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The University of Idaho’s Integrated Design Lab in Boise is dedicated to education, outreach, and technical support for high performance energy-efficient building design.
We are ready to kick-off 2023! We have an exciting year ahead of us and yes, we are fully back to our normal in-person operations but have retained some of the digital infrastructure we built out during the pandemic. So, if you want to discuss your project in-person, a Zoom web call, or submit a form online we can accommodate you.
The lunch and learn lecture series is now open.
The first BSUG will be held March 22nd, 2023.
Technical Design Assistance is available for in-person or Zoom web call. Have a project you need help on or maybe a question about code compliance? Let us know! To request technical design assistance please fill out a request form:Click Here
As part of Idaho Power's new construction verification program the Integrated Design Lab reviews all projects applying for the daylight harvesting incentive. To request a review please fill out a review request:Click Here
To use the Energy Resource Library, please fill out a proposal and you will be contacted by a Lab employee to schedule your appointment within 1 to 2 business days. Same day request are available but customers must receive a verbal confirmation from the IDL for your request to be fulfilled. We would also like to remind you that we do offer training and tutorials for tools in the ERL. Please call or send an email to set-up a demonstration. Lastly, we have been developing pre-made tool kits and step by step guides for using those kits and are please to announce that they are ready for use. To view the tool kits please visit: http://www.idlboise.com/content/energy-resource-library-tool-kits For more information about using the Energy Resource Library, please visit: http://www.idlboise.com/about-erl
New Tools on the Block
CO2 Logger The HOBO MX CO2 data logger records carbon dioxide, temperature, and relative humidity (RH) data in indoor environments using non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) self-calibrating CO2 sensor technology and integrated temperature and RH sensors. This Bluetooth® Low Energy-enabled logger is designed for wireless communication with a mobile device and also supports a USB connection. Using the HOBOconnect™ app on your phone or tablet or HOBOware® software on your computer, you can easily configure the logger, read it out, and view plotted data. The logger can calculate minimum, maximum, average, and standard deviation statistics and can be configured to trip audible or visual alarms at thresholds you specify. In addition, it supports burst logging in which data is logged at a different interval when sensor readings are above or below certain limits.
Plug Load - Data Logger The HOBO Plug Load logger is designed to monitor energy consumption of AC-powered plug in loads. This compact device can be used as a power meter with its built-in LCD for real-time energy monitoring or as a data logger that can record up to 1.4 million measurements for analysis. With the ability to view or log true RMS voltage (V), true RMS current (A), active power (W), active energy (Wh), apparent power (VA), and power factor (PF), the HOBO Plug Load logger provides you with an accurate log of your energy consumption of plug loads. Using HOBOware®, you can also easily configure the logger to calculate minimum, maximum, and average statistics during logging at a fixed sampling rate of 16.67 mSe operational status of loggers, configure alarm notifications, and share data files – all with no dedicated equipment beyond a mobile device.
Power Quality Analyzer After 10 years of quality use we have to replace our Fluke 43b, however, the new model Fluke 1775 is a huge leap forward and we can't wait to test it out. Fluke 1775 description: Never miss a critical power quality event with this power quality analyzer that measures a wide range of variables. With a capacitive touchscreen that can be operated with PPE, this analyzer discovers equipment failures caused by transients and simplifies examining the overall power quality health of your electrical system.
Lunch and Learn
To request a lunch and learn for your firm please fill out this request form Click Here Each year the IDL develops a series of lunch and learn topics for presentation to professional Architecture & Engineering firms. The topics reflect best practices in energy efficiency design and are provided over a lunch hour – we provide lunch. Attendees receive 1 AIA CEU as well as a certificate to verify attendance. The classes marked with (HSW) qualify for Health, Safety and Welfare credit. To view all lecture topics -Click Here
PoE Building Design This is a new topic for 2023 and will be available starting May 2023
New Employees
Please join us in welcoming two new employees; Gregory and Natalie! We did an escape room to get to know our new research assistants. Escape rooms are a fun way to build team and communication. If you haven't tried one we can't recommend them enough, they are so much fun!
