Don Penn The GreyEdge Group

Background

Don has worked in the GSHP industry since 1991 and has been involved in the design and implementation of over 90,000 tons (284 MW) of installed capacity in North America. Penn was a contributor to the Certified Geothermal Inspector Course that has been adopted by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) and was a member of the Technical Committee to develop the Bi-National CSA/ANSI C448 Standard for the Design and Installation of Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) for Commercial and Residential Buildings. Don is a founding member of the GreyEdge Group.

Areas of Expertise

Functional, economic and technical feasibility of GSHP systems in residential, multifamily and commercial applications and working with building design teams with a “whole-building” approach to ensure the long-term viability of the system. This expertise has created opportunities in:

• Assessments to determine economic and technical feasibility of GSHP systems for commercial GSHP projects
• Design and implementation of ground source heat pump systems and associated ground heat exchangers
• Forensic analysis of failed or poorly operating GSHP and HVAC systems
• Professional Engineer licensed in 49 States and District of Columbia

Notable Projects & Achievements

• Don is president of Image Engineering Group, Ltd and Don Penn Consulting Engineer located in Westlake, Texas. He is Certified GeoExchange Designer and Inspector. Since 1991, he has designed over 25 million square feet of geothermal heat pump systems for projects in Texas, Georgia, Arizona, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and New York and served as a consultant for a geothermal heat pump system at Harvard University. Penn is coauthor on a patent for Geothermal Systems.
• High Rise (twin 23 story towers) Apartment / Retail / mixed use in Tempe Arizona utilizing geothermal heat pumps
• Penn has been instrumental in the development of the demand pumping concept for these applications as well as numerous measures to insure efficient operation and cost effective installations
• Design of the largest Net Zero Middle School in the USA and is currently working on more Net Zero K-12 School Projects.
• Whisper Valley in Austin Texas (Large Residential Development - 7000 homes) - with district geo loop), LEED Platinum Residence
• Finalist for National Energy Engineer of the Year (2012) - Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
• Energy Engineer of the Year (2011) – Region IV Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
• Energy Engineer of the Year (2010) - The North Texas Association of Energy Engineers (NTAEE)
• CEFPI Cornerstone Award (2007) – Hurricane Katrina Task Force in restoration of school facilities in St. Bernard’s Parish
• Serves as an application and technical consultant/expert to an International Heat Pump Manufacturer
• Registered Mechanical Engineer in 49 states and the District of Columbia, with several states with Electrical Engineer registrations
• Serves as an Expert Witness on Mechanical and Electrical System – attended ACEC Class on Applying Expertise as an Expert Witness (see attached)

Professional Affiliations and Publications

• Member – International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) ex-member Board of Directors and Association of Energy Engineers (AEE); have made numerous presentations at IGSHPA Conferences
• American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE): Presented at Conferences and Chapter Meetings
• Member - Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)
• Member - Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) and National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
• Member - International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• Member – American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and US Green Building Council (USGBC)
• Member – American Council of Engineering Consultants (ACEC)

Recent Expert Witness Engagements

• Callfield Animal Clinic, Wichita Falls, TX – expert for Owner, HVAC System
• Hillsboro ISD – expert for School District, Controls; mediation
• Heart Center of Denton- expert for Design Engineer, HVAC System, mediation.
• First Electric Cooperative, Jacksonville, AR – expert for Owner, Geothermal System; jury trial
• Crownover Residence, Mesquite, TX – expert for Owner, Geothermal System; mediation
• Strauss Residence, Dallas, TX – expert for Owner, Geothermal System; mediation
• Call Center, South Dakota – expert for Developer, Geothermal System; contractor resolved
• Hampton Inn, Florida – expert for Owner, Geothermal System; contractor/engineer resolved
• Cold Storage Facility, Mexico City – expert for Owner, PepsiCo; mediation
• Marchand Residence, Des Moines, IA – expert for HVAC manufacturer; resolved
• 4M Ranch, Langley, TX-expert for Owner, Geothermal System; mediation
• Forest County Detention Center, Forest County, MS- expert for county, geothermal system
• Corpus Christi Border Patrol Station – expert for Contractor, Geothermal and Plumbing Systems
• City Square Opportunity Center-expert for Design Engineer, Geothermal System
• Comanche ISD – expert for Design Engineer, HVAC System
• Delaney at Lake Waco – expert for Design Engineer, HVAC System