Forest Products Laboratory Re-tuning Challenge  

Education Type: 
Live On-Site
Duration: 
6.5 hours
Level: 
Introductory
Date: 
05-03-2023
Time: 
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (ET)
Location: 

Madison, WI

FEMP IACET: 
0.7 CEU
Sponsored by: 

DOE Federal Energy Management Program - FEMP

The Re-tuning Challenge workshop will highlight the advantages of re-tuning from the energy savings and occupant comfort perspective. This workshop will provide insights into re-tuning principles and a practitioner's guide for how to apply the re-tuning approach. This will include training on the use of interval metered data and trend data to uncover potential opportunities, and a checklist approach at evaluating building energy systems for best practice control. Training will be provided on several of the most impactful re-tuning measures.

Instructors

Carolyn Goodman, Mechanical Engineer, PNNL  

Carolyn Goodman is a mechanical engineer with a M.S. in Energy Science, Technology and Policy from Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering. Since joining PNNL in 2021, Carolyn’s work has focused on reducing energy consumption and improving resilience in new and existing buildings through application of the Re-tuning methodology. This includes data analysis and using the PNNL developed Building Re-tuning Simulator (BRS) for optimization of Re-tuning control sequences. Her research also focuses on intelligent load control and grid interactive buildings, enabling buildings to provide flexibility during periods of high demand. Prior to joining PNNL, Carolyn worked for a systems integrator developing automation solutions for municipal and industrial systems. In addition, she worked at an early-stage SBIR Phase II awarded start-up leveraging commercial refrigeration as a flexible electric load and distributed energy resource.

Ron Underhill, (CEM), PNNL  

Ron Underhill (CEM) was directly involved in the building automation systems (BAS) industry for over 11 years, working for a Fortune 100 BAS vendor before joining PNNL. Ron’s 30-year career at PNNL included direct management oversight for PNNL’s multi-laboratory, multi-campus BAS for approximately 10 years before transitioning to R&D where he has worked with other researchers on solving building-efficiency problems at PNNL and at other federal agencies. Ron was a co-recipient with 8 other staff from PNNL in 2004, for the Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management.

Stephanie Johnson, Mechanical Engineer, PNNL  

Stephanie Johnson joined PNNL in September 2013 after completing her BS in Mechanical Engineering at Boise State University. Stephanie’s experience at PNNL primarily consists of becoming an expert in whole building energy and water auditing and building automation system (BAS) optimization through implementing PNNL’s Re-Tuning methodology. Her work has included energy and water meter analysis and building energy modeling to identify cost-effective energy efficiency improvements and has been performed onsite and virtually in both the Net Zero and Resiliency landscapes. She has also been the PI and technical lead for the Army Reserve’s Enterprise Building Control System (EBCS), where she gained experience in integrating the BAS of nearly 100 buildings, developing, and implementing analytics to automatically detect optimization and O&M opportunities, and helping guide the technical direction of the program.

Alek Parsons, Mechanical Engineer, PNNL  

Alek Parsons is a mechanical engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where he has worked since graduating in 2021 with his BS in Environmental Systems Engineering from Stanford University. Alek’s work focuses on residential HVAC and water heating, as well as commercial-scale HVAC controls. He has worked on multiple Re-tuning projects since joining PNNL.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to:

  • Apply the re-tuning approach to an actual building;
  • Identify operational problems and deficiencies in the building;
  • Craft smart recommendations for improved controls and operational sequences; and
  • Develop train the trainer skills: attendees will be able to train others at their site in re-tuning best practices gained during this training.
Federal Agencies and Facility Criteria: