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Lunch and Learn

Idaho Power

Sponsored by Idaho Power

Each year the IDL presents a handful of topics to professional Architecture & Engineering firms. These topics cover a wide range of design and building applications such as energy modeling and daylighting. Topics are focused on helping a firm integrate energy efficiency practices into their projects and design process. All in attendance will receive 1 AIA CEU as well as a certificate to verify attendance. The classes marked with (HSW) qualify for Health, Safety and Welfare credit. If you are interested in scheduling one or two sessions for us to present virtually to your firm you can fill out the form Click Here or you may contact Dylan Agnes. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you.

 

Lunch and Learn 2026

There are 16 lectures available for 2026. The lectures will be scheduled between March and December 2026 with local firms in the treasure valley and organizations in the state of Idaho. New topics being offered this year include: Existing Building Commissioning & Envelope and Window Design for Enhanced Energy Efficiency.

Luminaire Level Lighting Controls: Networking and Mapping Lights

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Description:
 

Luminaire Level Lighting Controls have sensors and controls within individual fixtures that enable them to be controlled remotely or on a case-by-case basis. Remote control allows users to adjust the programming criteria or illumination levels without replacing the fixtures. In conventional lighting systems, lighting zones are defined as a collective unit and thus are centrally controlled. Each fixture has the potential to become a semi-autonomous zone that is capable of responding to small changes in the area under each fixture. While new technologies are often exciting and useful there can be some growing pains or a learning curve to become ‘comfortable’ using the new technology. The following scenarios are the two most common encounters I have had in the field working on lighting system. I have Luminaire Level Lighting Controls installed in my building, but I don’t know how to connect to the software. The lighting system was commissioned for a standard lighting controls and programming and therefore as a result we can’t fully utilize the lighting system. This can also cause issues with the user interface which often frustrates building occupants when they interact with the lighting controls. This lecture will go in-depth to lighting control strategies, maximizing settings for energy efficiency, working with Information Technology personnel, and lastly mapping lights to your environment.

 

Envelope and Window Design for Enhanced Energy Efficiency

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Understanding the critical role of envelope design in determining heating and cooling loads, this lecture delves into various energy-efficient design metrics, and their sensitivity analysis to discern their impact effectively. Participants will gain insights into passive envelope design measures aimed at increasing energy efficiency through strategic leveraging of orientation, shading, thermal properties, and building shape considerations. Additionally, the lecture offers insights into the window glazing properties such as U-factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), Visible Transmittance (VT), and emittance. Special emphasis is placed on the advantages of Low-E Glass, particularly in colder climates, enhancing participants' understanding of how such features contribute to energy conservation. Geared towards architects and constructors, this session offers resources for deeper exploration and understanding of envelope design's pivotal role in energy efficiency.

HVAC Load Calculations - Tips & Tricks

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Load calculations are one of the key logistics to designing a high performing building. But, how does one capture the nuance of today’s post-covid hybrid office environments? What about conference rooms that are full in the mornings, but empty in the afternoons? For those in the Treasure Valley, ASHRAE’s design temperatures have changed – we have hotter summers and milder winters than 20 years ago. The IDL will share updated weather data sources and several load calculation tools freely available to engineers. Participants will learn the distinction between ASHRAE’s different load calculation methods – (90.1 vs 183). The lecture will cover how to use energy modeling tools to predict loads in different scenarios and apply ASHRAE 55’s thermal comfort standard during the design process. Practitioners will be able to use these tools to add dynamic loads to their designs and conduct robust post-occupancy evaluations to ensure energy efficient operation and client satisfaction.

Air Infiltration and Passive Systems | HSW

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Each year, $11 billion in energy costs are wasted through infiltration in commercial buildings according to a 2021 study from the Department of Energy. Learn how envelope design affects both comfort and energy costs in Idaho’s buildings. Participants will learn about pressure management and using it to design for passive strategies including stack and cross-ventilation and some of the inherent challenges of doing so. The lecture will cover why infiltration is especially important to manage in Idaho due to the health impacts of wildfire smoke, which can infiltrate a leaky building. The main takeaway is to design buildings that deliver clean filtered air to the occupants in a way that minimizes utility costs and maximizes comfort. 
HSW Justification: The Covid-19 pandemic started a shift in building science research with a focus in Indoor Air Quality and HVAC efficiency. We have known for decades how to maintain a building's HVAC system to mitigate the spread of bacteria or particulates, however, we did not know how to do so economically. Recent research into different filter types, cycles, and smart monitoring systems have changed the performance metrics by which we judge an HVAC system. This lecture reviews recent research and applies energy modeling to project end energy use under different scenarios. Each scenario weighs the impact of Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) with Non-EEMs, such as, air quality or weather pattern impacts (wildfire).

