AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE TRAINING PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

STUDENT CASE STUDY

Lisa Rosenow, a mechanical engineer with Coffman Engineers of Seattle Washington, took the course in 2002. She reported that “Since taking this course, I have been asked to take leadership roles in my firm that I never expected at this point in my professional career. It’s been an exciting year!” At an information meeting for new student prospects, Lisa also passed along her boss’ comment that “it was the best investment the firm’s ever made.” Lisa and other past students’ enthusiasm for the course is contagious. The course is generally sold out before the early registration date even arrives.

LISA ROSENOW
BetterBricks 2007 Awards Co-Winner Category: Designer
CDi Engineers Mechanical Engineer/Sustainable Building Advisor

Key Projects: Oak Harbor High School Modernization and Additions; Sunset Club Mechanical Upgrade; Point Defiance Zoo Animal Healthcare Facility and Asian Forest Sanctuary

Words of Wisdom
“In the design and construction industry, we tend to avoid what we don’t understand.  The key to changing this is education.  Make it a priority to learn something new every day and share this knowledge with others.  Getting there requires collective team thinking, an open mind and using refined tools instead of a big stick.  Listen more to the natural world and carefully apply what it offers.

What the Judges Said:
“Lisa’s focus on design, leadership and innovation make her a strong winner.  Her highly visible leadership with ASHRAE (American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.) has demonstrated her broad background in energy efficient mechanical systems engineering.  Lisa’s creativity in design methodology, as well as a holistic view of systems and buildings, should be applauded.”

Contribution to High Performance Buildings
Lisa Rosenow is an outstanding spokesperson in the field of sustainable design, influencing and helping other engineers. Through her position as Technology, Energy and Government Activities Committee Chair for ASHRAE/Puget Sound, Lisa directed the focus of the committee toward providing technical education opportunities that promote high performance mechanical engineering.  This included monthly presentations on energy efficient system design, updates on codes and government activities in energy conservation.  She was – co-coordinator for the successful event called Engineering Green 2006, which featured technical information that mechanical engineers could take back and apply to their projects.

At Oak Harbor High School she worked with NAC I Architecture to improve the indoor environmental quality and to upgrade the infrastructure. Key features include natural light and integrated displacement ventilation in the classrooms and high-occupancy spaces,  100 percent fresh outdoor air with air-to-air heat recovery and mechanical cooling consolidated to 20 percent of the campus.