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ICC and ASHRAE Agree to a MOU for Code Development Work |
August 2006 |
In this article, ICC and ASHRAE have now come to an understanding on some preliminary code development issues through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). For those of us doing code work, this is a good step.
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The New EPA Building is Green! How Green Is Your Building? |
August 2006 |
This article addresses some of the items that a green building should be looking at during concept, design, construction and final turnover. The EPA building in this article achieved a LEED Gold rating when completed. How does your building stack up?
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Proper Use of Intelligent Lighting Controls in Warehouse Aisles |
August 2006 |
One of the ways to control energy and lengthen the life of lamps is to utilize intelligent lighting controls, especially in the areas where minimal use of the space requires lighting. The aisles in a warehouse or storage area are such a place. Proper lighting control can lower energy cost and reduce lamp replacement, often a problem in a high bay application.
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HVAC Retrofit Project Requires High-Level Innovation |
April 2006 |
This is interesting reading and demonstrates the value of a well-planned and well-coordinated project. Upgrading systems to provide air conditioning in a 40-year-old, 900,000-square-foot aircraft subassembly plant with a 30 foot ceiling—without once halting plant production—presented an engineering challenge on many fronts. Innovative methods were required, such as movable work platforms attached to existing overhead crane rails above the factory floor equipped to handle removal of debris. Integrated planning and scheduling around shift work schedules to optimize work time for construction and plant production involved posting maps at each entrance to avoid confusion. Communication and coordination between the engineers and construction personnel was instrumental to keep functioning systems available during the renovation. Discover how working under tight constraints, pre-built sections of air handling units reached the rooftop, requiring planning for all factors, especially safety.
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Pathmark to Incorporate Renewable Solar Power Systems in Stores |
April 2006 |
Has solar power come and gone? Learn how a New Jersey supermarket chain is incorporating turnkey photovoltaic systems at three separate locations with a total capacity of 750 kilowatts. A rebate program through NJCEP promises a $2.5 million cost reduction, and solar renewable energy certificates will be generated by state and local electric suppliers as well.
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How Green Is Your Building? |
April 2006 |
An environmental rating tool for existing office buildings has been developed in Australia. The Green Star-Office Existing Building rating tool now includes the Management Efficiency rating to access the efficiency of maintenance and operation.
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ASHRAE Manuals Geared to Sustainable Design |
February 2006 |
As each of us works diligently to provide improved HVAC designs, ASHRAE has come forth with manuals that incorporate the use of Sustainable Design components in the design of systems for new buildings. Careful consideration should be made when applying this technology to new building designs.
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US DOE "Save Energy Now" Program Worth Checking Out! |
February 2006 |
"Save Energy Now" is part of a national campaign to save energy throughout the United States. If you operate a manu-facturingfacility, energy intensive facility, or similar plant, it wouldbe worth your while just to see what others in the energy market are doing to lower energy cost and consumption. This initiative is making an attempt to control energy consumption and costs within the private sector.
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Energy Savings Can Save Your Firm Taxes! |
February 2006 |
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 establishes a new deduction for expenses incurred for energy-efficient commercial building property. The deduction is equal to energy-efficient commercial building property expenditures made by the taxpayer, subject to a cap. This document describes the tax deduction provision in general. Nothing in this material should be con-struedas a substitute for consultation with a qualified tax professional.
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Energy Legislation to Provide Tax Breaks for Efficiency |
November 2005 |
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides tax incentives for commercial buildings that achieve a 50% reduction over ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001. The deduction available is $1.80 per square foot. The tax incentive is only part of the legislation.
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Solar Refrigeration |
November 2005 |
Research has demonstrated that solar energy is an ideal source for low-temperature heating applications such as space and domestic water heating. Photovoltaic-based vapor compression is presently a viable solar refrigeration technology. Developed by NASA to provide power to satellites and spacecraft, photovoltaic-based vapor compression is now being researched for use in refrigeration technologies. Also see the ASHRAE Journal for September 2005.
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NFPA President Calls for Fire-Safe Cigarettes |
November 2005 |
Smoking materials such as cigarettes and cigars are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States. The NFPA estimates that one in four deaths in 2001 could be attributed to smoking materials. NFPA President James M. Shannon believes that the time has come for fire-safe cigarettes. Representatives from New York and Massachusetts have introduced legislation titled The Cigarette Fire Safety Act of 2005 in hopes of setting a national ignition standard for cigarettes and reducing fatalities.
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2005 National Electric Code Update: Article 682 for Water Installation |
November 2005 |
Article 682, Natural and Artificially Made Bodies of Water, was created for the 2005 National Electric Code to address installation requirements of electrical wiring and equipment in and adjacent to natural and artificial bodies of water not covered by other sections of the code. The article introduces a new term to electricians and engineers, which is electrical datum plane. It is based on the highest expected water level, and is used to define the electrical installation requirements to electrical wiring and equipment below that level.
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ASHRAE Design Guide Earns Award from the Alliance to Save Energy |
September 2005 |
The recently completed ASHRAE Design Guide titled Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings has been awarded honorable mention in the Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards program sponsored by the Washington, D.C., based Alliance to Save Energy. The design guide outlines methods to achieve 30% energy savings compared to buildings that only meet the minimum requirements of Standard 90.1. The design guide provides a sensible approach by including practical products and readily available, "off-the-shelf" technology.
