August 2021 - Newsletter




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The University of Idaho’s Integrated Design Lab in Boise is dedicated to education, outreach, and technical support for high performance energy-efficient building design.


Click Here to visit our website!



The Integrated Design Lab's office, The Idaho Water Center, is still closed to the public until we are directed it is safe to open up in-person operations. Therefore, during social distancing the IDL will be working in-office and providing what services we can. For a list of our services available during the COVID-19 Pandemic, please see below. This is subject to change at any time as we adhere to social distance requirements from our multiple sponsors.


This month's newsletter will be more focused on our BSUG program as we start the second half of the lecture series. Our first lecture will be 2D Automated Heat Transfer using Grasshopper on August 25th with Kyleen Rockwell. In addittion, we are excited to announce our BSUG BLOG! The BSUG Blog will feature follow up conversations about topics that have already been presented as well as new and emerging technologies.

We are offering remote lunch and learns to firms upon request. Lectures via Zoom and CEU’s are available, but lunch is not provided at this time.
We're back! On August 25th - 2D Automated Heat Transfer using Grasshopper - Webinar Only
We are still offering our services for projects during this time, however, all requests must be through email or phone. Furthermore, all meetings will done via Zoom webinar, no exceptions. To request technical design assistance please fill out a request form:Click Here
As part of Idaho Power's new construction verification program the Integrated Design Lab reviews all projects applying for the daylight harvesting incentive. To request a review please fill out a review request:Click Here
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We are continuing our contact-less drop-off and pick-up procedures with the appointment only system. You must have an appointment scheduled to use the Energy Resource Library, no exceptions will be made.

To use the Energy Resource Library, please fill out a proposal as you normally would and you will be contacted by a Lab employee to schedule your appointment within 1 to 2 business days. During this time same day request will not be fulfilled. While the Lab has made exceptions to the processing time in the past with these new procedures we are unable to do so, we apologize for the inconvenience. For more information about using the Energy Resource Library, please visit: http://www.idlboise.com/content/energy-resource-library-contact-less-pic...

New Tools on the Block

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Personal O3 Monitor
2B Tech has taken the next step in miniaturization of UV-based ozone monitors by developing the Personal Ozone Monitor or "POM." The basic POM unit has dimensions of 4 × 3 × 1.5 inches and weighs only 0.8 lb / 1.0 lb without / with battery (340 g / 450 g). It has a built in GPS so that ozone measurements may be logged continuously along with geographic location. By folding the optical path in the shape of a "U," it was possible to achieve the same path length in the POM as in the Models 202, 205, and 106-L and thus have similar precision and accuracy (~1.5 ppb).
Smart Glasses
Glasses are used for remote support projects across a wide variety of markets, including architecture and construction. Using our Glasses for commissioning, remote site visits, remote project reviews and even remote audits is not only possible, but being done by multiple organizations. The Vuzix M4000 will support many of the corporate video conferencing applications like MS Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc. These are very simple and easy to use on the Vuzix Glasses for audio/video exchange and screen sharing.
Capture Hood Kit
Alnor Balometer Capture Hood Bundle Ergonomic, lightweight design enables easy one-person operation Automatic sensing and display of supply or return flows saves time on the job Back pressure compensation ensures accurate readings at high flow rates Detachable digital micromanometer provides additional measurement capability. One-person Operation with included capture hood stand. No need for extra personnel or the use of ladders.

New Lunch and Learn Topics

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ASHRAE Standard 209
Learn about ASHRAE’s recommendations for energy simulation aided design. This lecture will cover methods of integrating modeling into the design process to meet aggressive energy savings targets. Learn how to implement load-reducing modeling cycles early in the design process. Quantify the energy impact of design decisions in real time. And, use post-occupancy modeling to enhance building performance. Whether trying to achieve LEED, tax credits, or efficiency incentives, energy modeling can help improve the bottom line for both designers and clients.

