|
|
Home > Energy Efficiency Tips & Tools > Commercial Buildings > HVAC
Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Upgrading your HVAC pays off
There are several opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of your
HVAC system by installing new components:
- When you have to replace a component
- When you choose to make a modest change in the system
- When you decide to replace the system or make a substantial modification
When you have to replace something
An HVAC failure needs to be dealt with quickly. But remember to take this
opportunity to upgrade your system.
Whatever needs to be replaced, don't automatically buy an exact replacement.
A more energy efficient replacement may be your best buy.
Engage an independent engineer to carefully develop an estimate of your
heating, cooling, and ventilation loads.
You may be able to select a smaller replacement part because of other
energy efficiency improvements to your building or space since the HVAC
system was installed.
How about "premium" efficiency?
Energy system components often come in standard efficiency and "premium"
(or greater) efficiency models. The premium efficiency models generally
are more expensive.
Consider the premium components and calculate the payback periods. You
may be surprised how quickly they pay for themselves.
About efficiency ratings
When purchasing HVAC equipment, you should request energy efficiency data.
This data should be EER, SEER, HSPF or AFUE ratings. The ratings usually
are found on a tag or label on the equipment.
|
Possible investment projects
Controls, air handling, cooling
|
- Install programmable thermostats. They are easy to install and
very reliable. Be sure they have back-up batteries to retain setpoints
if they ever lose power.
- Install an EMS (energy management system) to provide unified
control of HVAC functions to maximize energy efficiency and comfort.
- Install an outside air control system to maximize the use of
outside air to cool your space.
- Install a supply temperature reset control based on outside
and inside temperature and humidity.
- Install control or gravity dampers in the exhaust ducts that
will close when the fan does not operate.
- Convert to a variable air volume air handling system with variable
speed blowers.
- Install heat recovery ventilators (HRV) to move fresh air in
and stale air out of your building while exchanging 50% to 70%
of the energy between the two air streams. In humid climates,
HRVs with "desiccant" capability control the humidity
in the building air.
- Investigate heat recovery possibilities wherever ventilation
requirements are high (i.e. theatres, restaurants, classrooms,
indoor sports facilities) or waste heat is escaping out of your
building (kitchen or laboratory hoods, chiller condenser waste
heat).
- Install a control on your heat pump if it has supplementary
electric resistance heating elements, to minimize their use when
they are not needed.
|
Heating and cooling distribution systems
To make your HVAC system more energy efficient, call on a designer or
an engineer to consider these alternatives:
- Have the system modified and zones and separate controls installed.
- Valve off or otherwise cut off seldom used areas and install local
heating or cooling equipment to serve them.
Fuel burning and other equipment
- Replace inefficient burners with modern, efficient burners
- Install turbulators in fire tube boilers to improve heat transfer
efficiency
- In a large boiler, install an automatic combustion control system,
which monitors the composition of the exit gases and fine-tunes the
amount of air taken in.
- Insulate hot, uninsulated boiler surfaces.
back to top
|
|
