ASHRAE NAC President
Christina Herbers, P.Eng, LEED AP
My top three goals this year as President are to elevate:
- Sustainable building designs
- Women in ASHRAE
- And Diversity in ASHRAE
I believe that our HVAC-R industry can have a major impact on reducing Carbon emissions. By designing our built environment with sustainability at the forefront, we can create a future better for our children.
I look forward to serving you as ASHRAE Northern Alberta Chapter (NAC) President, 2024-2025. I am thankful to all of the ASHRAE volunteers that I have worked with over the years, and have mentored me, and I am thankful and excited about our current board of directors.
Chapter Technology Transfer (CTTC) Report October 2018
Our proposed two distinguished lecturers and our afternoon course have been submitted to our Regional Vice-Chair. Please mark your calenders for:
Wed Nov 21st – Greg Scirivener, as he presents at our lunch meeting and we are also offering an afternoon course on “Heat Pumps and CO2 as a refrigerant” at the U of A Faculty Club.
Greg Scrivener started in the refrigeration industry as an apprentice refrigeration mechanic in 1997 and completed his journeyperson certification in 2003 with an award for “Most outstanding new Journeyperson”. Continuing to work in the refrigeration industry, Greg completed a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan in 2011.
The use of CO2 as a refrigerant has grown in the residential, commercial and industrial refrigeration and heat pumping industries. This presentation will explore the different applications that have used CO2 and will examine its efficiency as a refrigerant in different conditions. While reviewing subcritical and transcritical operation of a CO2 refrigeration cycle we will dispel myths about the efficiency of CO2 and understand which applications are best suited for its use as a refrigerant. The presentation will also explain the peculiar operation of systems operating with refrigerant above the critical point including the unique ability to increase compression ratio and efficiency at the same time.
Wed April 17th 2019 – Heather Platt, P.E., MBA from North Carolina as she presents at our dinner meeting on “Design vs. Facilities Maintenance” at the U of A Faculty Club.
Heather Platt has spent the past 25 years helping buildings operate (and perform) better, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing ease of use for the facility staff. She has spent the majority of her career in the healthcare sector
Design firms are being pushed by clients to save time and money, but in doing so we run the risk of providing the code minimum design or not spending the right amount of time investigating current conditions. This leaves projects that end up costing a lot more time and money for both the engineer and owner. The presentation digs into some of these issues based on actual project results.
Women in ASHRAE Report October 2018
First WIA (Women In ASHRAE) event:
Following the lead of Calgary and Regina’s chapters, our chapter’s first WIA event will be held in the Spring! We are thinking of a wine tasting event.
To encourage diversity in our ASHRAE chapter, and give more women members an opportunity to socialize with each other, we have decided to hold a wine tasting event at a local tasting room. This will not be an event exclusive to women, but if you have women at your company who are reluctant to come to monthly meetings, this might be the ticket for them. Look for more details to come out in the next newsletter.
If you would like to be a sponsor, please contact Christina Herbers. christina.herbers@aldes.com
Christina Herbers - Board Member at Large 2017-2018
I am a professional mechanical engineer with over 16 years of experience managing projects primarily throughout Alberta and BC. The projects I have managed range from HVAC fancoil research, natural gas pipeline designs, District Heating projects, and Water Treatment Plant designs.
The past few years, I have specialized in Business Development. I am passionate about my family, my clients, several charities that I volunteer with, sports and the environment.
I look forward to being on the ASHRAE Northern Alberta Chapter Board!
Christina Herbers, P.Eng, LEED AP
Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Alberta
By Christina Herbers, P.Eng, LEED AP
Sustainable building design is part of our future. Reducing a buildings energy use and use of natural resources is the first step. One low cost item that can be done is to incorporate a rainwater harvesting system into your next building design.
The main rule for sizing a rainwater harvesting system is that the supply, the volume of water to be captured and stored, must equal or exceed the volume of water used, also called demand. Assume that in Alberta, we can only meet part of the building's water demand for six months from approximately mid-April to mid-October.
To determine the buildings total annual water demand, for an existing building, you would review the historic water use records. For new construction, you would project the water demand based on building usage, number of occupants, and days that the building will be used per week.
For your building, you will also need to determine:
What the captured water will be used for, such as grey water reuse for toilet and/or urinal flushing.
- The maximum amount of water that can possibly be captured.
- The collection surface area (or area of the roof).
- And the daily volume of rainfall.
The maximum amount of water to be captured (in mm) multiplied by the area of the roof (in m2) equals the total possible rainwater that can be captured in Litres.
You will then need to size the pump and storage tank for the optimal system performance, refer to drawing above.
Check out these resources below for tips on how to incorporate this green aspect into your next building.
https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/grho/grho_016.cfm
https://www.thebalance.com/design-a-rainwater-harvesting-system-in-6-steps-3157815
Women in ASHRAE
By Christina Herbers, P.Eng, LEED AP, Business Development Manager, Val Temp Sales
Find me on Twitter @tinabee_77
I have been a member of ASHRAE, Northern Alberta Chapter, throughout my career as a professional mechanical engineer. At the end of 2017, and start of 2018, I have taken a role with the board of directors, helping to plan this year's Global Giveback event.
For our Global Giveback event, our chapter is bringing at least 20 members to the South Edmonton Habitat for Humanity Build. I am excited to be involved with the board, and proud to be the only woman on our board for the upcoming 2018/19 season.
Although women are under-represented in our industry, I invite all women working in HVAC, engineering, technical and sales careers, to become active members of ASHRAE. Come to the next event. Ask how to get involved.
Help us continue to build Alberta together!
Connect with us on social media tagging us by #myashraenac