Welcome To The ASHRAE Houston Hot Air Recorder

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Chapter Regional Conference / Austin TX / April 18th thru 20th

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President's Message

Hello everyone!  Spring is almost here, so it’s a perfect time to get out and participate in some of the upcoming ASHRAE events!

The Annual Spring Golf Tournament is coming up on Monday April 29^th at Longwood Golf Club.  Be sure to mark your calendars and plan to attend.  There is always a great turnout and it’s an important fundraiser for our organization.

Last month, ASHRAE had its Worldwide Annual Meeting in Dallas.  The Houston Chapter was well represented.   I would like to thank everyone who participated.  

We also had a fantastic turnout at our February luncheon.  David Howell (Director of Licensing for the Texas Board of Professional Engineers) gave a presentation on Ethics.  If you are still in need of your PDH certificate, please let me know.  Ken Loudermilk (TROX USA) finished the meeting up with a presentation on Chilled Beams. Our next meeting will be held on March 20^th at the HESS Building.  Tom Watson, the ASHRAE Society President will be the guest speaker. 

The Board of Governors and all of the Committee Chairs are working very hard this year on our presentation for the Golden Gavel.  The last time the Houston Chapter won this prestigious award was in 1972.  It’s given to the best all-around Chapter within the Region.  I believe that we deserve this award, and I have been working hard to showcase everything the Houston Chapter has accomplished this year.  I want to thank everyone who has helped in this endeavor.

I welcome everyone to attend the Chapters Regional Conference (the CRC) in Austin this year.  It will be held April 18-20 at the Hyatt Regency on Lady Bird Lake.  Registration has already begun and space will fill up quickly.  I hope to see you there!  Show your support for all the Chapters as they are recognized and honored for their accomplishments for the year.

As always, I would like to thank all of you for your contribution to making the Houston Chapter such a great success! 

I look forward to seeing you all,

Alan Neely – 2012-2013 President Houston Chapter   

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Meeting Minutes

ASHRAE

Technology for a Better Environment

REGION VIII HOUSTON CHAPTER MEETING MINUTES

ASHRAE Mission: To advance the arts and sciences of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerating to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.

ASHRAE Vision: ASHRAE will be the global leader, the foremost source of technical and educational information, and the primary provider of opportunity for professional growth in the arts and sciences of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerating.

In Attendance (Meeting Held at HESS Club , Houston Texas 01/16/13)

Alan Neely / President / Pittsburgh Corning Insulation
Mike Donovan / President Elect / Heat Transfer Solutions, Inc.
Elliot Millican / Vice President  / E&C Engineers & Consultants Inc
Michael Langton / Treasurer / Heat Transfer Solutions, Inc.
Kimberly Thompson / Secretary / Heat Transfer Solutions, Inc.
Paul Alexander / Past President 2011-2012 / Straus Systems
Keith Reihl / Past President 2010-2011 / Mitsubishi Electric
Steve Roche / Refrigeration /  RCE, Inc.
Ken Shifflett / Student Activities / Distribaire, Inc.
Stan Caplan / Honors And Awards / Lange Mechanical
Brian Dunne / Sustainability / TD Engineers
Chad Wiginton / Membership / H.D. Grant Company, Inc.
Chase Williamson / Historian / Texas AirSystems
Christine Porterfield /  Young Engineers In ASHRAE / Roessler Equipment
Brennan Vierra / Young Engineers In ASHRAE / Heat Transfer Solutions, Inc.
John Walik / HAR Editor - Webmaster / Lashley & Associates, Inc.
David Schurk / PAOE Czar / HTS
Bruce Flanniken / Historian Emeritus / The Methodist Hospital
Elizabeth Glore  / Honors and Awards / Knauf Insulation
Kirk McCullough / Membership / Hunton Trane 

Time Called to Order 4:43 pm / Time Called to End 5:25 pm 

Alan Neely / President:

• No report

Mike Donovan / President-Elect:

• February meeting will be the Ethics seminar from 11-11:50.
• Ken Loudermilk will present after the lunch
• March will be Tom Watson – society president
• April will be student night at St. Arnolds
• May will be a VRF joint presentation

Elliot Millican / Vice President:

• Golf tourney Monday, April 29^th; 1:00 start; all 27 holes will be reserved
• Possibly host a skeet shoot in June at American Shooting
• 30% check was mailed in at end of year

Mike Langton / Treasurer:

• Vote to close the CD and roll over into the savings account. 
• Elliot made a motion to close the CD.  Mike seconded the motion.  All in favor provided the window hasn’t closed

Kimberly Thompson / Secretary:

• Move directory to website only version with no cross reference list.
• Put proposal together to move to website.

