Task 15 - Sector Based Interactive Educational Seminars for Hospitality and Education

Two interactive educational seminars advancing energy management and building technology will be held. Interactive educational seminars are conceived as open invitational meetings designed to draw leaders in the economic sector as well as in leaders in manufacturing, building design, construction, and operations that serve that sector. The agenda for each meeting is designed to present the relevant work of the National Center research programs and to create a context for interactive review, comment and redirection of the National Center research agenda.

The specific task goals are:

Bring together building designers, builders, owners and operators of the healthcare sector to present the relevant work of the National Center research programs and to create a context for interactive review, comment and redirection of the National Center research agenda.

Bring together building designers, builders, owners and operators of selected commercial and institutional construction as well as building-security experts to identify how building-related security upgrades impact building energy performance and identify opportunities how security measures may help improve the overall energy efficiency of buildings.

The first of the two seminars took already place. The seminar entitled Energy Management & Indoor Environmental Quality: Their Effects on The Healthcare Industry was held April 12 through 14 in Las Vegas, NV. It brought together over 40 representatives from the healthcare industry, including engineers and hospital facilities managers from all areas of the country.

Starting from a list of top ten issues of concern to the healthcare industry with respect to energy and IEQ:

     Managing the budget to meet growing utility costs

     Competing with clinical equipment for infrastructure capital renewal dollars

     Building a reliable system with facilities that allow for easier growth and expansion

     Testing/inspecting/maintenance of the electrical distribution system

     Conservation best practices in healthcare settings

     New technologies (micro turbine, fuel cell, etc.), package units and alternate fuels

     Power reliability and redundancy

     Designing new buildings that are more energy efficient

     Environmental issues – IAQ, dehumidification, legionella and air emissions

     Impact of technology on utility costs.  What is happening with new client equipment to reduce costs?

The participants identified existing gaps and discussed ways how to fill those gaps.

The findings of this seminar will be published shortly in a report.