Newsletter 2017 | Quarter 4

The Oklahoma Association of Energy Engineers

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Welcome from the President: Leveraging AMI Data to Create Smart Buildings

Greetings to AEEOK Members and Honored Colleagues of AEEOK.

The most important asset of any building is the people using the space

to work, play, learn, heal, or live.  Unhealthy buildings with high energy

bills where people are not comfortable or productive is disgraceful. The

electric utility is often blamed for the faults of the building once cus-

tomers get their high bills.  Now is the time to leverage AMI data to truly assist customers with tighten and tune activities making buildings smarter and sustainable.  Cus-

tomers generally trust and view their electric utility as a true partner in power.  Therefore, elec-

tric utilities have the best competitive advantage to create smart building programs that offer a

package of customized energy services.  So let’s stop the insanity and create the next generation

demand side management programs and move the utility from poles and wires to smart build-

ing services.

Thank you,

Kerry Rowland, CEM

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Kerry Rowland

Tom Korpal

Lyle Stogner

Jitendra Gautam

Clifford Pelchat

Burl Ray Chambers

President

Newsletter

Secretary

Vice President

Past President

Treasurer

Our Board Members

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October 5, 2017 is Energy Efficiency Day!The second Energy Efficiency Day is fast approaching. Here's what you can do. BY PATRICK KIKER, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Looking to get involved in the second annual Energy Efficiency Day on October 5th? Last year's first-ever national event was a big success, and we welcome your help in expanding the reach of this year's event. Energy Efficiency Day is a collaborative effort of regional and national organizations that promote energy efficiency. More than 175 government agencies, companies, utilities, cities, and other organizations were official supporters in 2016. This year we are amplifying our efforts with a website, a Facebook account, more official declarations, and a challenge to save energy in homes and businesses.

Here are four ways you and your organization can spread the word about the benefits of energy efficiency.

1. Visit our new website and sign up.

2. Take the Lightbulb Challenge or the Office Lighting Challenge.

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3. Encourage mayors/governors to officially proclaim October 5 Energy Efficiency Day.

4. Create and share your own content.

To visit the article for full instructions, please click here.

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How Much Data Is Too Much?

Congratulations to the Oklahoma Chapter!AEEOK is being recognized for the best chapter newsletter in the nation!

BY GREG ZIMMERMAN | AUGUST 9, 2017

How much data is too much data? The answer, of course, depends on the capabilities of your data management systems, the sophistication of your operation, and perhaps most importantly, what you intend to do with that data.

For some, simply getting the monthly energy bill is plenty of data. For others, like Bruce Thorpe of Silicon Valley tech company NVIDIA, who we profiled in the August cover story of Building Operating Management magazine, 8,000 data points per second is just about a reasonable amount of data.

So, yeah, it just depends.

But what really matters isn’t the amount of data you’re collecting. What’s important is how you’re using that data to prioritize operations, creating an “action item” list that results in more efficiencies and savings. As well, using this data to head off small problems before they become major expenses (in terms of energy use or broken down equipment) should be the goal for any facility manager.

Indeed, one of the tangential issues related to data-gathering is the sophistication of a fault diagnostic and detection system for energy-related issues. Having such a system assumes one has a BAS in the first place. But if you do, how do you calibrate your system so that it’s not alarming you every 10 seconds but so that it is alarming you when something is truly wrong – a damper is stuck open, a motor has failed, etc.?

It’s a question I always like to ask facility managers, and the answer is always, “well, it’s been a process to get to a system that works for us.” That is to say, when it comes to energy fault detection, there is no silver bullet answer. You just have to do some trial and error.

How to Use LinkedIn To Land Your Dream Job

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ASHLEY STAHL | CONTRIBUTOR

With all the networking sites out there, LinkedIn is still my favorite resource to recommend to my clients. And while I know that not everyone is as jazzed as I am about Linkedin (as a career coach, I can’t help it!), it’s powerful and worth learning. Not only can you view an array of opportunities on the market, but you can also put your best self forward by highlighting previous projects. There’s even a “LinkedIn Learning” section where you can brush up on new skills based on your interests.

