Canaan Valley WV

[shotgunslade]

For my West Virginia friends, SVXfiles and SSSVX. My engineering firm provided mechanical and electrical engineering services for the design fo the new headquarters for the Canaan Valley Institute in Davis. I was the principal in charge and it was going to be the latest and greatest ever. Microturbine co-generation, with the heat recovery driving an absorption chiller for cooling and dehumidifying the laboratory space. Radiant heating cooling system for the office space using recovered cogeneration heat in the wintertime and using well water as a cooling source in the summer. Operable windows for free cooling during the spring and fall. Lighting controls to dim the electric lights when daylight levels were adequate. It had an organic waste treatment system, and captured rain water for irrigation, and there were a couple of Clivus Multrum composting toilets. The outside air ventilation system included heat recovery heat exchangers. Would have been one of the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly buildings ever.

Unfortunately last Sunday, Congressman Alan Mollohan made the front page of the New York Times as a champion of pork barrel politics and one of the not for profit foundations he champions and funds is the Canaan Valley Institute. So, my dream project will probably go down the drain. I have to admit, I have mixed feelings about it. I am very much in favor of balanced federal budgets and responsible fiscal policy, and by conscience, have to admit my project was probably "government waste" but, it was the best thing I ever designed. Into each life, a little rain must fall.

[LarryIII]

We had our last WV SVX Meet at Canaan Valley. I believe it was called Snowshoe II, maybe III. Anyway, it was BC(Before Canolli).

I think there are photos in various lockers.

[svxfiles]

I have only been to Canaan Valley once, but it was beautiful, and peaceful, and we actually fed the wild deer by hand, in spite of the signs warning us not to.
The institute sounds like a wonderful and appropriate place for learning, and cohabiting with nature.

[Electrophil]

A 200 million dollar project to further our understanding in relevant matters is not pork barrel.

I saw that article. You guys will probably be safe... Your project makes sense, it's not a bridge to nowhere like real pork usually is.

[SSSVX]

I haven't been to the Canaan Valley yet...I heard it's a beautiful place to go. As Larry said, there was a Meet in Canaan Valley. There was long time ago while a lot of people were still hanging out in the yahoo club, right after I got my teal SVX a little while. The project you designed(buildings) looks like having a lot of high-tech features...Good luck and keep us updated on that. How long have you been in an engineer? Did you get your PE...for how long? Me at WVU.

[shotgunslade]

Been in the building engineering business for about 30 years, had my PE for 23. Am also a registered architect, but don't practice. Do mechanical mostly, heating and cooling, but dabble in electrical, cogeneration, photovoltaics and wind. My project manager for the Canaan Valley project, Mike Kerin, is also a West Virginia native, though he is now a dyed in the wool Manhattanite (no car).