Green Your Home for Summer

 
Although some parts of the country are unfortunately still seeing snow, for most spring has finally sprung!  As you begin your spring cleaning chores, this is a great opportunity to discover new ways to help save energy (and money) during the upcoming hot summer months.  Many of these strategies are simple, economical and will reduce your energy consumption all season.

Ensure that your electronic devices, like computers, are placed at least a couple feet away from your air conditioner’s thermostat. These devices often produce extra heat that your thermostat can detect, causing the air conditioner to run longer than needed.

Your oven and stove produce a large amount of heat when cooking.  Grilling outside, microwaving your meals or using a toaster oven reduces the amount heat produced in your kitchen at dinnertime. 

AABC Commissioning Group 9th Annual Conference

Farnsworth Group, Inc. has been selected to present at the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) 9th Annual Conference on Total Building Commissioning to be held in Chicago April 16-19th, 2013.  Brian Davie (Normal, IL) and Josh Hickman (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) will be discussing such topics as Building Enclosure Commissioning along with future requirements of the LEED rating systems.

 

Our expertise in the field of both commissioning and LEED navigation will provide the base for a comprehensive and interactive presentation. We will review the benefits and importance of Enclosure Commissioning, along with multiple real project examples.  Conference participants will leave with an understanding of how to implement Building Enclosure Commissioning as well as informative lessons learned.

 

Another topic of conversation will be how Building Enclosure Commissioning fits into the typical Commissioning and LEED version 4.0 processes. Multiple project case studies will be utilized including: New Orleans Schools, a University near St. Louis, MO, a Healthcare project in Peoria, IL, and a Department of Natural Resources project in Spooner, WI. Thus, a broad spectrum of project types will be explored to highlight the strategies, benefits, complexities, and lessons learned.

 

Our team will also discuss opportunities for cost effective implementation measures and the benefits of including certain requirements upfront in the design phase. The methods used to functionally test the enclosure will be discussed and the tasks outlined.  Cost is often a big concern for typical commissioning, let alone adding additional systems such as the building envelope.

 

Myths, concerns and accuracies will be outlined and discussed to allow for a realistic picture for project teams. A discussion will ensue on means and methods to reduce cost while maintaining the integrity of the commissioning process and the owner’s goals for a project.  Our experience will be leveraged to lead a conversation to help ease project teams’ concerns about Building Envelope Commissioning.

 

Selection to present at the ACG annual conference is proof of our experience and of our dedication to ongoing efficiency within the built environment.  If you would like to learn more about envelope commissioning, come by and see us at the ACG conference or email Josh Hickman at jhickman@f-w.com.

Christening, Launching, and Commissioning in the 21st Century

"Christening, launching, and commissioning are bench marks of abiding importance in the history of a United States Navy ship. One sees in these closely related events a striking parallel to the human experience of those Americans, young and not so young, who man the ships for our nation’s defense on the oceans of the world. If launching may be likened to birth, and christening the endowment of individuality, then at commissioning the ship is at the threshold of a productive and rewarding maturity."
- E.B. Hooper, Vice Admiral, USN (Ret), Director of Naval History


"Christening and launching are the inseparable elements which endow a ship hull with her identity. Yet, just as many developmental milestones must be passed before one takes his place in society, so too must the newly-launched vessel pass such milestones before she is completed and considered ready to be designated a commissioned ship of the United States Navy. The engineering plant, weapon and electronic systems, galley, and multitudinous other equipment required to transform the new hull into an operating and habitable warship are installed and tested. The prospective commanding officer, ship's officers, the petty officers, and seamen who will form the crew report for training and intensive familiarization with their new ship. Crew and ship must function in total unison if full potential and maximum effectiveness are to be realized. The most modern naval vessel embodying every advantage of advanced technology is only as good as those who man her."
 - John C. Reilly Jr., Head, Ships History Branch


Oftentimes, some of mankind’s oldest ideas turn out to be some of his newest and brightest ideas. These two delightful quotations – regarding the commissioning of ships – are taken from a publication of the History Division of the United States Department of the Navy. They speak to the long and storied tradition of ship commissioning that can be traced all the way back to some of our earliest civilizations and societies.

Rethink: What Are Buildings For Anyway?

We have private companies building spacecraft, sexy little electric cars, computers smaller than your favorite book…and yet building control has remained fairly stagnant.  However, current technology inherently has tremendous growth potential for building controls to conserve energy.

Imagine something as simple as an app that tells you when a building is generating more energy than it is using and turns on your EV charger, or other energy using systems.  Now take it to the next step and utilize trend data to predict the energy projection and use for a given day along with estimated energy costs.  That is where we’re heading – integrated project teams leveraging Building Information Modeling (BIM) throughout design and construction phases have helped move the industry towards net zero energy use.

Energy modeling tools and capabilities are bringing us towards efficient performance and proper system designs.  To maximize implementation, water management and ongoing financial incentives are hopefully around the corner.  Rethinking how the end user occupies a building and the role buildings play in each of our lives goes beyond design and gets to the heart of owner and end-user requirements.

Having a true understanding of the end-use allows a design team to maximize the efficiency of the space and energy using components.

The Farnsworth Group team is utilizing the learned skills and latest technologies to create and implement net zero energy goals at Fort Carson, Colorado.  Find out more about the team, goals, and technologies used by visiting our Energy Portfolio.

