Public workshops
Public workshops for stakeholders (building owners and administrators, HVAC system designers, manufacturers and inspectors and legislators) are a key part of the iSERV communication strategy. The concept is to briefly introduce the work previously done, with focus on relevant tools and findings for the audience. Afterwards the participants are split into discussion groups, each supported by iSERV researchers, where they can ask questions and discuss about the applicability, ideas and concerns related to the project. This helps them to learn more about the methods used and at the same time they provide valuable feedback to the project team. Each internal iSERV project meeting is combined with such a public workshop.
To read more about the results of iSERVcmb public workshops, sign up to receive the iSERVcmb newsletter or download all previous issues.
Further workshops will be organised in Portugal, Belgium, Greece, Slovenia, Austria and the UK.
To participate in the iSERVcmb workshops, visit http://www.iservcmb.info/events. (Newsletter subscribers will receive invitations in advance.)
First public iSERVcmb workshop: Pécs/Hungary
The first of these public workshops took place in Pécs in Hungary on 15th September 2011.
At the workshop in Pécs participants got a first impression on the iSERV application, how it will work and look like and what will be needed to use it. Afterwards they split into three groups (end users, system designers and manufacturers, legislation and inspection representatives) to discuss their requirements on and concerns about the tool.
Participants especially liked that the iSERV application provides a possibility to check the performance of the own system against benchmarks, that it encourages energy savings and life cycle calculations and can be used as an alternative approach to inspection. Concerns were usually related to the time it takes to enter all required data into the application and the cost of installing the meters (and how to convince people in charge that this investment is necessary and reasonable) and the benefits for designers and manufacturers.
To read more about the results of this workshop, sign up to receive the iSERVcmb newsletter or download all previous issues.
Second public iSERVcmb workshop: Torino/Italy
Turin, a major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, was the venue for the second public iSERVcmb workshop, which was successfully held on February 2nd 2012. The workshop, a continuation of iSERVcmb efforts to communicate the project to stakeholders and receive valuable feedback, was hosted in the Polytechnic University of Turin.
The aim of the second public iSERVcmb workshop was to provide a networking platform between registered end users and professionals interested in the project. Defying the heavy snowfall, the workshop attracted about 60 participants.
During the second iSERVcmb workshop, participants were presented with the iSERVcmb data spreadsheet and given a preview of the online database. The program included three parallel table sessions for building owners and facility managers, HVAC designers and manufacturers, and legislators and inspection representatives. In each table the attendees were given the opportunity to discuss the project with professionals already registered to the project and share information regarding their experience. Each table was supported by iSERV researchers who provided more in depth information regarding the project’s development.
To read more about the results of this workshop, sign up to receive the iSERVcmb newsletter or download all previous issues.