FERC Conference to Address Smart Grid Interoperability Standards
On January 31, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will hold a technical conference on Smart Grid Interoperability Standards. The purpose of the conference is to assist FERC in determining whether the five foundational Smart Grid standards identified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are ready for FERC's consideration in a rulemaking proceeding.
The five foundational standards were produced by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and address information models and protocols important to efficient and reliable grid operations as well as cybersecurity. They are intended to further efforts to achieve efficient and secure intersystem communications.
The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 directed NIST to coordinate development of communication protocols and other standards to achieve an interoperable Smart Grid—a nationwide electric power system that enables two-way flows of energy and information. Under EISA, once it determines that sufficient consensus has been achieved, FERC is charged with instituting rulemaking proceedings to adopt the standards necessary to ensure Smart Grid functionality and interoperability.
The conference, which is open to the public, will be held on January 31, 2011, at FERC headquarters in Washington, DC. For more information, click here.
American National Standard Adopted as Part of Army Sustainability Policy
A sustainable design and development policy recently issued by the U.S. Army incorporates the American National Standard (ANS) ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.
This green building standard was jointly developed by three American National Standards Institute (ANSI) members and accredited standards developers: the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC),and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).
By setting Standard 189.1 as the baseline, the Army policy demonstrates a commitment to the design and construction of efficient military construction projects and major renovations. The new policy applies to all construction and renovation of new buildings in U.S. territories, permanent overseas Active Army installations, Army Reserve Centers, Army National Guard facilities, and Armed Forces Reserve Centers. All such construction projects must follow Standard 189.1's requirements for siting, energy efficiency, metering, storm water management, and indoor and outdoor water consumption.
AIHA Releases Kindle Edition of Mold Reference Guide
For those on the go, ANSI member and accredited standards developer the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has released a Kindle edition of its popular reference guide, Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Indoor Mold.
The guide covers the underlying principles of mold evaluation, data interpretation, building evaluation, as well as remediation and control. The twenty-chapter Kindle edition also includes useful appendices on mold prevention and control.
Founded in 1939, AIHA is an association of occupational and environmental health and safety professionals. AIHA's 10,240 members play a crucial role on the front line of worker health and safety every day.
President Obama Signs Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010
New legislation signed into law on December 14 will provide training for federal personnel performing building operations and maintenance, energy management, safety, and design functions.
The Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010, which was supported by more than 33 organizations involved in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of buildings, will help provide federal workers with the necessary training to construct and maintain environmentally sound buildings.
Under the new law, federal workers will be able to be trained in a series of core competencies relating to building operations, maintenance, energy management, sustainability, water efficiency, safety (including electrical safety), and building performance measures. Workers can take courses and obtain licenses and certification for their efforts.