Salon ABC
NOTE: The Design & Commissioning Track Sessions are approved for CEU / PDH credits.
Steps to Receive PDH Credits:
- Pre-Register Online ($100)
- For each session attended, sign in with John Rath.
- For each session attended, sign out with John Rath.
Room Proctor:
- John Rath / NY-GEO Director of Operations
10:00 am
GSHP Building Commissioning Basics
This session presents an overview of the proper commissioning (Cx) process and points out six (6) types of commissioning processes, depending on what’s required or specified. Outlined will be the 4 proper phases of the Total Cx process including how to plan for Cx, Cx team’s composition and an intro to the required checklists, forms and tests to conduct Cx. Lastly, how to plan for & generate beneficial Cx reports for existing and new buildings and systems targeting high performance.
Presenter:
- Khaled Yousef / Pyramid Energy Engineering Services
11:30 am
Calculated vs. Actual GSHP System Performance
This session will describe the design process for several buildings and compare the calculated performance of the ground heat exchanger (GHX) to the actual measured performance of the buildings. The session will make a link to the design of the GHX to how it should be properly commissioned, how it ties to the commissioning of the internal building heat pump systems, and lessons learned in operating these buildings. This session offers perspectives from designer, contractor, and equipment manufacturer's standpoints.
Presenters:
- Zachary Fink / ZBF Geothermal & NY-GEO Board
- Daniel Flaherty / CDM Smith
- Dalton Hill-Whitson / Unilux HVAC
1:30 pm
Training and Certifications for Commissioning/Retro Commissioning
This session will outline the newly developed certification course by IGSHPA for the GSHP System Verification & Inspection (GSVI). This certification course is for professionals interested in the skills necessary to evaluate, interpret, and verify compliance with the ANSI/CSA/IGSHPA C448:25 Series standard. Additionally, training and certification courses in commissioning and retro-commissioning of any type of building, encompassing any combination of energy systems will also be identified and resources to access such training will be included.
Presenters:
- Jeff Hammond / IGSHPA
- Khaled Yousef / Pyramid Energy Engineering Services
2:45 pm
Sustainable Development Operations - SDOps
Expanding thermal networks to meet electrification mandates sounds promising — until subsurface uncertainty starts driving up costs and eroding returns. This presentation makes the case that better measurement is the foundation of better infrastructure. By combining precision underground testing with adaptive system design, thermal networks can shift from static, oversized installations to dynamic, efficient ones. The result is a more predictable, grid-friendly system that supports state's electrification goals without compounding financial or performance risk.
Presenter:
- Garen Ewbank / Ewbank Geo Testing, LLC
4:00 pm
The Design Process: From Concept to Commissioning
The course emphasizes critical pre-design considerations such as owner maintenance capability, operating schedules, and system selection strategy. Technical design topics include load modeling, borefield configuration, reverse return piping, and flushing and purging requirements. The importance of contractor qualification and construction administration in maintaining design intent is also addressed. This presentation examines engineering best practices for HVAC and geothermal system commissioning, with a focus on risk mitigation, design validation, and long-term performance. Participants will review common causes of commissioning failure, including compressed project schedules and incomplete installations, and evaluate the impact on system efficiency and warranty compliance. Finally, the program discusses retro-commissioning as a performance assessment tool to protect energy efficiency and equipment life throughout the building lifecycle.
Presenter:
- Don Penn / Don Penn Consulting Engineer