 

Thermal Energy Storage Systems

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Thermal Energy Storage Systems (TES) are gaining popularity as a way to mitigate peak energy use. This lecture will explore the use of things like ice-storage and ponds to minimize chiller and boiler use. This technology can be paired with ground-source heat pumps, radiant systems, and natural ventilation. Idaho typically has large temperature swings between the high and low temperatures (sometimes up to 30 F), which makes our state especially suited to shifting when heating and cooling equipment should operate. By understanding more about TES, engineers and architects alike can design unique configurations that can increase efficiency and enhance resiliency in their buildings.

LEDs Technology Impact on Savings and Efficiency

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We will examine the effect LED technology has had on energy savings, control strategies, and future implications with continued efficient lighting technology. As lighting technology becomes more efficient it will adjust codes, incentives from utilities, and energy efficiency standards. More importantly, it will change the cost benefit analysis regarding lighting, control strategies, and occupant comfort. The LED revolution for lighting is not done and, in this lecture, we will discuss the current state of LEDs as well as the direction we are going and what we might find when we arrive.

LEED V4.1 Daylighting Credits | HSW

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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.

 

High Performance Classrooms | HSW

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Student enrollment in Ada County is projected to grow by 1,000 students per year for the next ten years and at least six capital projects are planned in the West Ada District alone to meet this demand. This session will cover a variety of issues facing the design of an efficient, healthy, and productive classroom environment. A quick look at the state of the last 50 years of school design will give an introduction to the problems faced by designers. This session will highlight several case studies of high performance schools in the Northwest to address daylighting, natural ventilation, and integration of mechanical systems. Each passive strategy will be addressed in detail with regional examples and performance research. 
HSW Justification: Participants will learn what makes a classroom "good" through exploring four qualities of the indoor environment (Temperature, Air Quality, Light, and Noise) and how they affect a student performance.

Daylighting Multipliers - Increasing Daylight Harvesting Efficiency | HSW

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This session will explore the role that daylighting multipliers are used when trying to increase the efficiency of daylighting or daylight harvesting in a building, such as, light shelves, manufactured glazing, and material specification. Furthermore, we will explore the rate of return, the ranges of efficiency, and appropriate uses between daylighting strategies and multipliers. 
HSW Justification: Daylighting is an important renewable resource that buildings can utilize to reduce a lighting systems kWh as well as improving building occupants mental health. For this lecture we divide the benefits of daylight into two categories; Energy benefits and Non-Energy Benefits. We emphasize that non energy benefits can be coupled with energy benefits to help convince clients to utilize daylighting as resource for their buildings. Such as, improving mental well being through connecting to nature by having a view and daylight window while simultaneously reducing energy use through the year.

Luminaire Level Lighting Controls | HSW

Description:

LLLCs have sensors and controls within individual fixtures that enable them to be controlled remotely or on a case-by-case basis. Remote control allows users to adjust the programming criteria or illumination levels without replacing the fixtures. In conventional lighting systems, lighting zones are defined as a collective unit and thus are centrally controlled. LLLCs however, incorporate sensors into each fixture, such as occupancy, daylight, temperature or receive/broadcast signals. Each fixture has the potential to become a semi-autonomous zone that is capable of responding to small changes in the area under each fixture. Furthermore, individual fixtures can communicate with other fixtures, using wireless or infrared signals, to share data for an even greater potential to increase energy savings and user satisfaction. Some LLLCs can be connected by gateway to transfer information collected. This data is analyzed, usually through the manufacturer’s software, to provide a user interface different from a typical text editor. From there users are able to identify trends in occupancy and lighting energy consumption that can then be used to refine the building schedules for occupancy and lighting and, if applicable, for the buildings’ HVAC schedule programming.