Saving energy saves dollars. Continuing the theme of the feature story “Saving the Day the HVAC Way” in this issue, here are a few more products that offer end users energy efficiency savings.
Utility rates from cities all across the United States are now available in one place — the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Open Energy Information platform, or OpenEI.org.
The University of Texas Arlington has commissioned two new high-efficiency chillers that will serve the main campus cooling loop and provide projected annual energy savings of nearly $200,000.
The data center for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently benefited from an “extreme home makeover” as it moved from leased office space to the lab’s ultra energy efficient Research Support Facility (RSF). The lessons learned are expected to help data centers across the nation green up their ones and zeros.
High humidity within homes creates numerous problems. Despite the many home-related humidity issues, there has been little to no measured data available on actual indoor humidity levels in U.S. households. That is why the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded Steven Winter Associates Inc. (SWA) to collect data from homes on interior humidity levels.
United States Air Force personnel sought a solution to renovate the makeup air and exhaust ventilation systems to reduce energy usage in a 35,000-square-foot aircraft corrosion control hangar in Oklahoma City. By utilizing Munters energy recovery systems, engineers at the base achieved their mission.
The moisture content in a school’s building envelope can provide the medium that mold needs for incubation and growth. Whether a school is under construction or unoccupied during the summer break, it likely is without an HVAC system to help control moisture. Without humidity control, school buildings can become a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Claims that air curtains installed on walk-in cooler entrances save energy and refrigeration equipment wear-and-tear have been corroborated by a fast food restaurant’s audited energy test. The results indicate the compressor ran 1.75-hours less during one week - a 27 percent reduction in compressor run-time and equipment wear-and-tear.