Energy Efficiency for Existing Laboratories
Joshua Blair, Genesis Engineers, Inc.
Russell Watters, Genesis Engineers, Inc
Many engineers and equipment manufacturers are focused on providing energy efficient solutions for new or renovated facilities; however, many cash-strapped owners are more focused on the performance of their existing facilities. Significant gains in energy efficiency can be made in our existing laboratory facilities with modest investments and without compromising worker safety.
Conventional retro-commissioning seeks to restore a facility to its original design parameters. In what has been titled a "retro-engineering" approach, facility owners constructively challenged those original design parameters.
During this session, the presenters will review methodologies employed to reduce energy consumption in three existing facilities. These laboratories span in ages from over 20 years old to only seven years old. Surprisingly, in all cases, energy savings of 20 to 30 percent were easily achieved with this rigorous methodology.
The speakers will discuss the application of practical engineering principles in the evaluation of laboratory ventilation systems, as well as outline a method that focuses on the critical evaluation of laboratory activities and safeguards as an integral part of laboratory retro-engineering. The result is a "right-sized" systems that reduce energy usage without sacrificing employee safety.
Biographies:
Joshua Blair is a certified building commissioning professional and senior commissioning manager at Genesis Engineers, Inc. Mr. Blair has more than 14 years of experience in providing planning, technical, and managerial expertise necessary to meet the mechanical functions and environmental requirements for pharmaceutical, industrial, and commercial projects.
Mr. Blair has been with Genesis Engineers, Inc., for more than seven years. Mr. Blair's experience includes HVAC theory and control strategies, established preventative maintenance schedules for system optimization, energy management technology, systems design/engineering, and project management. Mr. Blair has worked extensively on job sites, coordinating sub-contractor and in-house field technician activities to meet project schedules in a safe, high-quality, and timely manner.
Mr. Blair studied electrical engineering at Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Blair is also a member of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers, and has training and experience in ensuring operational compliance for client standard operating procedures, Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration protocol.
Russell Watters is a project engineer at Genesis Engineers, Inc., with more than 10 years of experience in the engineering field, including time as an energy consultant and HVAC engineer. As an energy consultant, Mr. Watters performed studies that modeled building energy use and associated costs. Mr. Watters has performed work for a variety of commercial, industrial, university, healthcare, and pharmaceutical clients, as a project engineer, project manager, forensic engineer, and commissioning agent. Mr. Watters has been responsible for the full range of design phases, including field surveys, forensic engineering, load calculations, energy analysis, system sizing and layout, review and interpretation of building codes, construction administration and commissioning. Mr. Watters holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Drexel University.