Articles by Paul Ehrlich P.E.

One of the most interesting new HVAC trends is the use of VRF systems

In an effort to improve energy efficiency for commercial buildings, ASHRAE, IES, ANSI, and the DOE have been working diligently to increase the stringency of state energy codes.

Much of the energy usage in a commercial building can be attributed to systems that are operating under the assumption that the building is “occupied.”

Buildings contain a treasure trove of data. Information is available from a broad variety of systems from HVAC and electrical to utility usage.

Each month in this column, we talk about the benefits of control systems and BAS.

Chances are you have heard about the data breach at Target that occurred late last year, in which customers’ information including credit card numbers were obtained through a cyberattack.

At one time, it might have been acceptable to view controls as a “necessary evil” with little attention given to the details of design including sequences and commissioning

Our BAS columnist makes a house call to prescribe one method of applying retrofit expertise, including the success story of a hospital with mysteries or maladies that required attention in VAV and chillers, air handling strategies, OR ventilation, and beyond.

Chilled water plants tend to be one of the most energy intensive areas of a commercial building.

Following a tragic fire in a Las Vegas hotel in the 1980’s, the industry recognized the dangers to occupants from smoke inhalation during a fire emergency.