Notice of Meeting

We ask that you pre-register for the technical tour and dinner at your earliest convenience online at www.torontoashrae.com, select "Meeting Registration and Calendar" from the left tab and then "Register" button for the ASHRAE Toronto - May 2011 Dinner Meeting.  You may also still register through the ASHRAE chapter office (Sabrina Tai - 905 602 4714 or stai@hrai.ca). Please indicate at time of registration if you have any specific meal requirements. There will always be a vegetarian option, simply notify us at time of registration. No walk-in registrations will be permitted for this event.

Toronto City Hall

Energy Upgrades

Toronto City Hall Overview

City Hall was built in the 1960's when energy efficiency was not a concern. Over the last several decades, however, the movement towards sustainability became embedded into our City's culture and policy making strategies. This ASHRAE dinner meeting (and technical tour) will showcase the many sustainability features recently incorporated into Toronto's City Hall facility located at 100 Queen Street West.

A recent sustainability initiative undertaken at City Hall was the connection to Enwave's Deep Lake Water Cooling System (DLWC).  DLWC will reduce City Hall's electricity consumption by approximately 1.9 million kilowatt hours annually and will reduce CO2 by 325 tonnes (a 75 percent reduction in CO2 emissions as compared to conventional chillers.)  City Hall also purchased green/renewable power from Bullfrog Power since 2009. The purchase of 19 million kWh of green power will result a reduction of over 4,000 tones of CO2.

On May 2, 2007 over 65 planners, environmentalists, engineers and specialists participated in a charrette to dialogue on City Hall and energy efficiency.  The event was co-sponsored by the Clinton Climate Initiative. The outcome of the charrette was that City Hall could, in the future, achieve a net zero carbon impact and thereby become a showcase for sustainability and energy efficiency but that significant investment would be required to achieve this. In May 2008 the City of Toronto signed an agreement with Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc. to undertake some of the energy saving measures discussed at the charrette.  

During the dinner meeting and associated technical tour, a number of the energy efficiency and sustainability measures will be reviewed, with a focus on the latest energy upgrades to City Hall's Council Chamber HVAC/R systems. To understand more about City Hall's Council Chamber, from history to design features, please click here.    

Mr. Michael Rosenblitt, P.Eng

Michael Rosenblitt is a mechanical engineer and Unit Director with LKM Division of SNC-Lavalin Inc.  Prior to SNC's purchase of LKM, he was a partner with Leipciger Kaminker Mitelman (LKM) Consulting Engineers in Toronto.  Mr. Rosenblitt is actively involved in building mechanical services for the healthcare sector, as well as for commercial, institutional, multi-residential, and industrial projects.

Various notable projects he has been involved in are: Brampton Rose Theatre, connection of Mount Sinai Hospital to the Enwave Deep Lake Cooling System, replacement of City of Toronto Council Chamber HVAC, Atlantic Freezers refrigerated distribution centre, and ORC Secure Office Facility.

Prior to his work at LKM and SNC, Michael worked in the scrap metal and plastics industries as well as air-conditioning contracting, for several years before moving to Canada in 1986.   He worked at H. H. Angus and Associates until 1997, when he joined LKM as a partner.  He has a B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from UCT in South Africa and an M. Eng. Science from UNSW in Australia.  He is a member of Professional Engineers Ontario and is a Designated Consulting Engineer; and is also licensed in New Brunswick and Alberta.  He is also a committee member of CSA Z7396 "Medical Gas Pipeline Systems" and CSA Z305.13 "Plume Scavenging".

Mr. Rosenblitt has been a member of the ASHRAE Toronto Chapter since 1989 and served on the Chapter Board of Governors from 1997 to 2008, and was Chapter President for 2007.

Mr. Slavko Zdravkovic, P.Eng

Slavko has been a professional engineer since 1985 and has practiced mechanical engineering design with multiple consultancies, including H.H Angus and Associates from and Giffels. Slavko has worked as a project manager with the City of Toronto since 1988.

At the City of Toronto Slavko is involved with the design of mechanical systems, including HVAC/R, plumbing and sprinkler systems, and project management of system upgrades and replacement for Toronto's existing building portfolio. Slavko maintained a Project Management role while working alongside Michael Rosenblitt of LKM Consulting for the latest energy retrofit project at Toronto City Hall's Council Chambers, which included the replacement of air handling units, upgrades of the HVAC system and installation of new DDC control.

Special Guest Presentation

Toronto Green Roof Bylaw

Toronto is the first City in North America to have a bylaw to require and govern the construction of green roofs on new development. It was adopted by Toronto City Council in May 2009, under the authority of Section 108 of the City of Toronto Act. The Bylaw applies to new building permit applications for residential, commercial and institutional development made after January 31, 2010 and will apply to new industrial development as of April 30, 2012.