Paul Alexander / Past President 2011-2012:

• No report

Keith Reihl / Past president 2010-2011:

• No report

Steve Roche / Refrigeration:

• No report

Ken Shifflett / Student Activities:

• What are we funding for student members to go to the winter conference?
• RVC will match up to $500; Motion to provide $500 from Houston made by Kimberly; seconded by Brennan.  All in favor.

Stan Caplan / Honors And Awards:

• Bruce Flanniken’s Fellow award will be submitted next year
• Need 8-10 nominations for this year

Brian Dunne / Sustainability:

• No report

Chad Wiginton / Membership:

• 85% success rate in renewal reminders
• Gained 2 more members over the past month
• Need a net gain of 7 to reach the PAOE points

Chase Williamson and Bruce Flanniken/ Historian:

• Look into putting part of the scanned historical info onto the website.
• Purchase a negative picture scanner for $140.  John Walik made the motion; Mike seconded it.  All in favor.

Christine Porterfield and Brennan Vierra / YEA:

• Basketball tournament on March 1; 3 on 3 at Roessler Equipment Company
• Open invite for anyone in the chapter

John Walik / HAR Editor and Webmaster:

• Short HAR for January
• February 7 – info is due for publishing in the February newsletter
• $4000 in sponsors contributing tonight to the PPN.

David Schurk / PAOE Czar:

• No report

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Meeting Announcement

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Welcome New Members

New ASHRAE Houston Members for the February HAR Issue:

Submitted by Chad Wiginton – Membership Chairman

Members

Student Members

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YEA

YEA HOUSTON

We are proud to say that the Houston Young Engineer’s in ASHRAE Chapter is the largest YEA chapter in the U.S. and continues to grow daily.

Just 3 years ago Houston created a YEA chapter, and since then we have grown significantly and more than we could’ve imagined.  We have grown not only in the number of members, but in the development and progress of the group and chapter as a whole.

Our goal is for everyone 35 and younger to get the full experience of being a young engineer and worker in this industry and in ASHRAE.   Being a member of YEA is a great way to expand your knowledge, get involved, meet fellow young engineers and workers in the industry, and have fun along the way!

We welcome all those who are 35 and younger in the industry to join us for the monthly meetings and happy hours.  The events will be posted monthly in the HAR.

Please let Christine Porterfield or Brennan Vierra know if you would like more information on becoming a member:

[email protected] /  [email protected]

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Page 2

Attention all ASHRAE and YEA members!

On March 1^st we are having an ASHRAE YEA 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament!

This event is for anyone involved in ASRHAE, not just YEA, so spread the word to anyone involved in ASRHAE who you think would be interested.

Please see the attached for more information on the tournament and the registration form.   The registration forms are due by February 22^nd.  You can e-mail or fax them to me.

This should be a lot of fun and a great way to get more involved with YEA and ASHRAE!

Thanks and hope to see you there!

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Coming Soon

Bruce Flaniken has been awarded the prestigious 2013 ASHRAE TECHNOLOGY AWARD - 2ND PLACE - IN THE EXISTING HEALTH CARE FACILITIES CATEGORY. His full report will be published shortly. Congratulations Bruce!

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Last Month's Meeting

2013 PAST PRESIDENTS NIGHT

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Photo Gallery

For more past Presidents Night Photos CLICK HERE

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Past Presidents Night Sponsors

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Golf Tournament

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Chapter Roster & Product Directory

From Bruce Flaniken : I Need Your Help 

I need to locate a copies of PAST Roster and Product Directories for scanning into our local Houston Chapter’s History. I will be scanning for about 12 years worth of data. If you have an old copy of the combined  Chapter Roster and Product Directory that I could borrow to get scanned and saved it would be greatly appreciated.  I will return them to the owner if they wish!  Contact me at 832-473-1989 Cell phone, [email protected] , [email protected], or [email protected].  Contact me and I will make arrangements to get the copy from you and return it to you if that is your wish! 

I need to find copies of the following years of Combined Chapter Roster and Product Directory: 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-2010, 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2012-13

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History Section

Kalmans Marshall Engineering, Inc.
Submitted By Chase Williamson

 R. H. George and Associates was incorporated in October 1, 1980 by Richard H. George and Melvin Kalmans who were the only stockholders, designers, and draftsmen employed by the company. Previously, Rick had worked with Mel Kalmans at Stauffacher and Kalmans while attending the University of Houston. After graduation from U of H, Rick became a full time employee. In 1980, Mel Kalmans’ partner, the attorney Ray Stauffacher, decided to open his own law firm. Consequently, Mel Kalmans and Rick George opened their own consulting engineering company. 

