Energy Management Features

2023 NEWSmakers: Nate Adams, HVAC 2.0 Founder, is Defined by Curiosity and Precision

woerpelh@bnpmedia.com (Herb Woerpel) — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500

Nate Adams, cofounder, HVAC 2.0, deems it’s time to take back HVAC.

New Supermarket Doubles as Danfoss Laboratory

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0400

The supermarket, which is powered primarily by solar energy and reuses the heat discharged by its refrigeration systems, will also serve as a site for Danfoss to test new energy-saving and climate-friendlier technologies.

Airbnb Helps Hosts Become More Energy Efficient

bellolih@bnpmedia.com (Hannah Belloli-Oster) — Wed, 31 May 2023 07:00:00 -0400

A new efficiency program in Massachusetts will give Airbnb hosts opportunities to reduce carbon emissions, cut energy costs, and live more comfortably.

Commercial Heating Showcase 2018: New Commercial Heating Systems Make Their Wintertime Debuts

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 07:33:00 -0400

The manufacturers provided us with a brief description of features included with each product. For more information, please contact the manufacturers or their distributors.

Global Change Relies Strongly on Individual Behavior, Outlook

aa8701@nyu.edu (Amy Al-Katib) — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 07:32:00 -0400

To kick off the event, Armstrong announced its “2 in 22” initiative: a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions among its installed customer base by 2 million tons by the year 2022.

HFO Sightings: Refrigerant Retrofits Becoming More Common in Supermarkets

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 07:31:00 -0400

HFO blends are not drop-in refrigerants, and modifications usually have to be made to the equipment before they are used. However, following the guidelines from experts in the industry can help ensure a smooth transition.

Solar Freeze Protection

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 07:27:00 -0400

Drainback systems are designed so water, or other fluid within the collector circuit, drains back to an interior storage tank whenever the collector circulator is not operating.

Many Industries Using CHP to Improve Energy Efficiency

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 07:26:00 -0500

Combined heat and power (CHP) systems are being used by a wide range of applications to reduce the overall energy intensity of industrial systems. In some cases, such as industrial furnaces, efficiency improvements resulting from waste heat recovery can improve energy efficiency 10-50 percent.

Ameresco, Federal Bureau of Prisons Partner on Energy and Water Project

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 07:23:00 -0500

Ameresco Inc. announced that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has entered into an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) with the company to implement energy and water conservation measures at the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Butner in North Carolina.

Looking Beyond Basic BAS

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 07:34:00 -0500

There has been a significant evolution in BAS over the last 10-20 years, thanks primarily to advances in computer technology.

Differentiate Yourself with HPC

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:36:00 -0400

Offering home-performance services can set a contracting business apart from its competition, help bring in new business from both existing and new customers, and create interesting work for its employees, all while providing a comfortable and safe home for your customers.

Sealing Home-performance Deals

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:33:00 -0400

A big part of the challenge of promoting home-performance contracting is that, for homeowners, the performance of the mechanical side of their homes is largely invisible.

Instrumental Home-performance-contracting Instruments

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:32:00 -0400

The right tools in the right hands can make all the difference when it comes to home-performance services. NCI president Rob Falke and other contractors provide a list of the tools required to be successful in home-performance work.

Contemplating the Future of Green

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 07:33:00 -0400

Contractors are challenged with presenting and selling the industry’s most efficient products to consumers. Manufacturers are largely responsible for improving efficiency within their product lines while at the same time ensuring their products are desirable, affordable, and ahead of all the other roadblocks the industry may throw their way.

Technique Matters When Presenting Energy-efficient Options

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 07:32:00 -0400

A recent American Home Comfort study from Decision Analyst reinforces this revelation, reporting that, for the first time in years, homeowners are more trusting of the internet for HVAC information than they are their contractors. In today’s marketplace, customers are opting to educate themselves on HVAC products via the internet prior to a contractor’s arrival.

Energy Star’s Most Efficient Central A/Cs and Air-source Heat Pumps

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 07:31:00 -0400

Energy Star certification is an important distinction HVAC manufacturers aim for their products to achieve. The designation recognizes highly efficient performance, and 2016’s list of the most efficient central air conditioners and heat pumps delivers a bevy of products from a wide range of manufacturers.