Gregory is a final year graduate student in the architecture program, following his four-year graduation from the University of Idaho Moscow Campus. Gregory is committed to architecture because of the lifelong learning opportunities and the potential to address environmental quality. More specifically Gregory is concerned with how architecture impacts carbon footprints and how we can address more nature centric design routes.
Natalie is currently earning an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at Boise State University. Natalie has aspired to become an engineer since she began taking engineering classes in the 7th grade. Natalie has earned Microsoft Associate certificates in Python and Java programming. Natalie plans to pursue a master’s degree in aerospace engineering after earning her bachelors in mechanical engineering.
3D Printing Lab
Additive manufacturing, better known as 3D printing, is one among several emerging technologies that some have claimed will usher in a 4th industrial revolution. It has already changed product development practices by enabling rapid prototyping that speeds up development timelines for new products. Most colleges and high schools have 3D printers available for their students to learn this new workflow. In addition, there has been extensive time and effort put into developing processes and printer designs that can print with different structural material, like metal, nylon, and carbon fiber. We are very excited to share that the IDL has a 3D printing lab!!! The Integrated Design Lab (IDL) has (4) 3D printers that have been acquired through grants as well as access to IDL employees personal printers. Currently, only students and faculty have access to our printers but as we grow the 3D printing lab we hope to offer its services to Architecture and Engineering Firms. If you want to learn more about 3D printing you can contact, Dylan Agnes, dagnes@uidaho.edu.
BSUG Update
We have a lot of exciting topics we hope to bring you this year! They include the following: Measures for Quality Control, Warehouses - Efficient Design & Practices, Lady Bug Pollination Tool, Benchmarking Buildings Examples, CEBECS 2018, Standard Assumption Inputs, and Better Bricks Software.
We will send out details about the March 22nd BSUG as soon as they are available.
The purpose of the BSUG blog is to continue conversations about past topics of interest as well as to discuss new and emerging technologies. This year's topics include continuing our parametric series, CBECS 2018, and HVAC Load Calculation - Tips & Tricks.
OpenStudio Measures
The OpenStudio platform has been a cornerstone of energy modeling in both public and private practice. An energy model is a building constructed in a software program with the intention of running simulations to estimate energy consumption. The standard practice of energy modeling requires a separate model to be developed, however, the industry is moving towards a seamless integration with the Architectural and Engineering modeling workflows. For an energy model to be created there are typically three different interfaces. Using OpenStudio as an example, the three different interfaces are 3D modeling, setting inputs (variables/factors), and analyzing outputs.
What is PoE Lighting? Well, PoE refers to Power over Ethernet, which is a widely used technology that most of us are accustomed to. Typically, the applications that use power over ethernet are VOIP phones, IP cameras, and wireless access points. The general definition of power over ethernet lighting is lighting systems that are “smart”. While that sounds cool, saying that my lights have the potential to be smart doesn’t really explain anything. A “smart building” is a simple way of saying that the building applications are all connected through an IOT software (Internet of Things), and PoE is a type of hardware that fits into an IOT infrastructure. What does this mean and how does this make buildings “smart”? Well, let’s jump down the rabbit hole of PoE Lighting and learn about it.
Across the past decade we have made great strides to increase the air quality across the United States. Through environmental regulations and better technologies air quality is rarely a concern for many states. However, this trend of increasingly healthy air does not extend to the North-Western states. The primary cause for this is a natural disaster unique to the dry and mountainous region: wildfires. Between the months of July and September wildfires burn millions of acres of land. While these fires are dangerous, they are often remote and can be contained with effort. However, the smoke produced by these fires can spread freely affect much larger areas than the fire alone.
Luminaire Level Lighting Controls - Technology Training
Are you interested in learning more about advanced lighting controls? Or maybe you struggle to convey the potential of advanced lighting controls to clients? The installation at the IDL is intended to act as a showroom for this emerging technology so we can demonstrate the range of programming and user input that is possible. In addition we also be exploring the different ranges of energy savings that are achieved through various layers of programmatic control. The manufacturer of our LLLC lights, Cooper Lighting, along with Idaho Lighting Solutions, provided 50% of the lights for free. The rest of the lights were purchased with help of a Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance grant. If you are interested in attending an in-person training and demonstration please contact Dylan Agnes.