After Richard George announced his retirement in May, 2007, the remaining Principals made the decision to change the company name to Kalmans Marshall Engineering, Inc. (KME) on April 1, 2008. KME specializes in the engineering of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems with extensive design experience in new and renovation construction. They have completed a broad range of projects in K-12 education, universities, commercial, healthcare, retail, municipal/institutional, industrial, entertainment, food services and places of worship. With over 50 employees in 3 offices and Engineers registered in 47 states, KME can meet clients’ needs wherever they may occur.

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Student Activities

February 2013
Submitted by Kenneth Shifflett, P.E. / Student Activities Chair

The TAMU student branch had a fantastic time at the recent ASHRAE Winter Conference in Dallas. We are proud to say the Houston chapter helped to fund a portion of their transportation costs for the trip. Their final report is in process, but over 15 students attended and they all had a very informative and fun time!

The Houston Chapter scholarships are coming up soon. I will be distributing the forms later this month with a deadline at the end of March. Please contact me if you have a student that doesn’t have the forms. 

Please mark your calendars – February 19-25, 2013 is National Engineers Week. I would like ASHRAE Houston to become more involved this year with K-12 presentations, joint activities with other organizations, etc. If you would like to volunteer to participant or have contacts – please email me.

Lastly, our efforts continue to grow student interest in ASHRAE within the local colleges (University of Houston, Rice, LoneStar college, ect..) If anyone has contact information for potential interest, please email me at [email protected].

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Job Posting

Hiring Opportunities at DBR, Inc. 

Construction Administration (field)
*Skills and qualifications:
Proficient at reading and interpreting plans, specifications, and shop drawings. Capable of performing field inspections of contractor's operations to see that they comply with contract documents. Associate Degree or higher in Engineering/Architecture, or equivalent. Entry to mid-level.

Mechanical Designer/Engineer
*Skills and qualifications:
Qualified candidates will have an Architectural/Engineering degree, Mechanical Engineering degree, or Mechanical Technology degree with HVAC coursework. Proficient with Revit and AutoCAD MEP applications and Microsoft Office. State of Texas Professional Engineer a plus. Mid to Senior level experience required.

Electrical Designer/Engineer
*Skills and qualifications:
Electrical Engineering degree or Architectural/Engineering degree in electrical design from an accredited college and relevant industry experience, which may include summer internships or similar experience while attending college. General knowledge of electrical system design, AutoCAD design experience, and an understanding of applicable design codes. Proficient with Revit and AutoCAD MEP applications and Microsoft Office. State of Texas Professional Engineer a plus. Current needs are entry-level and mid to senior level experience.

Plumbing Designer
*Skills and qualifications:
Engineering degree or Architectural/Engineering degree in engineering design from an accredited college and relevant industry experience, which may include summer internships or similar experience while attending college. General knowledge of plumbing system design, AutoCAD design experience, and an understanding of applicable design codes. Mid-level experience required.

Commissioning Agent
*Skills and qualifications:
Minimum of two years HVAC degree from an accredited college or equivalent level of knowledge attained through practical work experience. Certification(s) from applicable organizations, such as ASHRAE, ACG, AABC, AEE, NEBB, etc. are required. 

Resumes to Angela Pierce at [email protected] or by fax 713.914.0886.

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ASHRAE National News Releases

For Release:                                                    
Feb. 5, 2013

Contact: Amanda Dean
Public Relations
678-539-1216
[email protected]

Return to Dallas Sees High Attendance, New Technology at ASHRAE Conference

ATLANTA –From technology in the palm of your hand to technology from around the world, the ASHRAE Winter Conference brought attendees all the latest updates in the building industry.

Some 2,840 people attended the Conference, held Jan. 26-Jan. 30, in Dallas, Texas.  Attendees came from around the globe, including India, Latvia, Romania, Thailand and even Uganda, to name just a few.

Also taking place in conjunction with the Conference was the ASHRAE co-sponsored Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigerating Exposition, which set new all-time records for a Southwest Show. The Expo attracted 51,337 attendees, including nearly 34,000 visitors. The Show also saw the most exhibitors, 1,951, and largest square footage, 397,000 sq. ft., for any Southwest Show.

New to the Conference was the ASHRAE Event App. Some 2,000 Conference attendees accessed education courses and social events with the touch of a button; had maps and floorplans in hand to find their way around; added sessions to their personal schedules and created one-touch custom agendas of events from their smartphones and tablets.

The Winter Conference technical program featured nearly 200 presentations, with the top attended session in the systems and equipment, facility management, energy conservation and fundamentals and applications tracks.  The top-attended sessions were Introduction to the ASHRAE/REHVA Chilled Beam Design Guide; Desiccant Enhanced Air Conditioning; The FM Perspective: Reducing Energy Consumption and the True Cost of Maintenance; Innovative Energy Efficiency Strategies for Commercial Buildings; and Decoupling the Latent Load Through Psychrometrics.

