Learning Forum Speakers

Bob Bach, Senior Consultant, Energy Profiles Inc.

Bob Bach is a Senior Consultant with Energy Profiles Inc. in Toronto, specializing in energy efficiency and sustainable building research and programs. He is a founding co-Chair of the Building Code Energy Advisory Council in Ontario, a founding Director of Sustainable Buildings Canada, the Captain of the Canadian Team at the World Sustainable Buildings Conferences in Tokyo (2005) and Melbourne (2008), and is a frequent presenter at conferences and workshops.

Julius Ballanco, President, JB Engineering and Code Consulting, P.C.

Jan Buijk, President and CEO, European Power Systems Ltd.

Jan Buijk is the President and CEO of European Power Systems Ltd. (EPS), a Canadian company that is specialized in providing energy solutions with best in class gas engine technology for renewable energy projects such as landfill gas and biogas utilization, on-site power, CHP, District Energy and other gaseous fuelled power generation applications.

Prior to founding EPS, Jan was Vice President and General Manager at DDACE Power Systems and has held sales management positions at DTE Energy Technologies, GE Distributed Power and Toromont Power Systems, with Canada wide responsibilities for the sales and marketing of a variety of gas engine based distributed generation applications.

Jan started his career in the power generation business in 1984 at “Spruyt Energy Systems” in the Netherlands where he was responsible for the engineering and project management of gas engine based CHP and other on-site power projects.

Over the past 20 years Jan has had engineering, project management and direct sales and marketing responsibilities for more than 100 renewable energy, CHP, district energy, and other distributed generation projects currently in operation across Canada.

Jan received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands, where he also wrote a thesis on the use of landfill gas for power generation applications. Jan is a former director of OSEA and the CDEA, holds a director position with the Association of Power Producers of Ontario and is Chair of WADE Canada.

Richard Conkling, Director of Commercial Sales, Waterfurnace

Richard Conkling has over 20 years of experience in heating, ventilation and air conditioning system installation, sales and technical support. He has worked within the industry for a mechanical contractor, Lennox Industries, Mid American Energy and most recently WaterFurnace International.

Since 1996, he has been involved in product development, sales, project implementation and technical support of commercial geothermal heat pump systems. He has been under contract with a Department of Defense sub-contractor to evaluate and develop geothermal heat pump systems for the USAF. In addition, he has provided technical assistance for the County of Santa Barbara in California that has undertaken numerous geothermal projects including the mechanical renovation of the county’s historic courthouse.

Per Drewes, scientist and principal engineer, Sol Source Partners Inc.

Per Drewes is a scientist and principal engineer of Sol Source Partners Inc., a company specializing in the design and installation of photovoltaic power systems. Prior to forming his own company in 2000, Per was a Senior Research Engineer at Ontario Hydro and worked in the utility business, specifically in the renewable energy sector, for more than twenty five years.

Specializing in solar and wind energy, he was project engineer for most of Ontario Hydro’s pioneering work in this technology. He conceived, designed and installed all the utility’s photovoltaic projects including Canada’s first large remote photovoltaic supply, Canada’s first grid connected residential photovoltaic power supply, Canada’s first diesel hybrid system and, up to 2004, Canada’s largest photovoltaic installation, an 80 kW system supplying power for a hospital in Toronto. Per Drewes was responsible for writing Section 50 of the Canadian Electrical Code relating to photovoltaics.

Dan Ellis, President, Climate Master

Daniel Ellis is president of ClimateMaster in Oklahoma City. Previously co-founder and president of WaterFurnace, Ellis has been active in the geothermal heat pump (GHP) industry since 1978, beginning in contracting and wholesale distribution. His technical contributions include the development of residential energy analysis software, advanced technology GHPs, and design procedures for commercial GHP systems. Ellis is also an ardent industry advocate, most notably leading the effort that resulted in the current federal GHP tax incentives.

Ellis is chairman of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Geothermal and Water-Source Heat Pump Section and is a member of the Executive Committee of the AHRI Board. He is also chairman of subcommittee TC86/SC6 within the International Standards Organization (ISO), which is responsible for air-conditioner and heat pump rating standards.

Ellis is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and a member of the U.S. National Team for the International Energy Agency (IEA) Heat Pump Centre.

Ellis is a member of the Advisory Council to the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) and chairman of the Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO).

Ellis majored in Physics at Purdue University. He is married, has two children and four grandchildren. He resides with his wife Rose in Edmond, Oklahoma.

John Harris, Principal, DSG Building Diagnostics

John Harris is a Mechanical Engineer, a Residential Air System/ Hydronics Design Technician, a Certified Energy Advisor and a Registered Home Inspector, and an HRAI SkillTech Instructor. John has been inspecting residential buildings for over 11 years, and has provided and developed training on a variety of building science topics including a skills course for construction trades relating to Part 12 of the Ontario Building Code. John has identified and resolved building envelope issues involving ventilation, thermal bridging, condensation, and more. John is a principal in DSG Building Diagnostics.

