Benchmarking: Understanding
Building Performance
Conducting an energy performance comparison, known as benchmarking, can boost energy efficiency and lower building operating costs.
By Aliza Skolnik, LEED AP, GGP, Environmental Systems Design Inc., Chicago
Imagine trying to get directions without knowing the starting address. Or assembling a competitive sports team without holding tryouts to rank and compare athletes. Or even attempting to lose weight without stepping on a scale to figure out how much you weigh now. You end up lost, unaware of how your competition is doing, and oblivious to how to achieve your goal. To get to where you want to go, you have to know where you are now. Benchmarking a building’s energy performance is placing your building on the map.
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Submit Proposed Changes to FGI Guidelines Before Oct. 31 Deadline
Heath care facility managers, administrators, engineers, designers, medical professionals and others involved in the design and construction of health care facilities are encouraged to submit proposed changes to the 2010 edition of the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities before an important deadline October 31, 2011.
If you have used the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines to help plan a health care facility project, did you run across language you found unclear? Do you think any requirements in the Guidelines are too strict or not stringent enough? Would you like to see requirements for a particular hospital unit or outpatient facility type added to the text? Submit a proposal on the Facility Guidelines Institute proposal site: www.fgiguidelines.net/proposals.
The 130-member multidisciplinary Health Guidelines Revision Committee will consider all proposals received by the public. The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), which partners with FGI to publish the Guidelines, encourages health care professionals in a variety of roles to make their voices heard before the October 31, 2011, deadline for accepting suggested changes.
The proposal submittal period is the first step in the revision process that will ultimately result in the 2014 edition of the document. A second public input period will occur after a draft of the 2014 Guidelines has been released.
The FGI Guidelines are updated every four years and are currently used by more than 42 states and several federal agencies to regulate health care facility design and construction. For more information about the Guidelines or the proposal period, visit the FGI website at www.fgiguidelines.org.
Midwest Heathcare Engineering
Conference & Trade Show
Exploring the Winning Ways - November 2-4, 2011
Indiana Convention Center
100 S Capitol Ave
Indianapolis IN 46225
Just a couple of the topics discussed at the conference:
Water Conservation in Healthcare
- Discuss legislation updates and LEED changes impacting water conservation and plumbing specifications
- Review plumbing products and flow rates needed to achieve savings and maximize LEED points
- Explore tools and resources available to save time building water conserving plumbing specs
Kohler Co was awarded the Water Sense Partner of the Year in 2008 and 2009 and a special Water Sense Excellence Award in 2010 for ongoing training, product innovation, broad offering, and sponsorship of the IMAX film "Grand Canyon, River at Risk," where 2 million viewers experienced first hand the impact of taxing our natural water resources. Discover the importance and ease of achieving water savings on commercial and residential projects.
Jason Burnett, JA Sexauer & Amy Miller, Kohler
Facility Master System Integration
- Explore FMSI concepts
- Learn how to apply FMSI
- See an example of successful FMSI
Discover how to unlock your automation systems and how to apply the concepts of Facility Master System Integration to take control of your facility.
Thomas Davis, Davis Industries, Inc.
Help Us Keep You Up to Date
The ISHE members services staff will be reaching out to you to ensure we have your latest contact information. Please look for an email/call from ISHE Member Services, or contact us at membership@isheweb.org.
ISHE is Growing!
You've probably noticed the increased frequency of news and information from ISHE lately. That's just part of our effort to develop the healthcare engineering profession in Indiana. We are also in the process of contacting prospective members. Help us to increase the voice of your profession by putting in a good word with your colleagues. Send any referrals or suggestions to ISHE Member Services at membership@isheweb.org.
Upcoming Meetings in 2012
ISHE is beginning to plan a
bi-monthly Round Table program.
If you would like to participate in this program as a speaker please contact Steve Thurston.
Email: SThurston@iuhealth.org
Phone: (317)908-8222 |
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