September 1, 2011
Features
HPAC Engineering's 2011 Engineer of the Year,Lawrence E. Wetzel, PE, Chairman of the Board, Air Innovations Inc., Syracuse, N.Y....
Part 2 of a two-part article examining the effect of economizer operation on the comfort of spaces served by constant-volume air-conditioning systems...
The system simulation modeling used in preparation of this article consists of a set of simultaneous equations that obey the laws of physics and thermodynamics and includes the nonlinear performance characteristics of plant equipment, air-side equipment, and buildings, always arriving at energy equilibrium after a change in steady-state condition...
District energy facilities allow thermal and electric utilities to be generated efficiently and reliably. These systems also allow for the consolidation of maintenance and operations. These reasons alone have justified the significant capital investment required. Today, however, there is a new movement that is changing how these investments are viewed: the sustainable building movement....
Columns
That a person tweeting in the voice of a missing reptile (after nearly a week, the snake was found alive and well in a dark corner of the zoo’s reptile house, about 200 ft from where it last had been seen) could capture the attention of so many people in so little time is a testament to the power—and utter stupidity, I thought—of Twitter....
If a building owner has enough money for renewable-energy systems and the space to install them, any designer can achieve net-zero performance. Achieving net-zero performance economically, however, is a different matter. ...
I read the article on the use of variable-frequency drives on forced-draft fans at the University of Rochester ("Variable-Frequency Drive Improves Boiler Operation," January 2011, http://bit.ly/Eisenhauer_0111). ...
Departments
To better serve the health-care needs of west central Indiana and eastern Illinois, Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Ind., embarked on a five-story, 575,000-sq-ft expansion incorporating spacious private rooms, improved parking, and convenient access. ...
Merrimack Station, a power plant in Bow, N.H., owned and operated by Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH), burns 4,000 tons of coal a day, as it generates enough power to satisfy the energy needs of one-third of New Hampshire’s population. The fly ash produced during the combustion of coal contains a trace amount of mercury that is emitted into the atmosphere. The plant's operators sought to reduce these emissions to improve the environment and public health, and to meet strict air-quality legislation recently passed in New Hampshire. ...
Using LEED and ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, rules, Rob Schnare, project engineer, Glumac Engineering Inc., outlined energy-cost-saving goals for Mercy Corps International...
News & Notes
Within the next decade, more than 20 percent of electricity demand in the United States is expected to be met by building operators and homeowners more effectively optimizing their energy consumption and resources in collaboration with their utilities, energy experts at Honeywell predict....
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, medical anthropologist and physician Paul Farmer, and ABC News political commentator Cokie Roberts will address the more than 25,000 attendees expected for the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC’s) Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, which will take place Oct. 4-7 in Toronto. ...
A lawsuit alleging the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is misleading consumers and misrepresenting the energy performance of buildings certified under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating systems was dismissed last week by a New York District Court judge....
Cleaver-Brooks has launched a new section of its Website to help companies understand and comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) new regulations for boilers: the Major Source Rule (also known as Boiler MACT or BMACT) and the Area Source Rule. ...
Siemens Industry Inc. recently announced the acquisition of Advanced Telemetry LLC, a San Diego-based company offering end-to-end wireless and cloud-based energy-management solutions for retail and commercial businesses. ...
John Crowe has been named president and chief executive officer (CEO) of building-materials company Saint-Gobain's North American holding company, Saint-Gobain Corp., and Saint-Gobain's largest North American subsidiary, CertainTeed Corp....
A new analysis tool from Kimberly-Clark Filtration allows users to estimate the life-cycle cost and environmental impact of HVAC air filters via smart phone or other mobile device. ...
A new online pipe-flow calculator from CertainTeed is intended to facilitate comparisons of water-distribution systems....
AERCO International Inc., manufacturer of high-efficiency water heaters and boilers, recently moved its corporate headquarters to 100 Oritani Drive in Blauvelt, N.Y. ...
Armstrong International and Cleaver-Brooks will present “Empowering Steam Best Practices”—a two-day interactive training program geared toward mechanical, facility, and energy engineers; plant supervisors; maintenance chiefs; and lead boiler operators—Nov. 1 and 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST at Armstrong University in Three Rivers, Mich. ...
Produced and managed by HPAC Engineering, the Optimum Buildings Conference is dedicated to maximizing the performance of building mechanical and automation systems though superior design, product specification, operation, and maintenance. ...
Recent Comments