The
Mechanical Contractors Education and Research Foundation recently released a
new study that describes green building technologies being
implemented in Europe that could be used in the United States, especially
chilled beams and active or dynamic façades.
The St.
Cloud (Minn.) Municipal Athletic Center (MAC) found a way to go green and save
taxpayer dollars in the process. With the installation of a new GeoExchange
system, the MAC is using the earth to maintain the arena ice and heat the
facility, saving electricity and gas as well as reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
The previously distinct systems within buildings are converging on standard platforms, applications, and infrastructures. And the synergy created by that convergence is translating into lower construction costs along with increased efficiencies in operations and energy usage.
Combined heat and power (CHP), also
known as cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat
from a single fuel source.
CHP is not a single technology, but an
integrated energy system that can be modified depending upon the needs of the
energy end user.
Many businesses face a new challenge that may take them by surprise: Keeping the heat-sensitive IT equipment in their server or telecom closet cool during cold-weather months, when the building is heated. The equipment is susceptible to malfunctioning or damage due to overheating, so keeping it cool is essential.
Every manufacturer of an HVAC digital control system uses the DDC to perform pretty much the same functions. The catch is that each DDC system has different ways of letting you use these functions. If you are used to operating computers, you have the basic knowledge required.
Exposure to fine particles impairs breathing and increases the risk of serious illness. So, what is the best way for a person to reduce their exposure to fine particles of outdoor origin? The answer is to lower the concentrations of these fine particles that seep from the outside into the indoor air of their home.
About one-third of the electric motors in the industrial and commercial sectors use belt drives. Belt drives provide flexibility in the positioning of the motor relative to the load. However, certain types of belts are more efficient than others, offering potential energy cost savings.
Whenever the seasons change and your work changes from cooling to heating or vice versa, take a minute to review which of your measurement practices result in the greatest payback. On the technical side, surely one of the very best practices is benchmarking.
This year as the price of oil and gasoline sharply rose, the impact of high energy prices weighed heavily on the United States economy. To find out how readers feel about the energy issue, an informal online survey was conducted on The NEWS Website, keying on oil drilling and renewable energy.