My comments on the ASHRAE Green Tips

This is a superb summation of the best practices in HVAC and plumbing to create high performing, high efficiency, low energy, long lasting (Sustainable) buildings

There are 39 distinct design concepts, up from the previous 21. This list now includes USE SPECIFIC ideas that always rule those designs. This is an evolving list, so obviously, there could be more USE SPECIFIC ideas coming, so if your favorite is not here, it may very well be in progress.

Many of the ideas here are required in their jurisdiction, (i.e. low NOx, water conserving plumbing fixtures). Still others are overlapping in their function or intention. Do not worry if you find that you cannot remember all this, I have been designing for building efficiency in HVAC, controls, and plumbing since the late 70s and I forgot about some of these too.  The tips are extensive and, I trust, thorough, considering all the brains that have been put to the task.   .. (to be continued)

The New and Improved ASHRAE Green Tips as of November 2006

#1: Building Type Green Tip- Performing Arts Spaces USE SPECIFIC TIPS

#2: Building Type Green Tip- Health Care Facilities USE SPECIFIC TIPS

#3: Building Type Green Tip- Laboratory Facilities USE SPECIFIC TIPS

#4: Building Type Green Tip- Student Residence Halls USE SPECIFIC TIPS

#5: Building Type Green Tip- Athletic and Recreation Facilities USE SPECIFIC TIPS

#6: Night Precooling

#7: Air-to-Air Heat Air Heat Recovery—Heat Exchange Enthalpy WheelsThese pay for themselves - absolute must for large, continuous occupancies.

#8: Air-to-Air Heat Air Heat Recovery—Heat Pipe Systems

#9: Air-to-Air Heat Air Heat Recovery—Run-Around systems

Very good payback for heavy latent and reheat loads, such as around indoor swimming pools #10: Displacement Ventilation

#11: Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems This should be used more often- simplify the controls (not to mention design and commissioning) by splitting this function from the devices handling the internal load

#12: Ventilation Demand Control Using CO2 Once it was expensive to do but no longer- a must if the space is not occupied all the time and ventilation is not required

#13: Hybrid Ventilation This is not done often in commercial in the USA. It requires careful coordination between architectural design and engineering

#14: Pulse powered chemical free water treatment Anytime chemicals can be avoided, do it. Electronic scale and corrosion systems, sweeper systems, they all work.

#15: Variable Flow/Variable Speed Pumping Systems One of the best ways to reduce electrical consumption, coming down in cost year after year. With better and better controls to match

#16: CHP (combined heating and power systems) Super way to reduce electrical use off the grid, save money and actually, by using the engine waste heatin your building for HVAC and hot water, achieve the highest end-to-end efficiencies, save money, and actually reduce your carbon footprint.

#17: Low-NOx Burners

#18: Combustion Air Preheating

#19: Combination Space/Water Heaters

#20: Ground Source Heat Pumps

#21: Water-Loop Heat Pump Systems Combined with dedicated outside air systems, this is a very economical and easy system to install and maintain in excellent condition (#11)

#22: Thermal Energy Storage for Cooling

#23: Double Effect Absorption Chillers

#24: Gas-Engine-Driven Chillers

#25: Gas-fired Chiller/Heaters

#26: Desiccant Cooling and Dehumidification This works well in the heat recovery (#7)

#27: Indirect Evaporative Cooling

#28: Passive Solar Thermal Energy Systems

#29: Active Solar Thermal Energy Systems

#30: Solar Energy System—Photovoltaic Coming down in price - there are government subsidies available

#31: Solar Protection

#32: Light Conveyor

#33: Water Conserving Plumbing fixtures Without question

#34: Graywater Systems

#35: Point-of-Use Hot water heaters

#36: Direct-Contact Water Heaters

#37: Rainwater Harvesting

#38: Mixed Air Temperature Reset

#39: Cold Deck Temperature Reset with Humidity Override

cribbed list from ASHRAE Sustainability web site