Category: Announcements

Early Registration for the 2013 Region VI CRC is open until March 31^st.  That’s only 5 weeks away!  On April 1^st prices will go up 10% so navigate to the 2013 Region VI CRC registration page and register today.

Conference Background

The La Crosse Area Chapter has organized an exciting Regional Conference filled with learning, networking and exploring the La Crosse area.  Thursday starts off with the Max Tech Seminar and technical tour and ends with the Welcome Party at the outstanding Dahl Auto Museum, which features many beautifully restored classic automobiles from the turn of the century to present.  On Friday you will have a choice of three technical tracks boasting distinguished lectures on Energy and the Environment, HVAC Equipment, and Indoor Environmental Quality.   Following the tech sessions there are three technical tours to choose from: the state of the art French Island Power Plant, Gundersen Lutheran hospital’s innovative new biofuel energy project and Trane’s centrifugal chiller manufacturing facility.

Your companion can enjoy the Vice and Virtue tour.  Board a tour bus stocked with mimosas, chocolate, and other treats to see the sites in La Crosse.  The tour will include a stop at Grandad’s Bluff to take in a scenic vista of the Mississippi Valley.  At the Hixon House, participants will glimpse back to the Victorian era in an elegant Italianate-style home built for lumberman and financier Gideon Hixon.  Wrap up the day tucked away in the bluffs amidst beautiful natural scenery with an outstanding lunch and a walking tour to enjoy the artwork and architecture of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Not going to the late morning workshops on Saturday?  Before you hit the road to leave La Crosse, join us for the Mississippi Explorer Eco-Cruise.  This boat tour takes off from the levee at Riverside Park and will explore the scenic and wild back waters of the Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge.   Depending on water level and wildlife activity, the eco-cruise will take participants within feet of beautiful backwater riverbanks to see bald-eagle nests, beaver lodges, muskrat huts, turtle logs, and lotus fields.  The cruise is professionally guided and fully narrated by US Coast Guard licensed captains, wildlife naturalists, and qualified experts.

Tour space is limited.

See you in May.La Crosse ASHRAE CRC committee

The application form for the 2013 Gus Larson Scholarship has been posted on our site. The deadline for this year’s application is May 17.

Career Presentations and ASHRAE Involvement with STEM

One of ASHRAE’s goals is to participate in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math K-12 related activities to provide direction, guidance, and advocacy. ASHRAE has been involved with the STEM Education Coalition working to inform policymakers on the critical role that STEM education plays in keeping the US competitive in the marketplace.

To promote local ASHRAE involvement and HVAC industry awareness, ASHRAE members Dave Schneider, Ryan McNally, and Matt Brophy recently visited local SCTE Highschool (School of Career and Technical Education) on Friday, February 8^th. Through two classroom presentations, Dave, Ryan, and Matt explained the HVAC engineering industry including education, career options, real life project photos, 3D models, and the importance of ASHRAE involvement.

Each year ASHRAE awards its members that develop innovative building designs applied to occupant comfort, indoor air quality, and energy conservation.  The designs should meet ASHRAE standards for energy management and indoor air quality.

We are currently looking for candidates from the Wisconsin Chapter that incorporate those unique and innovative design ideas in their work.  Categories include residential (new and existing), public assembly (new and existing), commercial buildings (new and existing),  institutional buildings (new and existing, includes educational facilities and other institutional), health care facilities (new and existing) and industrial facilities or processes (new and existing).

Winners from each category will be determined by the Wisconsin Chapter Board of Governors.  The winner in each category will be eligible for submission to the regional and national level to showcase projects designed by Wisconsin Chapter members.  Performance must be proven through one year of verified operating data.

Please use the following link for more information on the awards program:
www.ashrae.org/cttc

Please submit your award applications to the Wisconsin Chapter CTTC Chair Ryan McNally (ryan.mcnally@exp.com) by March 15th, 2013

ASHRAE Wisconsin February Program: Steam design fundamentals and common pitfalls

Alioto’s Restaurant: 3041 N Mayfair Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53222
5:30pm registration
6:00pm – 7:00pm  presentation

Thursday February 21st, at 6:00pm please join us for a program about steam design fundamentals.  The presenter will be Tim Parbs of Badger Thermal Unlimited.  He will discuss design fundamentals as well as common pitfalls he has seen through his years of design, installation and troubleshooting steam systems.

Tim started as a second-generation steamfitter.  He worked his way through installation, service, project management, estimating, service management and sales.  He has over 25 years of experience with steam systems.  He is currently the president of Badger Thermal Unlimited, a manufacturer’s rep/distributer serving Wisconsin and surrounding areas.  He is also a principal at Advanced Steam Technology Co., a manufacturer of ultra-high efficiency steam heating equipment.  He provides technical assistance and training, as well as field surveys and steam energy audits.  He also conducts frequent Steam Energy Seminars in a glass-piped demo room.

Tim is an associate member of ASHRAE.

Please register in advance.