The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, W.Va. will host a visit Thursday by the West Virginia Chapter of ASHRAE – an organization that advances the art and science of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration to promote sustainability.

NETL, one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s 17 national laboratories, has been working with the organization for more than five years to share, learn about, develop and promote adoption of innovative technologies that improve building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality and sustainability.

According to Joseph Kanosky of NETL facility operations, the ASHRAE visitors will participate in a workshop and visit various locations throughout the NETL site where relevant building innovations are being demonstrated.

NETL officials will present participants with an overview of the laboratory’s research, operations, and facilities before leading ASHRAE visitors on a tour of NETL’s high-performance office buildings and other facilities where green initiatives involving solar panels, light tubes, rainwater collection and a green roof have been implemented.

ASHRAE workshop topics will address how to score building energy use; how energy reduction projects can impact schools’ indoor air quality and wellness ratings; the details on building commissioning, retro commissioning and interval commissioning; how to create a culture for energy awareness and conversation in buildings; and how to implement a life-cycle project costing approach to building design, construction, operation and maintenance during decision-making processes.

ASHRAE is a global society that has more than 56,000 building system design and industrial process professionals from more than 132 nations.

NETL collaborates with ASHRAE as part of its mission to implement a broad spectrum of energy and environmental research programs that protects the nation’s environment while enhancing its energy independence. NETL’s project portfolio includes research conducted through partnerships with universities, other national laboratories and the private sector. The Laboratory’s efforts focus a wealth of scientific and engineering talent on creating commercially viable solutions to national energy and environmental problems.

Contact:

• Shelley Martin, DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory, 304-285-0228, contact.publicaffairs@netl.doe.gov