Articles Tagged with ''energy efficiency''

When it comes to achieving sustainability in commercial buildings, one might say, “It takes a village.”

The Hourly Analysis Program (HAP) software update provides features for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) analysis, supports compliance work for current ASHRAE standards, enhances modeling capabilities, and delivers productivity enhancements.

Since its arrival in the U.S., crosslinked polyethylene PEX) tubing has taken the hydronics industry by storm. That is primarily due to its reputation as being a durable, flexible, and, some might even say, more affordable option for radiant heating and snowmelt applications.

Programmable thermostats were first certified by Energy Star in 1995; however, they were removed from the government-backed program in 2009 because, on their own without proper programming, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) disqualified them as energy-saving products.

The smart thermostat market is expected to grow rapidly at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.7 percent through 2022, according to a report by Grand View Research. One of the major drivers of the market is increased consumer awareness of the economic and environmental advantages of these devices. But, when making the switch from a regular, old thermostat to a smart, brand-new one, contractors across the country are finding that homeowners have some concerns.

According to Navigant research, worldwide shipments of communicating and smart thermostats are expected to grow from 926,000 annually in 2014 to 9.2 million by 2023.

The home energy market is heating up with the steadily increasing number of homes that have undergone energy ratings by certified professionals. The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) recently announced that more than 2 million homes in the U.S. have now been rated with a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index Score, which is designed to measure a home’s energy efficiency. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has completed 71,352 Home Energy Score ratings as of Sept. 17 — 25 percent of which have been conducted since Jan. 1.

Located in Southern California, just north of Los Angeles, the Conejo Valley has temperatures that range from below freezing in the winter to well above 100°F in the summer. The school district has hundreds of thermostats across 30 sites, which include school campuses, offices, and warehouses.