Who knew a social site could offer so much?

LinkedIn is a powerful tool, but it isn’t one to use passively. Updating your profile to be 100% complete is already a given, but if you leave your account untouched for days, you can’t expect prospective employers to come flocking your way, let alone your dream job. Instead, make LinkedIn work for you by following these tips.

Update your profile to reflect what you’re looking for.Your title should be easy for recruiters to grasp and reflect what you’re looking for in your next job, not what you’re currently doing. After you’ve found jobs you’re interested in, add keywords throughout your profile that show you’re a match to the positions for which you’ll be applying. Make sure your profile summary includes the most relevant skills you havefor the jobs you want. If you’re able to say that you’re looking for a new opportunity, put that there too! And be specific. Worried about blasting all your connections every time you make a profile change? You can turn off profile updates so that everyone (achem, your boss) isn’t notified every time you make a change.

Network with those working at your desired place of employment.Don’t just apply for a job and then sit back, hoping that someone will contact you. Follow those dream companies that you aspire to work for. Join relevant professional groups and interact within the community to show off your smarts and savvy insights. Reach out to people in your network that work for employers that you’d like to work for, ideally through a warm introduction. It’s important to build

Click to watch on Forbes.com

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relationships. Just make sure not to overask of strangers and follow the rules of networking on social media. Making a positive impression is critical since you never know who might put in a good word for you with HR or the hiring manager.

Above all, keep it professional.While LinkedIn is a social networking site, your profile photo should be different than the one you’re using on Facebook. Hire a photographer to get a professional headshot and use that one instead. It will go a long way. This will show recruiters and prospective employers that you’re taking your job hunt seriously. The same goes for your cover photo. Please don’t show yourself drinking a cocktail on the beach at sunset — unless of course you’re trying to promote for a liquor company. And spare employers the glance of a chopped off selfie you took with you and your friends! Think about what type of persona you’re trying to convey.

There are more than 6.5 million job listings on LinkedIn, so the odds are pretty good that your dream job is on there. The key is knowing how to show that you’re a good match online, and then rocking prospective employers with your skills once you land the interview.Now, it’s time to update that profile picture, please.

Ashley Stahl coaches job seekers to find their

purpose and land more job offers. She also runs

CAKE Publishing, a ghostwriting house that helps

influencers create content.

Follow AEEOK on

4 Ways To Go Green In Existing BuildingsBY KAREN KROLL | AUGUST 2017

The average commercial building wastes 30 percent of the energy it consumes, says Energy Star. While many new buildings are constructed with energy-saving features, they are a tiny fraction of the overall population of buildings. “If you’re going to have an impact (on energy consumption), you have to work with existing buildings,” says Bob Best, head of energy and sustainability services with JLL.

To be sure, a growing number of facility managers are doing just that. CBRE and Maastricht University publish an annual review of the growth in green building certifications in the 30 largest U.S. markets, says David Pogue, global director of corporate responsibility. In 2005, approximately 5 percent of this square footage carried these designations, while in 2016, nearly 40 percent of the space did, Pogue says. And this doesn’t include facilities that pursue energy efficiency initiatives, yet don’t become certified.

Measures to green existing buildings can bring significant financial benefits. Energy can be a building’s fourth or fifth largest operating cost, says Richard Anderson, principal with CQI Associates. With minimal effort, many inefficiencies can be corrected, cutting costs by 6 to 7 percent, he says. And while water costs far less than electricity,

deteriorating infrastructure is driving some water and sewer costs up by double digits, Anderson says. For instance, information from Baltimore City Department of Public Works shows many water and sewer rates rising 20 percent between 2016 and 2018.

Efforts to green existing building often focus on energy. Rachel Sowards, vice president of Paladino and Company, divides building owners and facility managers fall into one of three categories when it comes to boosting the energy efficiency of their existing facilities.

