A holistic approach to designing, installing, and operating central plants ensures reduced energy and operational costs, according to many involved in major building projects. One company picked up on this theme by announcing a new offering to help reduce energy consumption in central chilled water plants in buildings by up to 60 percent.
Source: Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). Industry figures are estimates that are derived from the best available figures supplied by a sample of AHRI member companies.
The NEWS’ annual Cooling Showcase has traditionally introduced the latest air conditioning units available for the upcoming summer season. The intent is to help contractors prepare for this busy period by doing the research that will help them to distinguish between brands. In this issue, we focus on the commercial side of the air conditioning industry.
The poor economy has been hard on commercial businesses. In some cases, HVAC contractors still have service agreements with local malls and office buildings, but often, that work is being outsourced to national maintenance organizations. HVAC contractors have partnered with these organizations. Some sing their praises while others now turn and run.
When the weather is warm outside, it’s imperative to make sure that your building’s mechanical cooling systems are working at maximum efficiency. Since budgets are still tight, nobody wants high energy costs or, worse, an equipment failure. The best way to avoid these bad scenarios is to perform a cooling system tuneup.
Here are additional new products that The NEWS’ editorial staff found at the AHR Expo. Due to an internal error, these products were not included in The NEWS’ AHR Expo Post-Show Issue.
Honeywell has announced an $18.8 million energy conservation and building modernization program with the Yonkers Housing Authority that will help improve its facilities, energy efficiency, and resident comfort and save an estimated $1.4 million in annual utility costs. It will also create opportunities for local subcontractors.
When Southern California was blasted by record-breaking heat, the tenants of an LAX Airport Center office building were fortunate that the cooling tower that works in conjunction with the building’s chillers had just been replaced. So, rather than having to endure the sweltering heat, the tenants remained cool and comfortable.
Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) first made its way into the world of venting systems in the residential market. Recently, CPVC has been used to vent Category IV high-efficiency boilers. While it can cost up to 20 percent less than stainless steel, those specifying venting systems should consider other differences that may impact boiler efficiency and present potential safety hazards.
Today, designing, building, and operating have one common thread: energy efficiency. And it begins with a building’s HVAC system. There are many pieces that go into an energy-efficient HVAC system - especially for commercial buildings.