Ms Shayna Stott, an Environmental Planner with the City of Toronto's Planning Division will be providing dinner meeting attendees with a brief overview of Toronto's Green Roof Bylaw.

Prior to the May Dinner Meeting, ASHRAE Toronto has organized a technical tour of the latest energy and mechanical retrofit project at Toronto City Hall. To participate in this technical tour, you will be prompted to register online when completing your dinner meeting registration on the www.TorontoASHRAE.com website. Technical tour details are as follows:  

Time: 3:30 - 5:30 PM

Location: Toronto City Hall - 100 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

All tour attendees are to congregate in Toronto's City Hall Council Chamber, after signing in with City Hall security at the ground-level entrance.

Technical Tour Details:

Attendees will receive a 10-15 minute project brief, prior to the technical tour, provided by both Michael Rosenblitt (LKM Consulting) and Slavko Zdravkovic (City of Toronto) within the Council Chamber. Attendees will then be escorted through several of City Hall's mechanical spaces to see the latest mechanical/energy retrofits, in addition to various sustainability features. The tour will end at approximately 5:30 PM at which point, attendees will be directed to the Marriott Eaton's Centre Hotel (across Bay Street from City Hall), where they will join ASHRAE Toronto in our final dinner meeting of the year.

Note: Only dinner meeting attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the technical tour.

Need Assistance?

Feel free to contact Marco Ottavino, ASHRAE Programs Chair, for further details (marco.ottavino@gmail.com, 416-561-8252). 

Job Postings    

New for 2010-2011, ASHRAE Toronto Chapter is proud too announce our new job postings board.  Below is a summary of all current job postings.  For more information go to torontoashrae.com.

• Vibro-Acoustics
• Sales Application Engineer
• Mechanicl Designer
• Goodkey Weedmark
• Designer/Engineer
• Square M Systems
• HVAC - Project Manager - Technical Sales - Field Technician
• Canatal International
• Field Technician
• Applications Engineering Manager
• Engineering Sales Professional
• Carrier Canada (Ottawa)
• Inside Sales Representative
• Labworks International Inc
• Mechanical Engineer/Technologist
• Carrier Canada (Edmonton)
• Store Manager
• HH Angus & Associates
• Mechanical Designer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Mechanical Project Manager
• Conserval Engineering (Solarwall)
• Engineering Manager
• Jack Dougan Associates Ltd
• Outside Sales Representative
• Crossey Engineering Ltd
• Mechanical EIT - Building Services
• VSC Group
• Commissioning Agent/Project Manager
• Mechanical Commissioning (EIT)
• CSSI
• Sales Manager (GTA & Southwest Ontario)
• Sales Manager (GTA)
• Sales Engineer
• Isotherm Engineering Ltd
• Mechanical Engineer/Commissioning Authority
• WP Osborne
• Technical Services Manager
• Olympic International
• Sales Manager

Viewpoint

It has been a while since I have written about anything in the Gazette other than the AHSRAE Golf Tournament, so when I was asked to do the viewpoint for this month's issue I had to think carefully about what message I wanted to convey.  After all this is the last chance to reach out to our members for this year before we head off for the summer.

Here's the thing though, while everyone goes off for the summer the Toronto Chapter Board and the core of volunteers continues to work to make us a stronger chapter and bring together the events that so many attend.  These events don't happen by magic they take some time and effort and this year especially our programs people have put on a series of meetings that has been, "Over the Top".   They not only arranged meetings but also coordinated joint meetings and the tours that are ever so popular.

So this is the part where I preach now.  I remember when average meetings were attended by 40 to 60 people and the board and committees listened to the membership what they wanted and made the changes to not only attract more people but also attract the people that make a difference to our industry with their new ideas and technologies. These changes have resulted in the average meeting now drawing well over 100 people. 

Our Chapter is run on behalf of the membership by its volunteers and while it is true we are all busy trying to earn a dollar, many of the things that ASHRAE does and represents helps us all in the industry do exactly that earn money to give us a better life.  It also gives us the opportunity to enrich our lives through more than money, like the things we learn, the people we meet and the friends we make.

I have met several people through my involvement in ASHRAE some who are no longer with us but to quote a few like Herb Maybank, "Getting involved in ASHRAE is not about making an investment in a Society or Organization but it is about making an Investment in yourself.".

And to quote one of our active and passionate members as well as a friend, David Underwood, "ASHRAE is truly a grass roots organization".  What other organization do you know where you as an individual member can actually create change starting right at your local Chapter.

So did you enjoy our meetings and programs this year? We hope so because everyone involved in putting those meetings together went to a great effort to put them together for all our benefit. 

Now would you like to have these continue?  We hope so and to help our Chapter continue to be strong we can't burn out the core of volunteers we have and the way to do this is by adding more people to help.