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Dave Pogue, global director of corporate responsibility, CBRE

Low-flow toilets, zero-water-use urinals, and faucet aerators have helped Century Park in Los Angeles reduce water use by 21.2 million gallons per year.CBRE

Those just starting out typically focus on understanding and benchmarking their operations.A larger group consists of those who’ve aligned their capital investment budget with energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives to create more efficient buildings. “I expect this group to continue to grow,” Sowards says. “Once a facility owner or manager figures out how to assemble the pieces in the right order, the benefits are significant.”

Finally, there are the facility managers who have undertaken sizable renovations and repurposed their buildings to meet a market that’s committed to sustainability. “It’s a smaller group, but growing,” Sowards says. Regardless of where a facility manager stands on that scale, there are opportunities to improve performance. The following strategies can help a facility manager to find the next step.

1. Benchmark to build a foundationA first step in boosting the “greenness” of existing buildings is to determine where the building currently is, and where they’d like it to go. An operational audit can identify areas in which operations can be made more efficient, sometimes with no or modest capital investments. For instance, the engineering staff can check that the HVAC system’s hours of operations match the times at which the building is occupied, says Mike Alexander, vice president of sustainability services with Cushman & Wakefield. Timers and occupancy sensors can be installed, usually at little cost, to ensure equipment and systems run only when needed.

By benchmarking a function like energy or water use, against both an accepted standard (e.g., Energy Star), as well as the rest of the owner’s portfolio, engineers and energy managers can identify opportunities for improvement, Pogue says. They also might discover parts of the organization that can offer examples of practices to follow, he adds.

It’s not necessary to start from scratch when embarking on sustainability projects. Existing programs like LEED, GreenGlobes, and Energy Star can provide valuable information and guidelines, even if the facility manager isn’t going to pursue certification. This information can shortcut much work that otherwise would be necessary, says Sowards. For instance, LEED’s O&M (operations and maintenance) rating system provides a clear outline for effective retrocommissioning, as well as guidelines on purchasing and cleaning practices, she says.

2. Find quick winsWhen beginning a sustainability initiative, identify projects that will show results with just modest investments of time and money, Sowards advises. These quick wins can build support for projects that require a greater commitment.

Vegetative roofs, for instance, “offer high visual impact and tell a good story,” Anderson says. More important, they provide legitimate benefits. “They’re like a big sponge.” That is, they hold water and mitigate the flow of storm water. That can benefit the many U.S. cities with antiquated storm water treatment systems that risk getting overloaded after severe storms. When that happens, both storm and sewer water can end up within the storm pipes, and the tainted water may flow, untreated, to streams and rivers.

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In addition, if stormwater isn’t absorbed — again, a risk during severe storms, especially in cities with a high percentage of hard ground covering — it can run off to the streets and wash into waterways. Once there, it can negatively impact fish and plants, Alexander adds.

A thorough commissioning of the building’s systems and equipment also is key. Pogue notes that most buildings are designed and built to higher standards than they operate. The commissioning process can ensure all systems operate the way they’re supposed to. Many commissioning projects boast payback periods of six months or less, he says. In some cases, the local utility company will cover the cost.

The mistakes found through commissioning can be hard to believe. Anderson has seen dampers put in backward, exhaust fans that weren’t hooked up, damper controls on the air handling units that weren’t connected, and variable air volume systems that were installed backward. “It’s crazy, obvious stuff,” he says. Moreover, when a facility is spending, say, $1 million on electricity each year, even a two percent inefficiency can boost costs by $20,000, says Bob DeMarke, vice president of asset services with Transwestern. To avoid that, the outside and internal air dampers need to seal completely, the fans need to run at their optimal speed, and other equipment needs to be kept tuned so it operates properly. “Don’t forget all the old technology,” he says. “There’s not much of a margin for error.”

Anderson recommends the California Commissioning Protocol as a guide. It provides an “excellent checklist,” he adds. Retrofitting the lighting systems, if not already completed, can be a relatively simple way to reduce energy consumption, Alexander says. One common energy waste is when the heating and cooling systems operate simultaneously, forcing each to work harder. A product known as an “interlock” can correct this, DeMarke says. An interlock consists of software and a controller that will shut off the heat when the cooling zone is open. “It eliminates the opportunity for simultaneous heating and cooling,” says Katie Sakach, senior vice president, asset services with Transwestern.

