<div>Hi Lynn,</div>
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<div>I just came across someone's reference to your email request about a Proposed Energy Modeling Conference . As an independent consultant offering whole building sim services to design clients, I would like to share my input with you. I have also copied this to the eQuest-onebuilding.org users list because I don't believe your initial email came through that sim-communication avenue.</div>
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<div>I am soo happy to hear that there is an initiative happening for this type of venture. It is much needed and I anticipate that after word gets out--it will be well attended by the consultants who are really interested in investing time & learning in the simulation services niche of the industry. I especially would like to encourage the emphasis for discussion of service fees & a baseline for acceptable services. Let's face it--in this industry niche, you truely do get what you pay for... This is something that really needs to be suggested to the many firms and independent consultants who are trying to offer these services and really don't have the full picture of what all is involved in what we do...</div>
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<div>As an independent consultant I vote that the attendance fees for this conference be kept as low as possible. I do not carry a current membership with ASHRAE only because I do not work for a firm that will pay for those types of ancillary expenses--and honestly I'm too cheap to pay for my annual membership out of my personal project income. However, I will definitely start planning & saving money so that I can attend this conference. </div>
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<div>I am looking forward to taking the new BEMP exam and am very happy that there is an initiative from some organization to help normalize a base criteria for quality energy simulators and quality whole building simulation service providers. This should be a significant topic of education & discussion at the conference in order to give the industry some baselines to establish thier own services & fees.</div>
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<div>As an ASHRAE committee there should be some discussion about the development of simulation programs or the history of development. Obviously the first choice for software in the North American markets currently is eQuest/DOE2.2--I am only in business for myself because of this software being freeware. (Again my 'cheap-ness' displays itself.) But then again this type of design tool should be freeware--for everyone to have access to. This is the only true way to fix our built environments and subsequently our planetary environment. Continued support & development initiatives for freeware software for these purposes are imperative for our industry to move forward at the pace that designers are developing new & more complex strategies to fix our energy use issues.</div>
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<div>Furthermore, I would hope that a conference of this nature would work to nurture a community environment for us simulators. So many of us know each other via the email-threads & recognize names from others who have had similar experiences or who have helped us directly. This industry is a lonely one, especially if you are the only energy simulator in your office--without being able to have the support of other energy simulators we can feel very alone in this new design frontier that is still in it's infancy. I love working on my own but my business would have a short chance at success without the virtual community from the other simulators and I (and so many others) turn to for support, clarification, mentorship and training.</div>
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<div>I have been doing whole building energy simulations since 1999 and have been using eQuest (program of choice for me) since 2004. My start on this career path was on a team at a M&E design firm who focused on sustainable design and using whole building simulation for all design aspects from SD-CD phases & post occupancy evals. I am in full support of ASHRAE's or anyones initiative to offer a simulation-focused conference for the everyday users & service providers. Yes I am aware of IBPSA and such, but my experience with these conferences are that more of the discussions are based on the development of these programs and capabilities of these programs to reflect the design/construction reality of the building designs. So to have a simulation conference for the everyday professionals that are just using the programs in the capacity that they are available to offer the design community answers they are being told they need to find (i.e. LEED & Incentive program compliance purposes.) I have much respect for the developers of these programs because they are pressured to develop the program capabilities as quickly as designers are developing new HVAC system approaches--I am in full support of a development fund that would contribute to the continued development of these types of programs at a pace that can support the design community's needs for complex HVAC system configurations & equipment (i.e. chilled slabs, etc.)</div>
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<div>I have attached my professional CV for your reference of my experience and interest with whole building simulation. I welcome your contact if there is anyway that I can assist with the planning of the conference or simply promoting the effort for it. Bottomline though, please plan it in a location that is easily accessible & cost effective so that I can be sure to attend (from a financial perspective.)</div>
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<div>I look forward to hearing more about your plans for this conference and will keep my eyes/ears posted to these user lists.</div>
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<div>Regards,</div>
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<div>Pasha Korber</div>
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<div>PK Consulting</div>
<div>Ph: 308-763-1593</div>
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<div>Lynn's email read:</div>
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<div>ASHRAE is in the early planning stages of an Energy Modeling Conference for<br>the spring of 2011 that is targeted for consulting engineering<br>practitioners. We are looking for input on the appropriate topics and/or<br>
session types you would like to see at such a conference. Some topic<br>thoughts are: energy simulation, BIM, CFD and daylight modeling.</div>
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<div>What conference content would prompt you to travel and attend such a<br>conference? Please be as specific as possible in describing what you would<br>like covered at the conference. What do you want to learn? What location(s)<br>
in the US would draw the largest attendance, in your opinion?</div>
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<div>Personal regards,</div>
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<div>Lynn G. Bellenger, PE, FASHRAE</div>
<div>ASHRAE President-Elect</div>
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<div>Pathfinder Engineers and Architects LLP</div>
<div>134 South Fitzhugh Street<br>Rochester, NY 14608<br>T: (585) 325-6004 x-105<br>F: (585) 325-6005</div>
<div>Email: <<a href="mailto:lbellenger@pathfinderengineers.com" target="_blank">mailto:lbellenger@pathfinderengineers.com</a>><br><a href="mailto:lbellenger@pathfinder-ea.com" target="_blank">lbellenger@pathfinder-ea.com</a></div>