ASHRAE Standard 36
The best equipment can still run terribly if it’s not controlled well – like a sports car in the hands of a clueless driver. Don’t let that happen to your design. Get the latest guidelines on sequences of operation for common HVAC sequences. Take advantage of Idaho Power’s incentives on HVAC energy management controls. Get a refresher proper start-up and shut down sequences for air handling units including VAVs, rooftop units, and heat pumps. Ensure that controls are in compliance with indoor air quality standards for ASHRAE 62.1 compliance and COVID mitigation. Participants will learn functional tests they can perform that can confirm that proper sequences are in place.

LEED V4.1 Daylighting Credits
LEED Daylighting credits are one of the most difficult to achieve and requires an early investment for validation. However, investigating daylight opportunities for a project will assist in other aspects of energy efficiency, such as, estimating heating and cooling loads or integrating a building’s control systems. As such, any time spent in the early design phase investigating if a project should invest in daylighting is applicable to facets of energy efficient design that is often required for LEED projects. In this lecture we will discuss the changes from LEED V4 to V4.1 Daylighting Credits, which options work best for project types, incorporating early energy/simulation modeling into the design process, and how to run a cost-benefit analysis to determine if you should invest in daylighting.

BSUG Update

On August 25th we are excited to welcome Kyleen Rockwell who will be presenting 2D Automated Heat Transfer using Grasshopper.

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The predominant tool for 2D heat transfer analysis is THERM which has a toilsome interface for drafting and post-processing façade details. The proposed interoperable algorithmic modeling (IAM) workflow utilizes the friendly drafting environment in Rhino as inputs to a Grasshopper (GH) file that utilizes open source Ladybug Tools to set up, simulate and post-process unique customizable heat transfer results. The GH file is interoperable with THERM and InDesign to generate and automate the generation of a consistent thermal analysis report. This workflow cuts down on production time, generates consistent outputs, and advocates interoperability in a user-friendly environment.

Registration: Click Here.

 

BSUG Blog

The BSUG Blog is new project we are launching this year! The intent of the blog is to have an continued conversation about past topics of interest as well as to discuss new and emergering technolgies.

Parametric Modeling and Analysis

The biggest bi-product of the 21st century is not plastic, CO2, or precious metals but rather meta-data. Meta-data provides information about other data, or “data about data.” Meta-data is being created every second in today’s built environment. Not just through an occupant’s phone or computer, but also from the buildings themselves via control systems or information portals that assist managers. This meta-data can be analyzed and utilized in parametric modeling within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.

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Tips and Tricks for using Insight's Daylighting Analysis

Before we get started, I would like to provide some background on daylighting. Daylighting is the “controlled” admission of natural light into a building for the purpose of illuminating a space. Whereas, daylight harvesting is the “controlled” admission of natural light, into a building for the purpose of reducing electric lighting and energy (kWh). For either purpose, daylighting design is defined in a range.

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Organic Insulation

Organic insulation is the use of bio-based materials to create insulation for the built environment. While working with Hempitecture, a company focused on producing hemp-based building materials, I began to research organic insulation, especially hemp. Before getting into the details of organic insulation and its presence in today’s built environment, here is a brief overview of the history of insulation.

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Luminaire Level Lighting Controls

Coming September 2021

Additive Manufacturing and Construction

Coming October 2021

Luminaire Level Lighting Controls - Update

We are excited to announce that we have new lights installed! This past month we had LLLCs installed at our office and have been fine tuning the programming of the lights. The manufacturer of the new LED lights, Cooper Lighting, along with Idaho Lighting Solutions, provided 50% of the lights for free, and the rest of the 15 new lights were purchased with help of a Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance grant. The installation is intended as a showroom for this emerging technology to demonstrate the range of programming and user input that is possible. In addition we also be exploring the different ranges of energy savings that are achieved through various layers of programic control. To learn more about this you can email us for a demonstration or view a past lecture on the topic here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBCAAGrnpns&list=PLURsSHj3SumA7TiXCXu-HS...


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Integrated Design Lab

The Water Center, 322 East Front Street