Put in my 2 week notice!!
 

Some of you may remember my "should I retire" thread.
That thread took a weird turn, but I did follow some of the advice there; I looked for a new job.
Interviewed for several external jobs, but decided to stay on campus in a different directorate.

Actually pretty excited about this opportunity.
Spent >10 years doing HVAC design, then >10 years building and commissioning HVAC systems, then the last >10 years in operation and maintenance.
Now I hope to spend the last 8 years doing HVAC research.

"The Building Equipment Research Group or BERG develops innovative, energy-efficient and sustainable residential and commercial building equipment solutions for the connected world through the use of extensive experimental facilities and advanced hardware-based design models as well as advanced process controls and novel materials. Group members are engaged in research and development activities in areas such as advanced vapor compression cycles, appliances, water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigeration systems, and alternative refrigerants.

ORNL has executed numerous equipment technology research and development collaborations with industry and university partners. Through these collaborations, the Building Equipment Research Group has helped industry launch some of the most energy-efficient building equipment technologies on the market today. In addition, the group supports ORNL’s Building Technologies Research and Integration Center (BTRIC), the DOE’s only user facility dedicated to advanced building technologies. BERG collaborates with industry and academia to develop the next generation of building equipment technologies."

And of course there is the MaxLab:

"Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) was competitively awarded the “Maximum Energy Efficiency Building Research Laboratory” (MAXLAB) project under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). As part of that project, the design and construction of two flexible research platforms (FRP) was included to provide new building test apparatus at ORNL. The two FRPs are designed to be capable of being outfitted as test buildings that are representative of typical construction methods, materials, and geometry used in the light commercial market. These test buildings will be heavily instrumented and will provide ORNL’s industry partners a means of assessing new HVAC, control, and envelope solutions under realistic conditions, in a low financial risk environment. The long-term data collected at the facility can be used to validate analytic models which can then be used by developers to refine their potential products and reduce delivery time to market. This paper outlines the FRP concept, long term research plan and the challenges in the design and construction of the base research apparatus and test buildings."


Basically get to play with really expensive toys to see what happens.
Been wanting a job like this since I was 5!!

That sounds really cool. Congrats!

Yup, that sounds like a good opportunity. Should be fun and keep you entertained until you really decide to retire.

Congrats!!!

my boss says he has two rules of retirement:

1. no one has ever said "i did it too soon"
2. you'll have enough

congrats.

Your Boss is wrong.

I hire 1099's that regret "retiring" to early, lots of them and a crew who's talents I don't need. They also, not all of them, are looking for supplemental income.

I don't need money, but I love what I do. I'll retire when I am not delighted with the content of my work efforts.

Painting with broad strokes never works, CP.

To BK911, getting a chance to do what you love is a gift. Enjoy.

i think he out of touch personally, just was passing along boomer logic for boomers retiring. trying to say a kind/reassuring word.


i'll likely never retire, what is life without work?

The word retire is not in the bible I've been told many times

Congrats!

I remember that I put in my notice about 3 months before.
When it was within a week...I asked the business manager about a few details.
He looked at me and said...."I don't remember you telling me?" lol

If you truly enjoy it, the best is keep on.

BK911, a friend of mine I went to Catholic HS with, from Canada, now works for the Pembina Institute: https://www.pembina.org/

His deal is housing. We spoke last week and he feels like you do; Let's see what we can figure out.

I love it.

Wow!! Very cool. I won't see you wandering the halls much anymore, but you'll still be here at ORNL.

Sounds like an excellent opportunity!

That’s a win!

Great news!

I turned in my notice two weeks ago, but it was to jump to a friends company.

Thanks guys and gals!!
They do some pretty interesting stuff down there.
Once I settle in, I will share some of the research.
Some of you will definitely find it interesting.

Will you be located in that new Maxlab building? 4020? I say "new", but they built it years ago...one of the newer buildings at ORNL for sure.

GOOD MOVE

now an a/c mod question

in a traine duel compressor 2t 4t unit with a muffler f-22

due to using what I have so converting to a single 4 t compressor [ old 4t burnt out]
used 4t single has no oil return so can't be duel use with 2t so 2t unit removed
do I have to retain the hollow ''muffler'' expansion unit
or is it no longer needed