3. Leverage technology“Technology offers a new opportunity to improve operational efficiency,” Alexander says. New software can analyze data from the BAS to identify areas that can be made more efficient. For instance, sub-metering — capturing energy consumption data for individual buildings, floors, tenant space, or even specific devices — can “generate data that can guide management strategies, operational and investment decisions, and tenant interaction that ultimately results in significant energy-reduction benefits,” says a report by the U.S. General Services Administration: “Submetering Business Case: How to calculate cost-effective solutions in the building context.”

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(A green wall can provide a range of benefits, offering a connection with nature and a calming atmosphere, while improving indoor air quality and acoustics. Credit: John Herbst, Transwestern)

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On-demand ventilation systems can help reduce energy consumption and costs, says Pete Miceli, vice president and regional engineering manager with Transwestern. “New technology allows us to measure directly the amount of oxygen in the air,” Miceli says. Rather than bringing in a fixed amount of outside air, the system monitors return air for carbon dioxide, and opens outside air dampers only when more oxygen is needed.

Most codes regulate the amount of air required in a building, Miceli says. Often, however, building systems overventilate, particularly in areas that get infrequent use. The fans and heating and cooling systems are working when they’re not needed. With on-demand ventilation systems, areas with highly variable occupancy, like conference rooms, might cut their HVAC costs in half, he estimates.Business Case: How to calculate cost-effective solutions in the building context.”On-demand ventilation systems can help reduce energy consumption and costs, says Pete Miceli, vice president and regional engineering manager with Transwestern. “New technology allows us to measure directly the amount of oxygen in the air,” Miceli says. Rather than bringing in a fixed amount of outside air, the system monitors return air for carbon dioxide, and opens outside air dampers only when more oxygen is needed.

Most codes regulate the amount of air required in a building, Miceli says. Often, however, building systems overventilate, particularly in areas that get infrequent use. The fans and heating and cooling systems are working when they’re not needed. With on-demand ventilation systems, areas with highly variable occupancy, like conference rooms, might cut their HVAC costs in half, he estimates.

Technology also can cut the amount of water used for irrigation, Anderson notes. Some newer systems adjust the flow of water to reflect the amount already in the ground. Another, lower-tech option is to use cisterns to collect rainwater and use that for irrigation, he adds.

One tactic for boosting sustainability is using renewable energy, along with more traditional energy sources. This can offer both operational stability and savings. For instance, a building that can run on solar with a battery backup, even for a limited period of time, can remain operating even if the power goes down. “Renewables are not just a flash in the pan,” Anderson says. He sees renewables as the future of the industry.

The price of solar panels has come down significantly, Best notes. Moreover, facilities that aren’t candidates for the panels, perhaps because their roof space is limited, can participate in “solar community gardens.” These are community-shared solar arrays with grid-connected subscribers. The subscribers receive a bill credit as if the panels were on their own roof, according to the Solar Garden Institute.

Mike Alexander, vice president of sustainability services, Cushman & Wakefield

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Facility managers also can choose from an ever-expanding range of less toxic or nontoxic cleaning products. Moreover, the products are effective, Anderson says, noting that earlier offerings sometimes weren’t. Facility managers also should aim for 100 percent recycled content in paper products, he adds.

Technology is also being used to track building performance on environmental metrics. For example, the LEED Dynamic Plaque “is a building performance monitoring and scoring platform,” according to the U.S. Green Building Council. It keeps tabs on energy and water use and waste reduction, among other factors.

4. Focus on tenant healthSustainability increasingly takes into account not just the environment, but tenant comfort and health, Sakach says. “A sustainable operation means considering the tenant, and their comfort and enjoyment of the facility.”

