This presentation will explain how today’s LEDs deliver more than just simple illumination. Connected lighting systems, utilizing integrated controls, offer features such as dimming, color tuning, and advanced scheduling. These capabilities are focused on improving occupant comfort to create healthy indoor spaces that boost productivity. Find out why luminaire level lighting controls can be a good choice for offices, and about practices for specifying and installing such lighting.

What would you do if your organization could not enter the main office due to a natural hazard such as an earthquake or fire event on-site?  What would you do if the power was out for an extended period, or a cyber attack brought down the computer systems? In today's highly connected world an organization's threats can come from natural hazards, technological failures, malevolent threats, supply chain issues, and many more unknowns. This presentation will set you on a path to build your organization's emergency planning team, identify threats and hazards, and develop an "all hazards" approach to mitigate, respond, and recover from critical incidents that may affect your organization.

Semiconductor manufacturing requires a significant amount of water. This water is not only used to contact the wafer but is also used in heating and cooling systems that support the manufacturing. In 2022, Intel achieved net positive water in the U.S., Costa Rica, and India as part of its 2030 goal of achieving 100% net positive water across its global operations. One key contributor to achieving net positive water in the U.S. is the Wastewater Treatment and Recovery (WaTR) plant at Intel Ronler Acres in Hillsboro, OR, an end-of-pipe zero liquid discharge facility that is the first of its kind for the semiconductor industry. Hear how this program resulted in dramatic water savings – 2.4 billion gallons in 2020 – at this Ronler Acres Campus water recycling plant.

Do you remember the pre-pandemic “open plan” days of office design that gained in popularity with the rise of Tech? Fast-forward to post-pandemic times, and the #1 top reason for workers in the US to come into the office is to focus on work. Many office designs are still stuck in the pre-pandemic open plan concept. And from a fundamental real estate utilization standpoint, this indicates that the role of the office has shifted – including how we use enclosed spaces, private, and focus spaces, and space planning, and that the workplace needs to be entirely rethought. This presentation will help facilities managers examine whether the designs of the office areas in their buildings are sufficiently accommodating and attractive to workers in this post-pandemic world. The speaker will also share workplace research that assesses generational and industry preferences.

This session will examine how mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) can be integrated within the design of a sustainable building.  This is achieved by having MEP engineers and facility engineers integrate with architects at the design stage, but also exploring asset management strategies that deliver value even after a building’s construction is complete. As technologies advance, and new products and concepts emerge, planning and collaboration upfront provides multiple savings and advantages for the facility over the building’s life cycle. 

Hundreds of worker deaths and thousands of injuries could be prevented each year by following the latest edition of NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®. Originally developed at OSHA's request, NFPA 70E provisions are applied to identify electrical safety hazards and reduce employee exposure to those hazards. This presentation will focus on safety related work practices, safety related maintenance requirements and safety requirements for special equipment. Also learn about additional resources for electrical safety in the workplace. This session will advance the on the job safety for you, your staff members, and contracted people.

This informative film begins by describing the problem of stormwater as a polluter, and then discusses green infrastructure – the use of plants, soils and the natural environment to mitigate the impacts of development. Green infrastructure technologies described in the film include green roofs, porous pavement, and rain gardens.  The film, produced by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation and the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District, is of interest to facilities around the country.

A behind-the-scenes look at the sustainability features of the LEED Platinum Oregon Convention Center, the first convention center in the world to be LEED certified in 2004. Topics will include the 6500 panel rooftop solar array that produces 25% of the Center’s electricity, as well as the stormwater-filtering rain garden on the south side of the facility which helped the OCC earn its Salmon-Safe Certification for commitment to responsible watershed management. The tour will also include examples of robust waste and recycling program highlighting the first of its kind Waste Diversion Diversion Policy written into client contracts to reduce event generated waste.

Probably every facility manager is familiar with Energy Star Portfolio Manager, the free energy-tracking benchmarking tool offered by the U.S. EPA.  But not as many facility managers are familiar with an equally valuable free tool called Arc, which was created by Arc Skoru, U.S. Green Building Council and Green Business Certification Inc.  Focusing on five key performance indicator metrics – energy, water, waste, transportation, and human experience – this tool helps facility managers and building operators to track and measure their facility’s performance and improve sustainability. This free tool is a must if your building is looking to achieve LEED 4.1 O&M certification, but also can provide valuable performance insight for any building or portfolio. Find out the details in this informative session.

The era of Big Data analytics is powered by the Internet of Things and machine learning to provide insights on the world around us. This most recent industrial revolution is giving birth to a new branch of maintenance. Predictive Maintenance is redefining how manufacturers and end-users look at their electrical distribution equipment and plan their maintenance cycles. Hear details in this high-interest presentation.

When most people hear the term “energy/water nexus” they think of the interconnection between water and energy on a large scale, such as cooling water for power plants.  However, the energy/water nexus exists on the building level as well and therefore facilities managers with efficiency goals need to recognize the overlap between energy and water conservation – how they affect each other with regard to efficiency and costs. This presentation will discuss the topic and available training options, like the Building Operator Certification (BOC) and Lane Community College courses, which will provide further energy/water nexus information.

This session will examine the Port of Portland’s valuable planning studies to predict and prepare for various hazards, thus making sure the Port’s assets (including airport runway and buildings) are resilient in such events. Hazard scenarios predicted included earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and various aspects of climate change. The extremely detailed study estimated damages and costs, life safety issues, building reoccupancy time frames and more. Any facility manager in a Portland metro area site will learn emergency and resilience considerations that can help in their own planning.

Strategic Energy Management (SEM) is a system of processes that helps organizations achieve persistent energy savings by integrating energy management actions into everyday business practices. Hundreds of Oregon commercial businesses, institutional organizations and non-profits of various sizes have already adopted SEM and are benefitting from more efficient operations, professional development and – most importantly – savings. Learn from two current lead SEM energy coaches on how engaging with SEM allows your organization to build best practices not just for energy efficiency, but broader sustainability goals as well.

This presentation will examine the topic of high-security doors and their importance in schools and other active-shooter possible sites, such as office buildings, retail stores, hospitals and other facilities. Facilities managers will learn about available types of products, and where within a facility to locate such safety features. Included will be information on the FBI’s Active Shooter Report, which has security specifications for facility building components.

This informative film begins by describing the problem of stormwater as a polluter, and then discusses green infrastructure – the use of plants, soils and the natural environment to mitigate the impacts of development. Green infrastructure technologies described in the film include green roofs, porous pavement, and rain gardens.  The film, produced by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation and the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District, is of interest to facilities around the country.

From concept to commissioning and decommissioning to disposal, all equipment installation projects in manufacturing and processing plants go through a common process. Engineers are often too conservative in their practices, safely oversizing instead of asking more, or the right, questions up front. This approach can lead to inherent operational waste down the line. This presentation will cover the life of a piece of equipment, taking real world examples from the field to illustrate good system design meeting modern controls capabilities. The speaker will particularly focus on air compressors, pumps, blowers and vacuum systems.