Psychrometrics can be a complicated field of study. However, a psychrometric chart can be a simple, invaluable tool to help HVAC engineers and owners understand the relationship between air temperature and humidity. Relative humidity (RH) is a term that most people are familiar with, but its relationship with dry bulb (DB) temperature is typically under-appreciated. RH … Read more
The days of providing a simple wall switch to control lighting are gone. The last few revisions of the energy codes, whether the International Energy Conservation Code or ASHRAE 90.1, has continually increased lighting control complexity. However, with this complexity significant energy reduction, and thus lower operating costs, can be achieved resulting in relatively short … Read more
As we leave the heating season, many building owners begin repair and replacement projects in their boiler plants. Boilers that burn fuel to heat water have been around for thousands of years and technologies that we would recognize today date back to the early 1700’s. More recent trends in boiler construction and control focus on … Read more
At the end of most construction projects, there is a warranty period, but not all mechanical failures and problems occur within the warranty period. Sound familiar? One option is to get a service agreement from another company or local contractor; however this can be costly, especially if only minor repairs are required when the building … Read more
No, we’re not trying to make a political statement. Whether or not there will be a change in the White House this year, there are changes coming for the construction industry. In 2012, the new version of the International Building Code (IBC) family is being issued. Depending on your jurisdiction, the 2012 version of the … Read more
Many times we hear the term BIM. But what does this mean? When an owner asks if the project is going to be done in BIM, what is he really expecting? The AIA has a document, E202-2008 “Building Information Modeling Protocol Exhibit”, which provides a standard outline for the use of BIM information by a … Read more
The graph demonstrates the results of retro-commissioning for one rooftop unit. The retro-commissioning authority found improper damper operation in economizer mode. Instead of fully opening the outdoor air damper to provide free cooling, the actuator fully closed the outdoor air damper and provided 100% return air to the space. Mechanical cooling was required at an … Read more
For many years, chilled beam systems have provided space conditioning to buildings throughout Europe and Australia, but the technology has been slow to catch on in the United States. However, that trend is changing as the system has reported benefits of superior comfort and substantial potential energy savings for little or no additional cost when … Read more
If you are in the design, construction, or facilities management business you are probably getting inundated with questions about LED lighting. If you looked into LED’s a year ago, you were probably disappointed in the options available, light output, cost, etc. Commercial lighting applications utilizing LEDs as a light source have come a long way … Read more
Chillers have been the workhorses of building cooling systems for decades. In recent years, a renewed focus on energy efficiency has led to new and renewed trends in the chiller equipment market such as: Magnetic Bearing Compressors With this breakthrough technology, the compressor impeller shaft is levitated by a magnetic field. The result is a … Read more
Emergency showers, eyewashes and drench units are common equipment in hospitals, laboratories, science classrooms, maintenance shops and anywhere hazardous chemicals are handled. OSHA regulations require “Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within … Read more
Spring is upon us and so is the unpredictable weather; a warm summer-like day next to a frigid, blustery cold day, sound familiar? As we get into spring and into those swing days before air conditioning systems are completely commissioned and operational from the winter shut-down, some systems are caught unprepared for the unseasonable temperatures … Read more
Approximately 40% of all US energy used in the United States is consumed by buildings making it the largest single category of energy use. If you are responsible for operating or maintaining one or more buildings, you have some experience in budgeting for the energy usage required to keep your buildings operating. You may have … Read more
The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released changes to PlanCon instructions that will have a significant impact on project reimbursement and feasibility studies for educational facilities. The updated instructions can be downloaded from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) website. These changes are to take effect for all forms submitted after January 31, 2011 and … Read more
The following are some key energy conservation code changes that engineers, architects and owners should know about in order to minimize negative impacts to your facility. Section 502.2 Increased insulation requirements and details for opaque building elements including specific requirements for Group R occupancies. Section 502.4 Limitation of hot gas bypass based upon unit size. The … Read more
The following are some key plumbing code changes that engineers, architects and owners should know about in order to minimize negative impacts to your current or future projects. Section 412.2 Identifies additional requirements for floor drains and states that they must have ready access for servicing and cleaning. This section further stipulates that drains are not … Read more
The following are some key mechanical code changes that engineers, architects and owners should know about in order to minimize negative impacts to your current or future projects. Section 306.5 Addresses the accessibility of equipment on rooftops and outlines when permanent ladders must be installed to make equipment readily accessible for service. This section states … Read more
Construction codes have been part of our society for thousands of years; and while the purpose of building codes have always been to ensure and maintain our safety, learning and staying current with the codes that affect our industry can be a daunting task. Regardless of how time consuming it may be, taking the time … Read more
Show Me The Money Along with new legislation surrounding the energy conservation movement comes a number of funding streams available to businesses and organizations like yours to implement energy improvement projects. Both energy conservation and alternative energy projects may be eligible for the following funding opportunities: Stimulus Programs Federal and State Grant Opportunities Low Interest … Read more
What We Call “Alternative” Today Will Soon Become Mainstream The technology surrounding alternative and renewable energy solutions continues to evolve as more emphasis is placed on economic development, climate change and America’s dependence on foreign energy sources. The stimulus programs initiated on the federal, state and local levels have also increased awareness and promoted interest … Read more