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2005 National Electric Code Updates: Safeguarding Ballast Servicing |
September 2005 |
A leading cause of fatalities for electricians is electrocution while working on 277 Volt lighting systems. The 2005 Edition of the National Electrical Code implements new language to protect electricians involved in this type of work. Article 410.73(G) of the 2005 code outlines the procedure that shall be followed to safeguard ballast servicing.
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Cogeneration, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Opportunities |
September 2005 |
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced that they are launching a one-year pilot project to develop a LEED rating system for homes. Participation in the program is voluntary. The program will recognize the top 25% of green homebuilders. Builders in the Northeast and eleven other states are slated for program participation. New homes built to the LEED Homes standards will be designed to use less water, energy, and fewer materials. The program will also focus on improved indoor air quality.
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Energy Code Compliance Programs |
September 2005 |
The U.S. Department of Energy provides free downloads of the COMcheck and REScheck programs on their website. These programs allow architects, engineers and designers to check their buildings for code compliance with the 1997, 2000, and 2003 International Energy Conservation code. The REScheck program can also check compliance with the NH Energy Code. Both code compliance tools are available in a web-based version.
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Informative Resources Now Available for Purchase or Download |
July 2005 |
Minimizing Indoor Mold Through Management of Moisture in Building Systems is a new position paper that can be downloaded for free via the "position documents" shortcut at ASHRAE's website. In this new document, ASHRAE takes the position that due to the proliferation of mold in buildings, sound moisture management should take precedence over energy cost savings. Moisture and mold is a very important design consideration and one that we have seen in projects more and more as buildings are tighter and tighter.
Guideline 0-2005, The Commissioning Process is a new guideline that can help ensure that the sustainable development principles contained in building rating systems such as the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), perform as intended. Among other things, it describes how to verify that a facility and its systems meet the project owner's initial expectations and program requirements. Each of us should bear in mind that the scope of the project defines the level of commissioning that makes sense on a particular project and must be evaluated pragmatically. This guideline can be purchased at ASHRAE's Online Bookstore.
Energy Modeling Software is available from a number of sources, including the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC), Department of Energy (DoE),and RETscreenInternational. As we all look at saving energy in our projects in order to lower operating costs over the life of a project, it isimportant to predict and anticipate the energy costs for a project. At the outset of a project, the design team needs to evaluate the energy consumption of a building.
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Hybrid Ventilation Systems in Commercial Buildings |
July 2005 |
We have been seeing more applications of Hybrid Ventilation Systems being applied in commercial buildings, especially when the aspect of LEED is being pursued. The application of pure, natural ventilation systems may be limited in the United States by issues such as climate suitability, humidity control, and reliability. However, the local building codes and systems standards must be complied for this approach. Hybrid ventilationsystems offer the possibility of attaining energy savings in buildings through the combination of natural ventilation systems, mechanical ventilation, mechanical cooling, and heat recovery. A study prepared for the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Institute by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) investigates the potential energy and indoor environmental performance of this alternative in low-to mid-rise commercial buildings in a variety of U.S. climates.
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Design of Computer and Data Rooms |
July 2005 |
Any design for a room including computers and data processors needs to be integrated with building systems and be code compliant. Some of the building code requirements that are defined are represented in NEC 2005. Computer room designs and construction vary, but common features of most are self-contained HVAC systems, cold aisle and hot aisle designs, fire and smoke monitoring systems, automatic sprinkler or gaseous agent fire extinguishing systems, fire-rated walls, raised floors, underfloorwiring systems, data cable tray pathways, security, uninterruptible power systems (UPS) and standby power with loss of utility power systems. Because of the critical nature of the 24/7 operation of most computer rooms, reliability is one of the critical design factors. An owner mustbe assured that no single point of system failure will take thesystem totally down. In addition, ASHRAE is providing guidelinesfor the design of the data centers in a design guideline entitled, Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments.
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Code Review Update |
May 2005 |
NEC Electrical Code 2005 calls for additional grounding provisions beyond the NEC 2002 code requirements. This means that coordination must be in place between foundations, rebar, structural steel, water mains, and electrical grounding per NEC 250. When doing construction in a phased approach owners, contractors, and construction professionals should be sure that adequate rebar has been left exposed for the electrical contractor to properly ground to per the latest version of NEC 250.
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Cogeneration, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Opportunities |
May 2005 |
Cogeneration and CHP systems provide significant operating cost savings for your facility when the power demand balance between thermal and electrical power is about equivalent. In over 200 analyses of projects for various industry types, we have determined that approximately a 40% savings can occur with properly designed cogeneration or combined heat and power systems.
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Integrated Mechanical Electrical Process Systems Save Money! |
May 2005 |
When planning and designing your facilities consider strongly the implementation of integrating the mechanical, electrical, and process systems to lower the capital cost and the annual operating cost of the facility, some of which are LEED certified projects. BonhagAssociates has already saved in excess of $17 million in projects that we have completed for our clients. Depending where you are located, various utility companies provide energy incentives for creative and intelligent energy applications.
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