Events

Steve Kemp Lecture: “Great Enclosures Enable Great HVAC Design”

On Wednesday, November 8, 2017 from 1:30-2:45pm, Steve Kemp will be presenting a lecture entitled “Great Enclosures Enable Great HVAC Design: Towards Developing New Rule of Thumb Design Shorthand for Architects and Engineers.” The talk will take place in Gund Hall, Room 111. This lecture is sponsored by the MDes Energy and Environment concentration and is open to all.

Great envelopes enable great HVAC systems. It has long been extolled that as the building enclosure improves, the HVAC systems can be downsized, right-sized, or designed out of existence. However, what are the thresholds and rules of thumbs regarding enclosure performance that enable significant innovations in the types of HVAC systems that can be employed? What is the common language that both architects and their HVAC consultants can use to drive integrated design forward in a more efficient manner? The changes to codes, standards, and expectations for building performance are making this conversation essential.  In this lecture, case studies will be presented followed by a forward-thinking approach to identifying envelope performance targets that enable smaller and more efficient HVAC technologies and more importantly HVAC designs (not just sizing!) to greatly increase the sustainable performance of your building. Tools, new rules of thumb, and building science will also be presented.

Steve Kemp, M.A.Sc., B.Eng., B.Sc., P.Eng, is a building science engineer specializing in energy modeling and design, and sustainability. He is currently a Principal and Senior Energy and Sustainability Specialist at RDH Building Science. His work experience includes a wide range of projects including green building design facilitation, renewable energy technology studies and energy research. Steve has developed energy modeling software for Natural Resources Canada, the US Environmental Protection Agency as well as utilities and product suppliers.

Steve has undergraduate degrees in Physics and Engineering as well as a Masters of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from Dalhousie University. He is a registered professional engineer in Ontario, a past-president of the IBPSA-Canada, and past-chair the Energy & Engineering Technical Advisory Group for the CaGBC and a Director for the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance. In 2014 the Canadian Green Building Council honored him with the Green Building Champion Leadership Award, and at Greenbuild 2017, the Green Building Certification Institute named him a LEED Fellow.