Maintenance and engineering
managers in institutional and commercial facilities have an array of components
and technology to consider when upgrading their HVAC systems to maximize energy
efficiency. But which options are most appropriate for their facilities’
specific energy-efficiency needs?
By understanding proven but
often overlooked advances in HVAC products and technology related to energy
efficiency, managers can more effectively match these products to their
facilities’ HVAC system needs and maximize the energy efficiency of existing
systems.
Balancing act
When evaluating facility
needs for potential energy efficiency upgrades, managers can start by
understanding space requirements related to life safety, critical equipment,
and occupant comfort. Energy-efficiency upgrades generally should not
jeopardize any of these needs unless the risk is worth the reward.
Examples of balancing risks
and rewards involves adding moisture to the system through increased outside
air or reducing outside air to levels, which would reduce occupant work
performance. More often than not, such changes can easily affect occupant
comfort. Critical equipment requires additional redundancies, so upgrades that
affect the entire system, not just one piece of equipment, will provide the
highest paybacks for these systems.
Managers also should
evaluate system complexity to avoid creating a hazardous situation in event of
an unlikely failure. If a system cannot fail without damaging the serviced
areas or jeopardizing occupant health — such as a fuel-oil system or a
hazardous-exhaust system —managers should avoid complex energy-efficiency
upgrades.
If components are located
outside or in other areas exposed to changes in temperature, humidity, or other
potential hazards, the components might require special-duty features, such as
weather- or explosion-type enclosures. These special-duty features ultimately
will reduce the payback, due to higher initial implementation costs.
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