Joseph Klotz, Account Manager, Systems Products, Johnson Controls

Joe has been with Johnson Controls since 2005. He has been in the HVAC / Controls industry since 1981. He has managed Publics Works facilities and construction teams, worked in international sales in Europe and Asia, participated in developing DDC products and Enterprise Energy Management Applications, and he ran a BAS manufacturing company.

Dan Larson, Senior Associate, Smith+Andersen

Dan has integrated sustainability into almost a decade of mechanical engineering work with Smith+Andersen, where he has acted as the firm’s leading sustainability advocate. He became LEED accredited in 2004 and has overseen LEED implementation on a series of major projects.

Julio Londono, Product Manager, Belimo Air Controls

Julio Londono is presently Product Manager for Pressure Independent Valves with Belimo Americas. Mr Londono is a Controls Engineer with over 12 years of experience in the Building Automation Industry. He received his bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering from EAFIT University, Colombia, South America and a master in Business and Communication from Saint Thomas University, Minneapolis, Minnesota. During his career he has held positions in Design, Programming, Installation, and Commissioning of Building and HVAC controls. Most recently he has held positions on product development and product management of building and HVAC controls. Julio has presented in multiple trade shows and seminars throughout the United States and Latin America and has authored many HVAC articles.

Mark Malchiondo, Co-Founder & VP Software Development, ecobee Inc.

ClimateTalk is a universal language for innovative, cost-effective solutions that optimize performance, efficiency and home comfort. In this session Mark will explain how this open standard was developed, the proven technology it is based on and the device interoperability. Mark will also explain the benefits of ClimateTalk to contractors such as better service diagnostics, fewer truck rolls, auto device configuration and many others.

Mark Malchiondo is co-founder and VP Software Development at ecobee Inc. ecobee services both the Utility and HVAC sectors with the ecobee Open Energy Management Platform, which consists of WiFi enabled thermostats, online web portals and smart phone apps.

Mark is also the Chair of the Architecture Steering Committee for the ClimateTalk Alliance, which has created an open standard for communicating HVAC equipment. Mark has over 20 years of experience managing software development teams in both the web 2.0 and embedded software space.

William McCartney, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, Isotherm Engineering

Bill McCartney has over forty-six years experience in the HVAC&R industry and holds a Trade Certificate as a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic. He started working in Toronto, then relocated to London, was a partner in a mechanical contracting company in Sarnia, before returning to Toronto for his role as a fulltime commissioning authority.

He has been a member of ASHRAE since 1974 and served on many Technical committees including Operation & Maintenance Management, and Building Commissioning as well as chairing the Handbook Committee.

He received the Distinguished Service Award in 2007 and earned his ASHRAE certification as Commissioning Process Management Professional (CPMP) in 2009.

He served on and chaired industry associations such as Ontario Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Contractors, Canadian Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association, and Heating Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Institute of Canada.

He is founding Board Member for the Eastern Canada Chapter of Building Commissioning Association.

Mike Miller, national business development, Uponor

Mike Miller is an Industry Veteran with Experience in the Installation, Distribution, Design, Manufacturing and Education Sectors of the HVAC Industry. Miller is a regular contributor to the HPAC Magazine and is involved in groups that represent various organizations ranging from the HRAI, CIPH, CHC, CGC and Beautiful Heat.

Andre Patenaude, VP Marketing, Emerson

Andre joined the Flow Controls (formerly Alco) division of Emerson in 1984 as a mechanical engineering technologist. Throughout his twenty 27 years at Emerson he has been responsible for technical service, training, warranty, sales, and marketing. In 1987 he wrote "The Refrigeration Fluid Flow Controls and System Troubleshooting Guide". The guide is still in use today. Andre has been heavily involved in the development of Copeland and Flow Controls training programs for the refrigeration and Air Conditioning industry. He has been published in Canadian trade magazines and is actively involved in training for ASHRAE, HRAI and RSES at the local and National levels.

In 1997, Andre took on additional responsibilities for Copeland Canada as District Manager for the Province of Quebec. The blending of the Flow and Copeland sales force has provided unique and specialized sales and training opportunities.

In 2002-2003, RSES Canada awarded Andre "RSES Speaker of the Year", and shortly after he was named National Sales Co-coordinator for the Copeland and Flow Controls divisions of Emerson Climate Technologies Canada. In 2005 Andre was promoted the Director of Marketing for Emerson Climate Technologies Canada. Apart from his marketing responsibilities he also manages the inside sales, training, technical service and contractor business development group.

