Our Senior Commissioning Engineer, Dave Sungarian, presented the AIA Rhode Island Continuing Education Webinar on October 18th, sharing insights into Commercial Passive House principles for PHIUS (R) and thermal and moisture transport modeling using WUFI. Many thanks to AIARI and CLEAResult, which organized the event on behalf of Rhode Island Energy.

Webinar Recap:

The webinar explored the growing importance of passive building design and Passive House certification in new building construction and renovations. Attendees gained valuable insights into the benefits of passive design including energy efficiency, comfort, indoor air quality, sustainability, and quality assurance. Anticipated costs and other diminishing industry hurdles were also explored. Discussion included the increasing inclusion of Passive House certification in regional energy codes, and increased financial incentives available for projects pursuing this increasingly relevant certification system.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding passive design fundamentals.
• Recognizing the benefits and challenges of implementing passive design principles.
• Exploring Passive House certification requirements.
• Acquiring practical insights into Passive House design.

To access the presentation slide deck, click the link below:

Passive House Presentation +

COMMERCIAL TRAINING: ASHPS AND MAXIMIZING CONDENSING BOILER PERFORMANCE

AM Session: Stephen Turner Inc.– Commercial Air Source Heat Pumps

The recent shift to electrification and better performing homes has resulted in increased popularity of air source heat pumps. As the industry shifts, design professionals, installers and homeowners need to understand the basic principles behind this technology to effectively provide adequate heating, cooling, and dehumidification in their projects.

This session will provide an overview of Air Source Heat Pumps, which are a fast-growing portion of the residential HVAC market. Today’s ducted heat pumps and “mini split” systems can provide very efficient heating and cooling, but only if they are well designed, installed, and operated. Hear about how proper sizing, installation and operation can affect the indoor air quality along with the occupants’ health and wellbeing.

This training is tailored for professionals seeking an in-depth understanding of various heat pump system types, including air source, water source, and water-to-water heat pumps. Through comprehensive modules, practical insights and case studies, participants will gain the expertise needed to make informed decisions for efficient systems and maximize energy and environmental performance.

• Understand the differences between the most common types of heat pump systems
• Analyze pros and cons for different type of heat pump systems and understand how to select the right type of heat pump system for a specific application
• Learn to evaluate air source heat pump performance and efficiency
• Grasp the primary application, operating, and maintenance considerations
• Understand the integration and control challenges for ASHP

PM Session: Viessmann - Maximizing Condensing Boiler Performance

We will give context to policies driving electrification and decarbonization in commercial facilities and cover solutions to save energy and reduce your building’s carbon impact.

AM Sessions will be followed by a tour of Viessmann's residential and commercial Boiler Room training labs.

A complimentary lunch will then be provided as we segue into the PM Sessions.

Schedule:

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Registration & Introduction to Viessmann in the foyer

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM - AM Session

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Tour of Residential & Commercial Boiler Room training labs

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM - PM Session (with complimentary lunch)

Please choose only one day.

More Info +

Register for the free tour +

We are looking to bring on new team members.

Stephen Turner Inc. provides comprehensive building commissioning services on construction projects across southern New England. We seek individuals to join our cooperative team of building commissioning professionals. Opportunities range from entry-level to highly experienced commissioning professionals. Entry-level applicants, including recent graduates, can expect to perform tasks in collaboration with senior team members and independent tasks after initial training. These tasks may include:

Responsibilities

• Learn the construction industry and its delivery processes
• Learn building commissioning as applied to new and existing buildings
• Develop quality related checklists and forms
• Read and review engineering plans in support of commissioning planning and execution
• Verify system construction as it advances
• Test and document system performance as construction projects near completion
• Verify contractor and engineer-provided training

As you gain commissioning experience and take advantage of our generous training and continuing education programs, you will be given additional client-facing and project management responsibilities. You will also participate in one or more internal teams such as business development, technology, graphics, etc., based on your interests and experience, and will contribute to the care and management of our workplace. Each member of our team is expected to thrive, so applicants are interviewed extensively as part of our thorough hiring practices.

We offer large company benefits in a small, socially responsible company setting. Our prestigious clients include leading institutions and other entities across southern New England. We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and are an equal opportunity employer. Physical requirements of available roles can be tailored to suit the diverse abilities of candidates.

