Efficiency Standards to Save $1.1 Trillion | 2012-06-25 | ACHRNEWS

Efficiency Standards to Save $1.1 Trillion | 2012-06-25 | ACHRNEWS

HVACR industry needs to focus on the future to provide the best advice to or customers.

SkySpark / Analytics

If you want to learn about what will be common place in the building automation industry in a few years check out this web site. It's an easy read with links to explanations of the terms we will use in the future. It will help establish the verbiage we need to learn in order to talk about what we are doing. I had the opportunity to meet and hear the company principles speak and the Tridum Summit. We are not currently using the product, but we intend to go with this company when the need arises.

 http://skyfoundry.com/skyspark/

Deloitte Study

Deloitte Energy Survey May2012.pdf

This is a very interesting study that really is what's going to take place. 

Building Energy Use Not Primed to Occupancy, MIT Says · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

Building Energy Use Not Primed to Occupancy, MIT Says · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

VRF’s and Solar HVAC Systems;

These two different systems seem to be at very different stages of the game, but are they? They’re going to be competing for the same energy credits and ultimately combining features so we need to talk about them together. For years we’ve been installing ductless split systems, since the early 1990’s. The very basic systems never had more than two indoor sections to one outdoor section. They had limited heating ability in the heatpump mode and not much in the way of electric heat. They did a good job in the cooling mode especially where there was a constant heat load. They couldn’t heat in one indoor section and cool in the other at the same time. The new systems have the ability to have multiple indoor sections and can simultaneously heat or cool as required. It took a little bit of time for the engineering community to take these systems to the drawing board because there was not a good rating system to compare efficiency. They were mainly used for renovation type projects in hard to modify buildings. That’s all changed.

ModernControls has been involved in the installation of several of these systems, manufactured by several different companies. We recently completed the installation of an LG HVAC system in a design build job for a private school. We are currently installing an LG HVAC system for a new out of the ground bank branch. We’re not the first to install one of these in a cookie cutter design building for this company. The low operating cost and the ability to have multiple setpoints to keep employees and customers comfortable was the reason they chose this type of system. With the addition of an energy recovery unit and demand ventilation these will be very efficient buildings. We just had preliminary approval of a design build LG HVAC system for a college law library, lecture rooms and office area. One space is a mock trial room set up for distance learning and video recording. This space will have what appears to be a conventional ducted air handler for sound attenuation. The rest of the spaces will use a ceiling mounted cassettes. The building will also utilize an energy recovery unit and demand ventilation controls. The installation cost is not out of line with a direct replacement of the existing system. The advantages agained are lower operating cost and individual space temperature control. Expect to see these systems take over a good portion of new installation and design build market.

The next big change will be solar panels tied directly into the residential and light commercial HVAC units. The big name in the market place right now is Lennox; but every manufacture will have to put out something to stay competitive. Solar is not new but this type of set up is so superior to any other way to “go solar” I’m surprised it took so long for someone to come up with it. The largest electrical consumer in most buildings is the HVAC system, it makes perfect sense that this should be the primary connection to the solar generation of power. If the wires are large enough to bring the power out to the unit than they are large enough to bring the unused power into the building when the unit has cycled off. The power management is handled at the outdoor section or rooftop unit. Imagine not paying for air conditioning when the sun is shining. The ease of installation in new and retrofit jobs will make these systems popular.

Now imagine combining the two, variable flow refrigeration systems and solar powered HVAC systems. Ease of installation, reduced operating cost and individual space setpoints. Solar panels have become common place, the technology is sound and installation cost is reasonable due to the short payback period. Variable flow refrigerant systems now have a reliable rating system that shows a substantial payback compared to conventional systems. They’ve been on the market for years and have several manufacturers with good reputations. The time has come to invest in the training and equipment to design, install, and service these systems.

Past, Present, and Future; the type of thoughts used to establish goals

Nothing is closer to the mark in our industry than “the only constant is change”. It seems to have been the standard since the Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987. As I approach 30 years in the industry it’s a good time for me to stop and evaluate how we’ve gotten to this point. The path the industry took to this point is sure to indicate what we can expect the future bring. The Montreal Protocol was the beginning of the environmental consciousness in our industry. With the need to drastically redesign equipment came the opportunity for manufactures to be innovative. The way to set your product apart was through efficiency and with government standards it became easy to see which products were in the lead. The hold outs died, the followers survived, the early adopters thrived.

The engineers have been the driving force behind what’s been sold to the construction industry. They‘ve been the ones to evaluate new technologies and incorporate the latest innovations into projects. The government outdoor air regulations forced the manufactures to change the equipment. The equipment changes forced the engineers to change the design. Then government indoor air quality regulations required manufactures to change the equipment and again the engineers changed the design. All the while the service industry just followed along. Then came something different; the engineers got together and wrote the next rule book. The Federal Government recently mandated that all states must meet or exceed ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 by October 2013. This is what the future holds minimum standard rating regulations, innovation for a higher standard, raising the minimum standard, more innovation, raising the standard, innovation.

Most of the service industry will be surprised to learn preventive maintenance is mandated under ASHRAE 90.1-2010. If the prediction holds true that 75% of the buildings that will be occupied in 2050 are already occupied today, than it is sure to mean this is only the beginning of service industry regulations. If we are not going to build efficient new buildings to save the environment we are going to need to make the existing buildings more efficient. As we watched an MSCA webinar today on filling out Energy Star Benchmarking someone said “I’ll bet in 10 years every building will be required to fill this out and meet a minimum”.  Minimum standard regulations, more innovation, higher standards, innovation, I think you see where we're headed. First the raw products were regulated, then the manufactures, then the engineering of new buildings, next the service and maintenance, and all that’s left to regulate is the existing building.

Cooling Tower Repairs and Cleaning

We were awarded a scope of work by the Delaware Division of Facilities Maintenance at the Carvell Building in downtown Wilmington. The Base bid was the replacement of a defective two speed motor for the fan on one of three towers. We offered two alternates; one to replace the motor sheave and one to install a shaft kit. We also submitted a price to clean all three towers, plate heat exchangers and pump strainers. The State accepted the complete scope of work and requested the tower repairs and cleaning be completed by July 1.  The job was completed on time, including demobilization, for the quoted price.

We worked with the area representative Energy Transfer Solutions to get the OEM Evapco parts. While working through the process ETS suggested a factory training seminar and tour. Evapco has invested in research and development  to increase the efficiency of their cooling towers and fluid coolers. Evapco recognizes that it's not just more efficient motors and electrical components that saves money; making the towers easier to keep clean is key. They've made great strides in chemical-less water treatment products. I have included some pictures from the job site and the factory. I have two suggestions for interested people, one check out Evapco's web site for more details and two take the factory training sessions. It's a polished presentation by people who know their product and the important information the technicians who maintain their towers need to know.