USA INTERVIEW
“Everywhere you look, there’s talk of increased fuel
Bill Harrison
efficiency for vehicles, alternative fuels and compact
fluorescent light bulbs. These are admirable efforts, CV
and I would never want to detract from them. But
1966: Bachelor of Science
the elephant in the corner – our world’s existing
in industrial engineering
building stock – constitutes roughly 30 to 40 per cent from the University of
of our primary energy use, easily larger than either
Arkansas, Fayetteville
transportation or industry. It’s time we all started 1966-83: Worked for
focusing on it.”
the Trane Company,
Shreveport, Louisiana
He has great faith in the availability of engineers to
come up with solutions to the massive environmental
1983: Founded Trane
Arkansas, Little Rock, and
challenges, but fears this only addresses part of the
remains president today
problem. “The truth is that many buildings fade from
2008-09: President
green to grey as their performance decays due to poor
ASHRAE
operating procedures,” says Harrison. “We need to
Harrison has also
focus on taking energy out of our existing buildings
received the ASHRAE
with the same intensity we have applied to designing
Distinguished Service
new high-performing buildings. Inadequate attention
Award and was chair
of the Headquarters
is paid to the fundamentals of good building design
Building Renovation
and, more importantly, inadequate attention is paid to
Committee.
how buildings are maintained and operated.”
His ASHRAE service
Regulation will have an important role to play, but
includes the roles of
he wants “smarter” regulation rather than just more
president-elect, treasurer,
vice-president, Region
Bill Harrison: focusing on the performance of existing buildings and he thinks the industry has to get better at making
VIII director and regional
well-designed buildings financially attractive. “For
chair, chair of Member
focused on how buildings perform in reality, rather many investors, energy efficiency is a dirty term, but
Council, Technology
Council and the Finance
than on the designer’s computer screen. He is also it should be a priority for them – not just because of
Committee, a member
a strong supporter of the buildings energy labelling the environment – but from the need to cut long-term
of the Nominating
scheme the society is developing, together with the US
Committee, and vice-
chair of the Refrigeration
Energy Star scheme (see feature, p38). Harrison says it Everywhere you look, there’s talk of
Committee and the
is important for the general public to have confidence
increased fuel efficiency for vehicles,
Society Rules Committee.
in the system so they will choose the most energy-
alternative fuels and compact
Harrison is also a former
efficient option and not have to be forced into basing
president of the ASHRAE
fluorescent light bulbs. But there
Shreveport Chapter.
their choice on legislation.
“We are looking at transforming the market with this
is an elephant in the corner – our
initiative,” he says, but cautions that energy labelling
will impose an additional burden on contractors
world’s existing building stock
because their work will continue to be assessed and
measured long after it is installed.
Many buildings are inherently energy efficient, operational costs. Initial costs for energy-efficient
he believes, but problems with commissioning, buildings may sometimes be higher, but the cost over
and the lack of clear communications with building the life of the building is much less.”
operators, undermine the design. He is a passionate Better collaboration between different parts of
campaigner for improved handover documentation the design team could deliver the long-term savings
and for programmes to educate and certify building investors are looking for, according to Harrison.
operators. “The ideal would be for a design team to establish an
During the Chicago meeting, the society launched energy budget early in the project and then to model
its Operations and Performance Management the energy performance of the building as the design
Professional Certification programme, which is being evolves,” he says. “However, convincing owners and
made available via electronic testing centres worldwide. investors to insist on these processes will require better
This is an initiative close to Harrison’s heart as it is communications between owners and engineers.
aimed at helping building operators demonstrate “We must educate building owners to the reality that
their knowledge of operational management and designing high-performance buildings costs more, but
maintenance and how that affects the performance that the additional design costs will save money every
of the building services. year the building is in service. We need to be very open
“There is an elephant in the room, but it seems about the fact that a larger budget for planning and
that hardly anyone knows it’s there,” he says. “Those design results in lower construction and operating
in the building industry see and recognise it for the costs. Owners need to recognise that ignoring the
monstrosity it is, but most people don’t know that energy performance of buildings cannot be tolerated
they’re essentially avoiding a huge energy issue. in an energy-starved world.” l
www.cibsejournal.com March 2009 CIBSE Journal 37
CIBSEmar09 pp36-37 interview.indd 37 4/3/09 14:39:35
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