeting indoor environmental goals. Commissioning validates the performance, coordination, and interaction of various building elements and systems.
Rick Casault, President, Casault Engineering (download presentation)
9:45am – 10:30am
Energy Efficient Strategies for Ventilation in Sustainable Buildings
Fresh indoor air is something we all expect in buildings but it comes at a significant cost. In fact the cost to heat, cool and dehumidify outside air entering the building to meet code required ventilation rates can be 30 to 60% of the total HVAC costs of a building. Ironically, despite this high cost very few buildings can quantify or control outside air delivery spaces throughout the building. Many end up drastically over ventilated, which can increase costs and increase vulnerability to moisture problems. Addressed will be a number of new sensor technologies that have evolved over the past 10 years that now provide low cost ways of controlling ventilation cost in sustainable buildings while still ensuring good air quality. Demand controlled ventilation, airflow monitoring and dew point based air conditioning and economizer control will also be discussed. These sensors can also be incorporated as part of a continuous commissioning program to ensure the building is always operating as designed.
Mike Schell, VP Marketing and Sales, AirTest Technologies Inc. (download presentation)
10:30am – 10:45am
Coffee and Networking
10:45am – 11:30am
Seattle's Green Roofs: Addressing Stormwater, Energy and Habitat Needs
This panel will examine a series of green roof case studies in Seattle and explore the storm water, energy and additional benefits of eco-roof structures. Long heralded in European design and construction, these multi-faceted features are now being found throughout urban and suburban developments. Learn about the costs and benefits of green roofs and the construction and maintenance basics from case studies based on existing structures in the City of Seattle.
Moderator: Joel Banslaben, City of Seattle, Seattle Public Utilities (download presentation)
Panel: TBD (others managing & studying current green roof benefits and operations)
11:30am – 12:15pm
Mold Prevention in Green Building Design and Construction: An Industry Standard of Care
Mold represents a significant issue for building contractors. Concerns about mold in residences, schools, commercial and public buildings have significantly increased over the past decade. The issue is being driven by health effects, tort liability, and media coverage. The purpose of this presentation is to provide guidance in the prevention and proper assessment and remediation of microbial (mold) contamination in the built environment. The session will begin by presenting an overview to help understand mold in the building envelope, how best to avoid it in new construction and how to deal effectively with mold in existing buildings. The presentation will focus on methods to protect the integrity of the building envelope and describe synergies with green building initiatives through better siting, design, construction, operation and maintenance of buildings. Progressive techniques for environmentally and energy conscious buildings will prevent mold and reduce operating costs by using less energy and water, improving indoor air quality and reducing environmental impacts. The session will underscore the importance of providing an industry standard of care for contactors in preventing and addressing mold problems.
Vern Holden, Senior Environmental Scientist, Hydro Environmental Technologies, Inc. (HETI) (download presentation)
12:15pm – 1:30pm
Table Top Tradeshow and Networking Lunch
Tabletop Tradeshow Participants:- Conam Inspection & Engineering/Caliber Inspection (www.caliberinspectionsea.com)
- Brinks Business Security (www.brinks.com)
- EHS International (www.ehsintl.com)
- Georgia Pacific Gypsum (www.gpgypsum.com)
- Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce (www.djc.com)
- AirTest Technologies Inc. (www.AirTestTechnologies.com)
1:30pm – 2:15pm
Building IAQ Air Monitoring: A Forward Thinking Approach
This presentation will discuss an alternative to traditional reactive IAQ management in commercial buildings. This proactive approach gives building owners and managers a way to maximize building performance and occupant satisfaction, while not waiting around until there is a problem. Discussed will be an internet based program which integrates indoor air quality data collected on a periodic basis, providing critical documentation for demonstration of regulatory compliance and risk management. Other points noted will be how this type of proactive approach fits more with the current focus on sustainability, energy management, and limiting a building's "carbon footprint".
Michael Smith, Associate/Certified Industrial Hygienist, AMEC Earth & Environmental Inc. (download presentation)
2:15pm – 3:00pm
Risk Management in Green Building Design
Managing your risk in the construction industry takes a lot of work at the front end of a project and prior to putting your first shovel in the ground. From a legal perspective, a written contract is the best way to protect you and your business from obstacles you may encounter down the road. As the construction industry is shifting to utilize "green" practices, accurately describing the work to be performed, payment schedule, expectations of the customer/contractor, disclaiming unknown issues, creating a warranty and identifying any "green" aspects to the project are critical sections to consider when drafting these documents.
Hamilton H. Gardiner, Associate Attorney, LINVILLE URSICH PLLC (download presentation)
3:00pm – 3:15pm
Conclusion and Closing Comments
updated May 30, 2008