Efficiency Codes, Standards Drive Green Ductwork Trend

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 07:32:00 -0400

Depending on who you’re talking with, the phrase "green ductwork" can mean different things, though most agree it typically encompasses recycled materials, various IAQ elements, duct-sealing products, and more.

Geothermal Advancements Just Breaking the Surface

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 07:35:00 -0400

Because it uses the earth as a free heat source or heat sink, geothermal is inherently a highly efficient technology that can help homeowners and building owners save a significant amount of energy and money. And, as advances in technology continue to improve the efficiency and controls of these units, the industry is concurrently investigating ways to make geothermal an affordable option for all.

Geo Industry Advocates for Lame-duck Tax Credit Extensions

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 07:33:00 -0400

For the past decade, those in the geothermal heating and cooling industry have benefited from two tax credits that incentivize residential and commercial geothermal installations. But both of these tax credits are four months away from expiring, and all efforts to extend them have failed thus far.

Geothermal Training Involves Entire Supply Chain

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 07:32:00 -0400

Geothermal manufacturers, distributors, and organizations like the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) have stepped up their training efforts to ensure HVACR contractors are installing and servicing geothermal equipment to the highest standard.

Tech Trends Shaping the Residential Sector

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 07:34:00 -0400

More and more homeowners are gravitating toward the control and convenience offered by new thermostats, which are designed to make managing energy easier than ever before. But, despite all the bells and whistles, consumers are most often looking for simple solutions because their time is valuable — and most don’t want to spend a lot of time tracking their energy use.

BMS Adoption Grows in Small-building Market

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 07:33:00 -0400

While there are still misperceptions that deter some in the small-building market from investing in building management systems (BMS), many expect small-building owners and operators to continue to invest in BMS.

EMP Certification Targets Energy Conservation, Building Performance

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 07:32:00 -0400

A new credential — the Energy Management Professional (EMP) certification from Energy Management Association (EMA) — is training individuals to balance the goals of energy conservation and building performance, which, according to Andrew Heitman of Building Energy Sciences LLC, Pensacola, Florida, keeps customers happy.

Energy Efficiency is Helping to Drive the Economy

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 07:31:00 -0400

Energy efficiency is driving innovation in policies, practices, and technologies and is becoming much more significant to our economy, noted speakers at the 2016 Energy Efficiency Forum, held June 23 at the National Press Club in Washington, District of Columbia, cosponsored by Johnson Controls Inc. and the U.S. Energy Association.

Danfoss Symposium Examines the Efficiency of Tomorrow’s Buildings

woerpelh@bnpmedia.com (Herb Woerpel) — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 07:30:00 -0400

While transformation in buildings has been brewing for decades, the new goals of policy — in the U.S. and around the world — will require much more coherence from every corner of the HVAC industry. A group of more than 40 industry leaders met with that goal in mind at Danfoss’s 26^th EnVisioneering Symposium — Tomorrow’s Buildings: New Driving Forces — June 7 in Washington, District of Columbia.

New Equipment, Same Old Problems

Mon, 15 Aug 2016 07:28:00 -0400

Homeowners who have comfort problems often call HVAC contractors. There is a lot of opportunity here, though the road to success is crowded with barriers. But having a way to truly verify the operation of HVAC installations will overcome many of those barriers.

New A/C Reporting Rules Coming

Mon, 25 Jul 2016 07:35:00 -0400

These new requirements will directly impact all distributors in the U.S. and all installers in the Southeast and Southwest regions of the country.

HVAC’s Role in Net-zero Buildings

Mon, 25 Jul 2016 07:33:00 -0400

As net-zero-energy buildings (NZEBs) become more popular, HVACR manufacturers are working to create highly efficient products and systems to help meet these ambitious performance goals.

Certifications Increasingly Important for Commercial Contractors

Mon, 25 Jul 2016 07:32:00 -0400

High-performance-building-related credentials from certifying bodies like ASHRAE, the Building Performance Institute Inc. (BPI), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the International Code Council (ICC), and many others can help mechanical contractors show they have expertise and experience in certain areas.

Projects Highlight Ways to Optimize Building Energy Efficiency

Mon, 25 Jul 2016 07:31:00 -0400

With commercial building codes mandating increasing levels of efficiency and energy prices only continuing to rise, many building owners are looking for ways to boost building performance in both new and existing buildings. These case studies highlight several ways in which HVACR solutions have been implemented to help building owners meet their energy-efficiency and comfort goals.