As an example, Sakach points to a “green” wall of grass or other plants. She and her colleagues were deciding between a video screen and a green wall for the main lobby of a Class A Property. The green wall won. It provides color, a connection with nature, and a calming atmosphere and appeals to multiple generations, she says.

What’s more, green buildings tend to boost productivity, Best says. Improved lighting and daylighting, for instance, can improve productivity by 5 to 18 percent, according to JLL. By considering tenants’ legitimate comments and complaints, facility managers often can both improve occupant comfort and save energy, Anderson says. “If someone says they’re hot all the time, it means the space is energy inefficient. You need to address that,” he says.

Taking steps to boost the efficiency and comfort of existing buildings pays off for tenants, building owners, and the environment. “The greenest buildings are the ones we have,” Sowards says.

Karen Kroll, a contributing editor for Building Operating Management, is a freelance writer who has written extensively about real estate and facility issues.

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Anheuser-Busch signs PPA for Oklahoma windIn a move that will support its parent company's commitment to 100% renewable energy, Anheuser-Busch announced Sept. 13 that it has signed a...

Carter County Commissioners explore energy efficiency programThe Carter County commissioners are looking

to make their buildings more energy efficient

through Oklahoma Gas and Electric’s Schools

and...

Energy Star: House Bill Cuts Program Budget 40 PercentThe House Appropriations Committee has voted

not to eliminate the Energy Star program. The

committee included money for for Energy Star in

the fiscal 2018...

DOE Officially Marks SunShot’s $1 per Watt Goal for Utility-Scale SolarIt's official. The solar industry has met the 2020

utility-scale solar cost target set by the Energy

Department's SunShot Initiative -- three years

early...

to read more click here.

to read more click here.

to read more click here.

to read more click here.

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PSO Announces Largest Wind Project in U.S., Dedicated 765 kV Tie-Line; Groundbreaking Investment to Provide Dramatic Savings For Customers

PSO recently announced an unprecedented wind energy project that will provide significant cost savings to customers and further diversify our energy supply.

The Wind Catcher Energy Connection (Wind Catcher) includes the nation’s largest wind energy facility and a dedicated generation tie-line to efficiently deliver the wind energy to PSO’s customers.  PSO and its sister company, Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), will partner on the $4.5 billion project, with PSO’s share of the investment totaling $1.3 billion. It represents one of the largest-ever private investments in Oklahoma.

The 2,000 MW wind farm is currently under construction by Invenergy in the Oklahoma panhandle, near Guymon. The energy will be produced by 800 2.5 MW General Electric turbines.

PSO will also own part of an approximately 350-mile dedicated tie-line, stretching from the panhandle to the Tulsa area.  The tie-line will allow PSO and SWEPCO to efficiently deliver the low-cost wind energy to their customers.

The project is expected to provide net savings to PSO customers of more than $2 billion over the life of the project.  These customer savings, which begin in the first year of operation, are over and above the costs of Wind Catcher.

With the addition of Wind Catcher energy, PSO customers will receive nearly 40% of their energy from wind. PSO’s generation fleet also includes six natural gas facilities and two coal facilities.

“PSO is very excited about this extraordinary opportunity to reduce costs for our customers by delivering to them high quality, very low-priced Oklahoma wind energy,” said Stuart Solomon, PSO President and Chief Operating Officer.  “At the same time, the Wind Catcher project will boost the Oklahoma economy, create thousands of new jobs, and provide tax revenues for local governments.  There’s never been a project like Wind Catcher, and we’re pleased to bring it forward for the benefit of our customers and the state.”

Subject to regulatory approvals, Wind Catcher will be completed in late 2020, with delivery of wind energy expected to begin by 2021.

PSO Announces Largest Wind Project in U.S., Dedicated 765 kV Tie-Line; Groundbreaking Investment to Provide Dramatic Savings For Customers

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THE US ACCOUNTS FOR

32%OF NEW INSTALLED

WIND CAPACITY IN 2008

WIND POWER PROVIDES

1.5%OF TOTAL ELECTRICITY

CONSUMED

IN-SHORE FARMS COULD PRODUCE UP TO

40XTHE WORLD'S TOTAL

ELECTRICITY

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US grid untroubled by total eclipse despite plunge in solar outputROBERT WALTON@TEAMWETDOGAUGUST 22, 2017

Dive Brief:• A total eclipse made its way across the United

States yesterday, bringing millions outside to witness the event as solar output plunged in some key areas. By all accounts, however, the nation's power grid managed the event well and there were few if any issues.

