News
July 2010:
Hallberg Engineering and Schools for Energy Efficiency® (SEE) are proud to have completed ENERGY STAR® Label applications for 13 SEE Schools in the last three months. These 13 schools have achieved the required ENERGY STAR® rating of 75 or higher, on a scale of 1 to 100. The application requires a Statement of Energy Performance (SEP) which is a detailed look at a building’s systems to ensure the building is operating efficiently and meets standards for indoor air quality, lighting, and comfort. After final approval by a professional engineer, the application is signed and sent to ENERGY STAR® for approval. Each of these buildings will receive a large bronze plaque from ENERGY STAR® and will be listed on ENERGY STAR’s website for Labeled buildings.
New commissioning and design projects recently awarded to Hallberg include: Washington County Buildings DDC Controls Design and Audit, Maple Grove Athletic Turf/Dome, RTP Company Chiller Design, University of Minnesota Civil Engineering Building Recommissioning Study, White Bear Lake Schools District Office Remodel, Five Lakes Elementary School Addition Technology System, Lake Superior College Health and Science Building Commissioning, and Lake Superior College East End Cooling Phase III Commissioning.
Hallberg has also recently been awarded several new retail projects across the United States. These projects include: Rue 21, Aéropostale, Forever 21, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Blackberry Store, Kate Spade, REI, Gordmans, Whole Foods Market, In Motion, and Sound Balance.
Nearly 70 people attended the SEE Annual Conference, July 14-15. Attendees – who included school district personnel, legislators, architects, distributors, and potential distributors – enjoyed breakout sessions focused on their interest in the SEE Program, as well as a keynote address by WCCO television anchor Don Shelby and presentations by Leslie Cook of ENERY STAR® and Joe Hallberg.
June 2010:
Hallberg is proud to have been awarded several new energy study and commissioning projects. Most recent projects include: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Region 3 Headquarters PBEEEP, Winona Minnesota National Guard Armories commissioning, Pine City Minnesota National Guard Armories commissioning, Hennepin County Northeast Library commissioning, Rocori High School/Middle School commissioning, Camp Ripley Bachelor Officers Quarters commissioning, and Riverland Community College Albert Lea HVAC commissioning.
Several members of the Hallberg Team recently participated in a solar tour, hosted by Energy Concepts of Hudson, Wisconsin. The tour was in celebration of Solar Day 2010, an annual day of recognition for growth of clean, solar energy in the U.S. The team toured a sprout farm, residential retrofit with solar hot water heat and photovoltaic solar, and also a Passive House undergoing construction. A Passive House is a “very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc.”, as explained at www.PassiveHouse.us. The knowledge gained on this solar tour fosters Hallberg’s mission of energy efficient and sustainable design.
The Minnesota Educational Facility Management Professionals (MASMS) recently held its annual Custodial/Maintenance/Grounds Appreciation Days for both MASMS’ Southern and Metro Chapters. Hallberg’s Kyle Simonson exhibited at both events. MASMS Southern Chapter held their Appreciation Days event on June 17, 2010, at Mankato East High School, attracting about 250 attendees representing school districts from across Southern Minnesota. The MASMS Metro Chapter held their Appreciation Days event on June 23-24, 2010, at Northfield High School. Hallberg has been an active member of MASMS for over 20 years.
May 2010:
Hallberg was awarded a contract by Minnesota’s Public Buildings Enhanced Energy Efficiency Program (PBEEP) to conduct a detailed investigation of the energy use and energy savings opportunities at Century College in White Bear Lake, MN. The project will kick-off in June and be completed by December 2010.
Hallberg will be working with KKE Architects to build an addition on Five Lakes Elementary School in Fairmont, Minnesota, and repurpose Lincoln School. The contract came as a result of Fairmont passing a $15 million bond referendum.
Joe Hallberg has been invited to join the workgroup for the 1.5% Energy Efficiency Solutions Project. Minnesota’s Next Generation Energy Act of 2007 (NGEA) established a statewide conservation goal of 1.5% of annual retail electric and gas sales, which went into effect in 2010. Since the passage of NGEA, a number of policy issues have emerged that may represent barriers to achieving the conservation goal. The 1.5% Energy Efficiency Solutions Project involves private, public and non-profit sector leaders convened to identify policy barriers to achieving the state’s 1.5% energy conservation goal, develop near-term solutions, and make recommendations for longer-term solutions that may require future efforts to develop. The project began in the spring of 2010 and will conclude in February 2011.
Rick Lucio and John Parks were invited to give a presentation on Recommissioning Services to the Minnesota Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program (Minnesota RETAP). Minnesota RETAP provides no-cost, non-regulatory energy and waste assessments for Minnesota’s small to mid-sized businesses and public and private institutions. Assessments include an on-site facility visits from a team of RETAP retirees with emphasis on finding opportunities to reduce waste, increase energy efficiency and conservation, and reduce operating costs.
The Minnesota Association of Schools Business Officials (MASBO) held their annual conference May 12-14 at Breezy Point and Hallberg Engineering was there connecting with schools officials and handing out pots of impatients and marigolds, as they have the last several years. “We want schools to “think green and we thought this was a fun way to get that message across, according to Amy Anderson, Hallberg’s director of business development. “People remembered the flower giveaway from last year and came from all areas of the conference to be sure they got one this year. It was a terrific way to engage some of our most important clients.