Send an email to [email protected] if you are interested.

In partnership with Rhode Island Energy, CLEAResult, and the Providence Public Library (PPL), Stephen Turner Inc. led a tour of the newly transformed PPL facility at 150 Empire Street in Providence, RI. Beginning with a presentation on the history of the library, architectural interventions, newly installed energy conservation measures, and project funding mechanisms delivered from the stage of the updated Donald J. Farish Auditorium, the tour proceeded through the 1950 Art Moderne-style Empire Street wing, the new climate-controlled home for the library’s special collections, and the original Beaux Arts-style portion of the building (first opened in 1900).

The $25 million transformation project, Rhode Island’s largest ever public library renovation, touched approximately 85,000 GSF of the building. The project's overall goal was to align the form and function of the library’s physical space with the 21^st century programming already provided by PPL’s dedicated and energetic leadership and staff. Stacks and staff areas were consolidated to yield more space for public programming. Main library services were moved up a floor to give space to community partnerships on street level. A new entry with grand stair and atrium was conceived to welcome visitors and connect them to all the library has to offer. A workshop with light fabrication equipment and storage was added to support local nonprofits offering hands-on learning programs, and the auditorium was upgraded to ADA compliance.

Guest speakers at the presentation included Angela Tuoni of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank and Michael Doty of Nuveen Green Capital, who described the benefits of the Rhode Island Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (RI C-PACE) program, which provided a $1.6 million loan underwritten on the projected energy savings. Other contributors to the presentation and tour included the project design and construction team, designLAB architects, RFS Engineering, and Bond Building Construction.

Construction progress photographs may be viewed here here +

A PDF of the presentation can be found here +

Other Links:

https://www.clearesult.com

https://riib.org

https://www.nuveen.com/en-us

https://www.provlib.org/

Come join us for a building tour that features the new East Providence High School building. This tour is sponsored by Rhode Island Energy, hosted by CLEAResult, and presented by Stephen Turner Inc.

This new 333,638 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that is 4 stories high and was designed to meet an enrollment of 1,600 students in grades 9-12. The new building includes 51 general classrooms and 12 general science labs, Learning Commons, Student Commons, an Athletic Center including two full size gymnasiums, walking track, fitness center, and a Performing Arts Center which includes a 900 seat Auditorium, band and choral classrooms, piano lab, digital music classroom, and fine arts classrooms. The new school also contains career technical pathways educational spaces which include a teaching kitchen and associated café, an automotive shop, a dental lab, and a construction fabrication shop.

This training will highlight how the project was built to meet the State Energy Code (SBC-8-2013) and the energy conservation measures included in the design of the school. In addition, the project is required to design and implement all of the requirements to satisfy NE-CHPS requirements as defined by RIDE.

Date: Tuesday September 27, 2022

Time: 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Location: 2000 Pawtucket Ave, East Providence, RI

More Info +

Register for the free tour +

Come join us for a virtual building tour that features the new East Providence High School building. This tour is sponsored by Rhode Island Energy, hosted by CLEAResult, and presented by Stephen Turner Inc.

This new 333,638 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is 4 stories high and was designed to meet an enrollment of 1,600 students in grades 9-12. The new building includes 51 general classrooms and 12 general science labs, Learning Commons, Student Commons, an Athletic Center including two full size gymnasiums, walking track, fitness center, and a Performing Arts Center.

This tour will also highlight how the project was built to meet the State Energy Code (SBC-8-2013) and the energy conservation measures included in the design of the school. In addition, the project is required to design and implement all of the requirements to satisfy NE-CHPS requirements as defined by RIDE.

Date: July 12, 2022

Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Sneak Peak +

Register for the free tour +

Stephen Turner Inc. teams up with CLEAResult to lead an interactive virtual building tour of Brown University Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs exapansion. This building tour will focus on how the project met and exceeded Rhode Island energy code for building envelope, HVAC systems, and lighting controls.

This expansion project consisted of the renovation of an existing building and new construction of an addition. This mixed-use facility is 31,000 square feet. The existing wood framed structure was renovated into a three-story plus mezzanine building and a steel framed, curtain walled, three-story plus penthouse addition, housing offices, meeting spaces, a large classroom, cafe, and a three-story multi-function atrium space.