HVAC Operations « Noel's Green (make that SUSTAINABLE) Blog

Some projects at or Near Completion

I have been working 6 days a week this summer, helping to push some projects to completion.
I am now frequently on-site at the Bethesda National Military Medical Center in Maryland, to oversee testing on many M/E/P/Data/Comm systems being installed in 700,000 sf of new clinic, lab, and patient care space, as well as over 200,000 sf [...]

Building Re-commissioning

A review of

Building Commissioning: A Golden Opportunity for Reducing Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
By Evan Mills, Ph.D.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for: CEC (PIER) July 21, 2009

This white paper contains some compelling arguments in favor of re-commissioning. Money and energy are two items. A building is a kind of organism. [...]

A Flow Chart for commissioning

Alright, I will get off my high horse now and back on my regular horse. Back on the subject of energy and high performance buildings. Recently I have had the good fortune of connecting with some very good people and I am busy again at my profession. I am working with [...]

How to Sustain the Energy Efficient Design

I am worried now. A new report just came out showing that 85% of CMMS (Computerized Management and Maintenance System) software being purchased is not being used. This is software that is supposed to be used by facilities managers to streamline their work, but apparently without much eagerness.

An excellent commentary in this [...]

Global warming : just the facts, Ma’am

Some people in communications, and in the real estate and investment arena, have been making assertions that green buildings have economic benefits not worth the trouble and expense. This is to imply that improving energy efficiency and measuring the results is not worth the trouble. I say B.S.

I am not interested in casting [...]

Better HVAC can save $48 billion/year in the USA

The latest numbers are that US buildings consume $320 billion/year in energy. 2/5 of all the energy used in the US. And about 40% of the energy (costing $120 billion/year) is used in buildings for HVAC.

Some of the 2009 stats HVAC designs that I have incorporated recently into my office [...]

Getting a View of Energy Consumption in your building

Trends: Read the chart on your buildings energy usage. Monthly charts can usually be found on the monthly utility bills. Your utility company can provide them upon request (usually). If and when you can acquire the hourly or daily usage charts, the pattern of usage can be very revealing about whether your building is running at its best. What does a trend chart look like?

ExampleDaily building energy trend chart

An example of a daily building trend chart

The US Department of Energy has a gather and track data process listing the following steps.

STEP 2: Assess Performance
* 2.1 Gather Data
* 2.2 Establish Baselines
* 2.3 Benchmark
* 2.4 Analyze Data
* 2.5 Technical Assessments & Audits

Here I am only discussing Step 2.1, ‘Gather data’. Continue reading Getting a View of Energy Consumption in your building

Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV)

A recent article in ASHRAE Journal, “An Updated Look at DCV Approaches“, October 2009, page 82-84, covers an important component of building energy: HVAC ventilation control, also called “Demand Controlled Ventilation“. It is an overview of the reasons and logic behind one of the more cost-effective methods for controlling air quality while reducing energy usage.

Outside air – Opening a window
Comfortable and clean indoor breathing has always been associated with fresh air. You simply dilute inside air with conditioned outside air. Its the same as opening a window (albeit with more precision). Scientific observation reinforces the correlation between fresh air and a comfortable indoor breathing environment.

Formal design procedures and requirements for this have been part of the building codes for several generations. ASHRAE Standard 62, “Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)”, is usually the basis for these. In summary, ASHRAE 62 describes uses several methods which to determine the required volume of outside air. One common method relies on a “prescribed“ outside air quantity (volume/time) as determined by the maximum anticipated number of occupants. Outside air volumes often have a considerable impact on the HVAC energy load, therefore close attention is paid the precise control.

Controls – What is DCV?
There are several common methods for controlling outside air. The most common is the so-called “Demand Controlled Ventilation” whereby the addition of fresh air is Continue reading Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV)

Energy Engineering for your world

Noel Susskind, PE, LEED AP is an experienced mechanical engineer and building energy expert ready to
serve you. Commercial, government, educational and healthcare facilities are a focus.
He will:

Serve as a high level resource on the latest science and art of building, or introduce you to one. Knowledge includes minimizing building energy (carbon) footprint via [...]

Owners: Demand more Energy Modeling for the bottom line

Concerns brought up by Howard McKew of Engineered Systems magazine in the July 2009 issue. He said “Owners, Please Demand More from your IPD team” (Integrated Project Delivery ) McKew cites the fact that the new IPD approach being promoted by the AIA is possibly a lawyers dream to make money in this [...]