• Bloomberg reported California saw utility-scale solar output plunge 3,400 MW — less than the 4,200 MW that had been expected. While California has the most solar capacity in the nation, its plants did not lie along the eclipse's path of totality.

• In North Carolina, a state with a significant amount of solar in the path of totality, Duke Energy lost about 1,700 MW of capacity during the height of the eclipse but the system reacted as planned and there were no outages.

Dive Insight:Yesterday's eclipse enthralled the nation, leaving two things in short supply: eclipse glasses and

solar energy. But at least on the energy front, utilities successfully planned for the event, giving some insight into the growing reliability systems with large amounts of of intermittent energy.

“We were able to balance the Duke Energy system to compensate for the loss of solar power over the eclipse period," Sammy Roberts, Duke Energy director of system operations, said in an emailed statement to Utility Dive. "Our system reacted as planned, and we were able to reliably and efficiently meet the energy demands of our customers in the Carolinas.”

Duke Energy has 2,500 MW of solar capacity connected to its system in North Carolina. Given the weather conditions yesterday, utility officials said they would normally expect 1,808 MW of solar output during the afternoon, but were getting only about 109 MW during the eclipse's peak.

In the PJM territory, the grid experienced a drop of approximately 520 MW of wholesale solar generation from just before the eclipse reached its peak. The grid operator also estimated that

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electricity from behind-the-meter solar generation decreased by approximately 1,700 MW.PJM Interconnection also said other factors made dealing with the drop-off of solar power easier. The operator said it had expected a reduction in power from rooftop panels, but several factors — including lower cooling loads, increased cloud cover and changes in behavior related to the eclipse — resulted in a net decrease in demand of about 5,000 MW throughout the eclipse.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, more than 21 GW of solar capacity was expected to be impacted. Europe experienced a total eclipse in 2015 that impacted 90 GW of solar capacity — with 40 GW in Germany, supplying 40% of that country's electricity demands.

Utility-scale solar provides less than 1% of the United States' electricity use, and there were less than 20 utility-scale generators in locations where the sun was wholly obscured yesterday. But state renewable portfolio standards, falling costs and interest in rooftop generation means the country's grid will continue to add carbon-free, intermittent generation.

Utilities and ISO officials were closely watching yesterday's event to prepare for the next total eclipse in the United States in 2024.

STILLWATER, OK | SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

AEEOK chapter hosted a tour of CEC in Stillwater, OK. The facility was Net Zero load in 2016 and headquarter building is Gold LEED certified. The facility has 500 kW solar field with 98 wells – 140 tons geothermal adjacent to the field. Located close to the field are Tesla Powerwall batteries, inverters and a 750 kW diesel generator. The geothermal system provides the HVAC to keep electrical load of the facility below 180 kW at peak.

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Tesla Powerwall Batteries – Enough to maintain the headquarter building through the night. 750 kW Diesel generator for emergency backup – uses 30 gallons per hour at full load - and transfer switch for solar, generator, and batteries. The facility and compound area are served from three different utility feeds.

500kW solar field with 190 geothermal wells

Central Electric Cooperative Headquarter in Stillwater, OK is GOLD LEED facility

Central Electric Coop - Assocation of Energy Engineers

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Ray Chambers stands with drone and

case for storage and charger that can be

located in the field/substation. CEC also

uses Google glasses for field operations

to see one-lines, etc in the field.

Tesla Model X Autonomous vehicle – 300

mile range – test vehicle for residential

charging, etc.

A CEC drone in action for running lines,

infrared of home, etc.

“Pepper” the robot greets and escorts

visitors at office.

The Oklahoma Association of Energy Engineers