Surely you can give some time to help with one aspect of our Chapter!  These days with work and family commitments we are all busy but it really doesn't take that much time. Approach a board or committee member and tell them you would like to help by investing a small portion of your time.  Every committee could use extra help from programs, to technical and even Special Events like Golf. 

Help us become even a stronger Chapter and if you don't know who you should approach to help out than please feel free to contact personally and I will help you get involved.  Remember even if you are new we can use your help.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our last meeting of the year or at the golf tournament before we adjourn for the summer but to everyone who I don't get a chance to personally wish them well before that, I wish a safe and happy summer.

Leo Borges (PP)

Board Member and Special Events

ASHRAE Society News

 Brazilian Company Develops 'Personal Air-Conditioning' Unit  JOINVILLE, Brazil-Brazilian refrigeration company Embraco has developed a personal air-conditioning unit that could be fitted into the clothing of persons exposed to high-heat conditions, such as firefighters, military personnel and Formula 1 racing drivers. The device is 4 in. (102 mm) long and 2 in. (51 mm) wide, weighs 3.5 oz. (99 g), and can be sewn into the fabric of clothing. As temperature rises, hot air is drawn into the steel casing of the device and cooled by a microprocessor. The cooled air is then propelled out through a network of thin tubes in the clothing.

Membership Promotion  

Michael Genin                  Simone D'Angelo            Christos Pappas
Miles Chen                       Kevin Sharples               Clifford Howard

A reminder to all paid Toronto Chapter & YEA Members:

(Society members who paid the $70.00 Toronto Chapter Fee)

You must set up a profile at www.torontoashrae.com to benefit from event and dinner meeting discounts available to Chapter Members, Chapter YEA members and also registered students.

Student Activities

A Glance at Student Activities in April... 

Honeywell Building Solutions LEED Headquarters Technical Tour

On Thursday March 31st, 20110, 15 student members of ASHRAE's Toronto Chapter were able to participate in a technical tour of Honeywell's LEED Silver Building Solutions headquarters in Markham, Ontario. Students in attendance ranged from various schools in Toronto, including Ryerson University, Humber College, Seneca College and Sheridan College and represented a multitude of disciplines, including mechanical engineering, architectural science, building science and energy modeling. 

Rick Patterson (Centre) with several ASHRAE Toronto Student Members on highly solar reflective roof of Honeywell's LEED office building in Markham, Ontario

Upon arriving to the Markham site, students were pleasantly greeted by an energetic and enthusiastic group of Honeywell representatives. Rick Patterson, Lorraine Harris and Craig Thomas, representing Honeywell Building Solutions, provided the student members with an insightful overview presentation on the history of Honeywell Building Solutions (including the development of the building automation and controls industry), the principles of integrated design, the motivations behind Honeywell's new green office space and the LEED features which have attributed to this facility's LEED Silver designation. Craig hosted a detailed demonstration of Honeywell's technologically advanced and innovative Building Solutions products which took place in the highly secure Honeywell Demo Controls Lab; and one of the attending students got a chance to do what many of us only dreamed of, to pull fire alarm switch as a part of the demonstration. After visit to Honeywell Demo Control Lab Rick and Lorraine guided students through the building's mechanical spaces. In process of the guided tour few building features were highlighted and their contribution to building efficiency was explained; few of those features were the rainwater harvesting systems, solar reflective roofing, major air-handling systems and district energy utilities.

Craig Thomas (Centre) showcasing innovative Building Solutions products , with ASHRAE Toronto Student Members, in the Honeywell Demo Controls Lab

After the technical tour, students were able to casually converse with Honeywell representatives while enjoying a pizza dinner and presents - generously provided by Honeywell Building Solutions. On behalf of all the students of the Toronto Chapter, we would like to thank everyone at Honeywell for making this event possible - your generosity and support of ASHRAE Toronto has been greatly received.  

Rick Paterson, Lorraine Harris and Craig Thomas giving presentation on Honeywell Headquarters building systems.

Mr. Wei Sun Presentation at Sheridan

Distinguished lecturer Mr. Wei Sun was invited to Sheridan College to give a small, student inclined version of his presentation on cleanrooms and HVAC systems design he gave to Toronto and Hamilton Chapters. During his presentation Mr. Sun covered fundamentals of cleanroom standards, airflow quantity, velocity, flow patterns and floor arrangements, airlock and pressurization system design. Mr. Sun also presented the common clean-room devices and equipment, cleaning procedures, testing standards. After lecture at Sheridan College Mr.Sun treated students for small Q&A session during which all attending HVAC students had a chance to grab piece of Mr. Sun's experience. 

Students from Sheridan College attending Mr. Wei Sun's lecture; Mr. Sun. and Ted Tracewicz (Faculty Branch Advisor) in the back of the class.

Becoming a Student Member