Andre is a Certified Engineering Technologist C.E.T. from Algonquin College in Ottawa, Canada. He has served as director of the Manufacturers Division of HRAI from 1997-2000 and in 2011 he received HRAI's "Distinguished Service Award". He is active member of RSES, OACETT, CETAF and ASHRAE. Andre, his wife and two children reside in Brantford, ON.

Andrew Pride, Vice President, Conservation, OPA

Andrew Pride was appointed Vice President, Conservation, in November 2010. He is responsible for all aspects of the OPA’s programs and initiatives to help Ontario achieve its ambitious electricity conservation targets and to expand the culture of conservation for all Ontarians.

Energy services and energy management have been the focus of Andrew’s career. Prior to joining the Ontario Power Authority, he was with the Minto Group for 11 years, where he was instrumental in promoting a culture of conservation and in transforming Minto into an internationally recognized leader in green real estate. He served in a range of senior executive positions at Minto, starting as vice president, Minto Energy Management with the Minto Apartments division; moving to vice-president, Minto Green Team with MintoUrban Communities Inc.; and, most recently, serving as the corporate vice-president, Minto Green Team with the Minto Group.

Earlier in his career, Andrew moved through a number of increasingly responsible positions at Johnson Controls Ltd., General Electric Energy Management Canada and Ainsworth Inc.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo. Andrew served as the vice-chair of the Canada Green Building Council. Currently Andrew is a member of two nation code committees – the Standing Committee on Energy Efficient Buildings and the Joint Task Group of Energy Efficient Housing and Small Buildings. Andrew is also co-chair of the Green Building Campaign for the new Environment Building and sits on the dean's advisory council both for the faculty of environment, at the University of Waterloo.

Elizabeth Sampson, NRCan

Elizabeth Sampson has been with NRCan for four years. She has served as the secretariat for the development of the Next Generation EnerGuide Rating system for the past three years and, prior to that, was part of the New Housing team. She has a degree in architecture from Carleton University and has worked as an architect in both the public and private sector.

John Siegenthaler, principal, Appropriate

John Siegenthaler, P.E., is a mechanical engineering graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a licensed professional engineer, and Professor Emeritus of Engineering Technology at Mohawk Valley Community College. “Siggy” has over 30 of experience in designing modern hydronic heating systems including several using renewable energy subsystems. He is a hall-of-fame member of the Radiant Panel Association, and a presenter at national and international conferences on hydronic and radiant heating. John is principal of Appropriate Designs – a consulting engineering firm in Holland Patent, NY. He currently writes about hydronic heating and solar thermal system design for several trade publications including: Plumbing & Mechanical, PM Engineer, Supply House Times, and Heating, Plumbing, and Air Conditioning (Canada).

Meli Stylianou, Projects Manager, CanmetEnergy, Natural Resources Canada

Meli Stylianou is a projects manager at NRCan’s CanmetEnergy research centre in Varennes, Quebec. He has been with NRCan for the last 18 years with a hiatus of three years from 2005 to 2008 during which he managed the Canadian Solar Buildings Research Network He is the recipient of ASHRAE’s Willis H. Carrier and the AQME Energia awards and is currently working on projects related to the operation of commercial buildings and their relationship to the smart grid.

Al Takle, National Sales Manager, Steffes Corporation

Al has been working in the Electric Thermal Storage industry for 20 years. Al has used his engineering background in product development and sales for Steffes Corporation, the world leader in electric thermal storage (ETS) heating equipment and control designs. Al has worked with over 100 utilities, assisting them to successfully use ETS with their off-peak, demand side management, and smart grid programs.  Al also has extensive experience working with industrial, commercial, and residential contractors and end users of ETS products.

Christian Vachon, President, Enerconcepts

Christian Vachon graduated from Laval University in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. From 1991 until 1995, he worked in Austria where he became interested in solar heating technology, since Austria has a large concentration of solar heating systems. He decided to specialize in this field and completed a Master's degree at Melbourne University while working for Solahart, which, at the time, was the largest manufacturer of solar water heating systems in the world.

In 1998, he founded Enerconcept, which specializes in the design and installation of solar heating systems (air and water) and photovoltaic systems. Since 2002, Enerconcept is solely dedicated to solar air heating systems for large buildings. Enerconcept has steadily and heavily invested in R&D. Novelties over the years include: development of a snow melting device, a chicken manure dryer, a solar air assisted heat pump and a roof-mounted solar air heater. In 2010, Enerconcept introduced the Lubi collector, the world's most efficient, wall mounted solar air heater which was awarded the innovation heating product of the year by Ashrae at the 2012 AHR Expo in Chicago.

Christian Vachon takes concrete steps to support his vision. Since 1997, he has been actively involved in the development of the solar energy industry as president of the Canadian Solar Industries Association. He travels around the world, giving lectures pertaining to renewable energy, especially solar energy.