Working at Pipeline Sites with SPCC Regulations

By Erica Sykut, PE, LEED AP BD+C

Pipeline site related projects often pose unique environment permitting issues.  Aside from the typical land disturbance, endangered species, archeological and discharge permits that impact most construction projects, pipeline sites may be subject to Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations.  These regulations can be tricky to navigate through, especially since the SPCC regulations have only been fully in effect since 2010. 

Any site that has above ground oil storage capacity greater than 1,320 gallons or has had an oil spill in the past three years should have a written Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan.  This plan outlines how the facility will operate to prevent oil spills, the measures that are in place to control a spill and the steps that will be taken to clean up a spill.  While an SPCC plan deals directly with oil containers on a site, it also has an impact on the overall site’s layout and should be taken into consideration anytime work is proposed at a regulated site. 

Impacts to a site’s SPCC can be particularly tricky for projects that do not impact oil storage.   Any project that involves below grade work of any kind could impact the site’s plan for managing spills.  Secondary containment measures are the most common site feature to impact SPCCs.  All diked areas within a facility around oil storage containers (including large electrical transformers) should be designed to contain a specific volume.  It is important that any berms or dikes disturbed by a project be fully restored to their original condition as soon as possible within a project’s timeline.  Collection of additional topographic survey data may be prudent to ensure the site is properly restored, especially if a section of a dike wall had to be disturbed for the installation of improvements, or if something is constructed within a diked area.  Contractors and facility operators should also be cautioned when ‘dressing up’ diked areas with gravel or spreading excess fill to avoid transporting soil off site.  This additional material can cause secondary containment to become undersized.

Also as part of the SPCC, site drainage is considered.  In the event of a spill, oil will pool anywhere stormwater does.  If a project involves changing the site’s drainage patterns, the SPCC may need to be revised/updated.  Even if no alterations are planned, it is important that the contractor understand the importance of returning sites to their original grade/condition.   Often contractors bring in extra gravel or spread excess excavated material on site and ‘make it look pretty’ without any consideration to the site’s drainage patterns.  After years of various projects/improves, it is not uncommon for sites to end up with significant extra fill material in some areas and drainage plans that no longer properly function as a result. 

Working at pipeline sites often involves many special considerations.   Because of the nature of work and potential hazards found at these sites, extra consideration to project details is not only warranted but essential to keeping a client in compliance with regulatory agencies.  For further information on SPCC regulations visit: http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/spcc/index.htm or 40 CFR 112 for full SPCC plan guidance.

What I Did Not Know About Recycling

Most of us know to separate our paper, plastic, glass and aluminum from the regular trash. Some of us even know how to dispose of electronics, CFL bulbs, paint and batteries. As our landfills continue to grow, it is important to continue searching for new ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.

 

Wine Corks

Although cork is a renewable resource, it is not often recycled after use. The ReCORK program collects used wine corks, turning them into flooring tiles, insulation, craft materials and sports equipment. Over 39 million wine corks have been collected since the inception of the program. In addition, ReCORK sponsors the planting of thousands of cork trees each year to offset the carbon footprint of recycling.  

 

Fishing Line

Monofilament fishing line is non-biodegradable and cannot be recycled by usual means. The lines often end up in our lakes and oceans, creating a potential hazard for wildlife. The Berkley Conservation Institute recycles the fishing lines, creating artificial habitat structures that promote plant growth and appeal to fish. These “Fish-Habs” are made of monofilament lines, spools and other post-consumer products. The Institute has recycled over 9 million miles of fishing line since 1990.

 

Trophies

Have a bowling trophy that has been sitting in your basement for decades? Old trophies are often made of molded plastic, which is sometimes difficult to recycle. Lamb Awards and Engraving in Westminster, Maryland, pioneered trophy recycling by reusing trophy parts or donating complete trophies to charities. They also accept unwanted medals and plaques.

 

Crayons

Over 12 million crayons are made in the United States each day, most of which eventually end up in landfills.  The Minnesota-based Crazy Crayons “upcycles” crayons, transforming unwanted, broken and used crayons into new crayons with fun shapes. Even the wax covered crayon wrappers are bundled and reused as fire starters.

 

Freecycle

Have some furniture, clothing or household items you just are not using anymore? The Freecycle Network is comprised of local groups, moderated by volunteers, with the intent of giving and getting unwanted items for free. Members can post items that they are willing to offer, giving items that would normally be thrown away a new life. This website gives a new meaning to “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

Resume Writing Tips from Farnsworth Group

Finding a job that you like can be a lifelong quest for even the most qualified candidates. Once you factor in resume review and interview preparation, the whole process can seem incredibly daunting. In order to help ease the stress of the job search, Farnsworth Group has put together a list of helpful resume writing tips. 

A quick tip before you even begin writing your resume is to identify the position you are seeking and go from there. Ensure your resume highlights the experiences you have acquired that best relates to the desired position, including any internships or co-op opportunities. Don’t get hung up on coming off as a braggart; highlight your accomplishments, i.e. President of the Structural Engineers Club 2007, Cum Laude. Be sure to check your dates. Your resume is your story, and an employer will review your work history and education, putting the pieces of the story together. Be honest. Employers have methods of confirming the information listed on your resume, and it could cost you a position in the end. 

Your objective should be brief, highlighting your desired position, should you choose to have an objective.