Other Conference highlights included the Technical Plenary, which drew 330 attendees, with its focus on ethics and engineering. 

These, and additional sessions, from the Technical Program are part of ASHRAE’s Virtual Conference, which provides access to more than 250 presentations.  Register or access presentations at www.ashrae.org/dallasvirtual. 

The Conference offers an opportunity for ASHRAE to strengthen its relationships with other associations from around the world. ASHRAE took advantage of the diverse group of attendees to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with the Council of American Mechanical and Electrical Engineers (CAMEE); the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO); and the Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan (SHASE). The Society also signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). The MOUs and MRA highlight the shared goals of ASHRAE and the organizations and promote mutually beneficial partnerships between the signing parties.

ASHRAE also furthered its existing relationship with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), launching its third biennial Work Plan for 2013-2014, based on a global cooperation agreement signed in 2007.

Also offered were five Professional Development Seminars and 14 short courses from the ASHRAE Learning Institute (ALI). The most popular courses were Energy Management in New & Existing Buildings; Humidity Control Applications, Control Levels and Mold Avoidance; and Laboratory Design: The Basics and Beyond. Additionally, ALI offered a special session of its in-depth HVAC Design: Level I—Essentials training. The session was held Jan. 30-Feb. 1 and saw 39 attendees.

Top selling publications included “Performance Measurement Protocols: Best Practices Guide;” “Handbook of Smoke Control Engineering;” “Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments, 3rd edition;” Standard 90.1-2010, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings; “A Practical Guide to Seismic Restraint, 2nd edition;” “ASHRAE Papers CD: 2013 ASHRAE Winter Conference;” and  Standard 90.1-2010 User’s Manual.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a building technology society with more than 50,000 members worldwide. The Society and its members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality and sustainability within the industry. Through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education, ASHRAE shapes tomorrow’s built environment today.

###

Editors Note: Photos from the meeting can be obtained by contacting Jodi Scott at [email protected] or Amanda Dean at [email protected].

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Seminar

The South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER) enters its second year with an exciting Summit Meeting, designed to explore, further develop, and prioritize policies and strategies needed to push energy efficiency forward in new buildings, existing buildings, and electric markets.

Ed Mazria, founder and CEO of Architecture 2030, will deliver the keynote address to kick off the Summit in Austin on February 25. Mr. Mazria is an international leader on efforts to make buildings dramatically more energy and water efficient, leading the movement to establish 2030 districts in cities with goals to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. These districts have been established so far in Los Angeles, Seattle, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.

ASHRAE Members can receive a $50 discount off the registration. On the registration page, select "Early Registration- Supporting Organization" and then select ASHRAE from the drop down menu.

Sponsors of the SPEER Summit include Dow Chemical, Mitsubishi, Environments for Living, TexEnergy Solutions, BASF, CCRD, the Texas Home Energy Raters Organization, and the CleanTX Foundation.

To learn more about the Energy Efficiency Summit and to register please visit: www.eepartnership.org/summit

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ASHRAE Learning Institute

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In Memoriam.

Mary Ruth Wylie Fry, 87, was taken by the angels on January 15, 2013. She was born June 18, 1925 in Carthage, Arkansas. She graduated from Carthage High School in 1943. During her younger years, Mary worked for drug wholesalers in Austin and Houston, Texas. She was a adamant supporter of the Arkansas Razorbacks Football Team and managed to see "her" team any time they played in Texas. Her second sports love was basketball, both pro and college levels. She was a life member of the Eastern Star, Johnson City, Texas, Chapter 376.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dekalb and Pearl Starks Wylie; brother, Liv Wylie; sisters, Florence Jackson and Mattie Kirby. She is survived by her loving husband, Henry (Hank) Fry; daughter, Mary Broussard; grandson, Garrett Till; granddaughter, Ashley Till; and brothers, Bob and Murry Wylie.
The Memorial Service was held Tuesday, January 22, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Presbyterian Church, 7200 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX 77074. Condolences may be offered at www.millerfuneral.com until February 19th.

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In Memoriam

Iris N. Duesterhoft, 78, passed away unexpectedly at her home on January 1, 2013. Iris was a long time employee of Lashley & Associates from 1950 to 1996 when she retired.
The family received friends for a visitation on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 from six until nine o'clock in the evening at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, 9122 Church Street, Needville, Texas. The funeral service was held on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at ten o'clock in the morning at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Needville, Texas. Burial followed at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 3900 B.F. Terry Blvd., Rosenberg, Texas.
In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions honoring Iris' memory may be given to The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, or St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 389, Needville, Texas 77461.

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