State-Of-The-Art Design And Technology Can Meet Both Energy And Comfort Demands

The CFC phaseout has forced facility executives to take a hard look at their HVAC systems. At the same time, current technology offers significant opportunities for energy savings from the heating and cooling system, typically the second-largest energy user in commercial facilities. On top of all that, the definition of comfort has evolved rapidly over the past decade.

At one time, HVAC systems satisfied the comfort issue by simply making sure the work area was warm or cool enough for most occupants. Now, comfort is being refined to include indoor air quality and outside air exchange.

All in all, it's a tall order: The HVAC system is expected to achieve comfortable conditions for the individual and the masses in the office without harming the delicate global atmosphere. A good example is the CFC phaseout.

Facility executives have three choices: contain CFCs in existing chillers, convert existing units to alternative refrigerants or replace existing machines. Installing new high-efficiency equipment can result in significant energy savings.

Modern HVAC equipment offers improved efficiencies, which are being achieved with better motor performance and better temperature splits in the refrigerant tubes. Today's HVAC systems also offer better part-load efficiencies than older models. Multi-stack units and horizontal screws run more efficiently at part-load levels than earlier models. The economizer bundles are better than they used to be, so the systems run more efficiently.

The recent improvements in chiller efficiencies are the result of refinements in many small places. Manufacturers have done it by better designed compressors, by improving heat transfers. Every component has been reengineered.

New materials, notably plastics, offer major potential for increased HVAC advances that end up benefiting building owners and managers. New materials make units more efficient, easier to install and more corrosion resistant. HVAC systems are becoming more component oriented so they can be put in after the building is built.

Resolving IAQ via HVAC

One of the biggest challenges facing facility managers today is how to meet ASHRAE's current standard for outside air exchange. Variable air volume systems and normal applications need to be reexamined to meet ASHRAE fresh air standard.

To maintain energy efficiency and meet the new standard, multi-zone air-handling systems may need some overhauls. The normal unit has two decks -- one for warm air and one for cool. Provided air is mostly being recirculated, the two decks work effectively.

With the larger temperature differences involved with increased outside air, a neutral zone also may be needed. In a triple-deck system, the outside air is brought by the heat exchanger to that neutral point, before entering the air stream. The result is returned efficiency to the HVAC system in its heating and cooling modes.

Another promising solution is the use of dessicants to pre-condition air without mechanical cooling.

For buildings undergoing major retrofits, the building's air should be tested before renovations begin. Establish the levels of existing contaminants, if any, so that you have a point of reference. After renovations, the air quality should be retested. Periodically, additional IAQ tests should be conducted.

What should building owners do when indoor air actually is better than outside air, as often is the case in buildings located adjacent to major airports? Filtration for gaseous contaminants can play a major role in cleaning the building's air. The health care industry already is aware of the importance of air filtration in controlling the spread of airborne pathogens. But other building owners are just beginning to recognize the importance of proper filtration systems.

Custom comfort

Many advances have been made in HVAC control technology during the past decade. One of the most recent is the ability to control air flow, temperature and even air quality at individual workstations. Because of metabolism and dress in the office, women often complain that they are too cold, while men are too hot.

Advances in DDCs and control systems give us tools to get better air as well as energy conservation from HVAC systems. Everything now is automatic. We can set certain parameters for temperature and humidity with the outside air economizer.

And we can do so much more with the system to protect the health of the people inside the building. For example, if there is a fire and the smoke-detection system is activated, the HVAC controls can stop the air-handling system and start exhausting smoke from the space while alerting local fire and alarm departments.

Electronics in HVAC systems are becoming more integrated with each other: The air-handling unit knows how much is needed from it, and the chiller knows what each air handler is doing and can adjust itself accordingly.

Further refinements in HVAC system controls are on the near horizon. For example, comfort control that relies on more than the temperature to measure a space's overall comfort currently is being investigated by researchers, consulting engineers, ASHRAE and building controls manufacturers. Sophisticated comfort control sensors are being developed that will take into account not just the dry-bulb temperature of today's thermostats but also the mean radiant temperature, air velocity and humidity level.

Julian Arhire is a Manager with DtiCorp.com - DtiCorp.com carries more than 35,000 HVAC products, including industrial, commercial and residential parts and equipment from Honeywell, Johnson Contols, Robertshaw, Jandy, Grundfos, Armstrong and more.

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Nest Learning Thermostat to Improve the Comfort of Your Nest

Background

Steve Jobs will not only be remembered for his visionary genius in the lifestyle changes his technology brought to the media and music genres, but also for his creative team. One example is Tony Fadell, the hardware engineer that approached Apple with the original idea of the iPod. The iPod did for music what the Mac did for computers. Both brought technology to a higher level. Since the iPod's introduction in 2001, it has evolved many times. Over 8 years Fadell led the team that produced 18 generations of the iPod and 3 versions of the iPhone.

When Fadell left Apple in 2008 he promised Jobs that he wouldn't compete with Apple. Fadell took time off to figure out what new idea would excite his creativity again enough to bring him out of retirement. True to his word, on October 25, 2011 Fadell revealed the project he and his copartner, former iPhone software manager Matt Rogers, have been developing for the past 18 months. So what is this new revolutionary product? A thermostat. Yes, that's correct, a thermostat. But this is no ordinary thermostat. This is the iPod of thermostats. When building his green home, Fadell found a less than impressive selection of thermostats, even high-end options. He researched and found that a properly programmed thermostat can amount to a 20% energy savings and a change of just one degree can cut energy costs by 5%. Approximately 50% of a home's energy bill is controlled by a thermostat. Why does it have to be an ugly beige box on the wall? With these facts and his engineering knowledge, he formed the Nest Labs and developed the Nest learning thermostat.

Aesthetic style and Hidden Functions Menu

As with the iPod and iPhone, Fadell adds a unique aesthetic style to the simple round dial made of high quality stainless steel rings which reflects the light and color around it. The rings act as a dial that can be turned left or right in order to manually adjust the temperature up or down. The main menu is cleverly hidden. In order to access the main menu, the black button in the middle is tapped and the menu lights up. The menu includes an away function that allows for optimum energy savings when the user is not at home. Fadell incorporated the smart phone technology that allows remote access from an iPhone or iPad app.

Learning Program and Energy Savings

Instead of a programmable program that only around 10% of consumers bother to set, he developed a more user-friendly interface learning program. After gathering pattern information, the program eventually programs itself with little input from the user. The green leaf is a visual feedback that displays when heating or cooling wisely. When the temperature is initially set by the user, the thermostat will adjust itself by an almost undetectable 1 or 2 degrees resulting in a 5 - 10% instant energy savings. The Nest includes five different sensors - temperature, humidity, light, near field and far field. The sensors can sense when the user is a home, sunlight from windows, and room lighting. The latter two sensors act much like the motion sensor of a security system.

Fadell emphasizes that his product focuses on the end-user and their needs. As an end-user, he desired a product that would save energy, be appealing and easy to use. As an engineer, he was able to draw on his experience and develop the product and offer it to the market. The cost of $249 may at first seem somewhat high, but the potential savings factor will more than pay for itself. At the time of this writing the initial presales have temporarily caused the shutdown of new orders until early 2012.

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