Benefits of Building Automation Systems - Modern buildings use DDC controls for building automation systems. Building automation systems offer energy savings because they are energy management systems. These systems allow management to automatically control many processes involved with HVAC systems, lighting, and emergency systems. The systems are generally hooked up to the internet so monitoring and control can be done worldwide. (more…)
Rooftop Economizer CO2 | HVAC Control – This damper is part of a free cooling system for a rooftop economizer. It is part of an economizer damper system that allows free outside air cooling when the outside air temperature and humidity are ideal. This economizer also works on CO2 control so that if the CO2 levels inside the space rise above a set point the economizer damper opens allowing fresh outside air into the building while venting the air laden with CO2 to the outside. (more…)
Many people wonder what Building Automation Systems (BAS) can do. The primary use of BAS is commercial HVAC control systems and energy management system applications. Building Automation itself is an energy management system that saves management companies and building owners by efficiently controlling air conditioning and heating comfort and process systems.
Tankless Water Heater
All About Hot Water Heaters - I have been transformed into a believer in tankless water heater systems. A few years back, I moved to Ukraine for professional reasons. When I first arrived in Ukraine it took a while for me to adapt to the culture, language, services, and way they do things here. Power failures, water outages, and occasionally natural gas outages are quite frequent here although it is tolerable and a minor inconvenience. (more…)
Air Conditioner Ductwork Leaks | Leaky Duct Work - A good consideration when replacing the air conditioning system is the ductwork.
Red Arrow Shows a Duct Work Leak
Ductwork seems to be the most ignored part of an HVAC system. However, it is a very important consideration in this age of new technology and higher energy-efficient equipment being developed and manufactured. You can have the most energy-efficient engine but if it’s in an old 60 or 70’s model car your efficiency is going to suffer. The same is true with HVAC systems. (more…)
Variable Air Volume Systems - Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems are the best way to zone especially in large buildings. A VAV system with the proper controls and setup will help the building owner realize large savings in energy usage. There are many VAV systems out there set up in different ways. The most common set-up (for DDC) is, of course, usually the cheapest to install.
They have an air handler (DX or Chilled Water) which supplies the VAV Boxes with fixed pressure and temperature of the conditioned air. The VAV Boxes have electric reheat which will heat the air if that particular zone calls for heat (it is not uncommon to also find VAV boxes that have hot water reheat although this usually costs more to install but can save in energy costs). More on how VAV boxes work.
Hot Water Heaters - Domestic hot water heaters make our lives much more comfortable than ever before. Hot water heaters give us hot water for washing our hands, showering, washing dishes, and other uses that would otherwise be uncomfortable without a hot water heater.
When considering hot water heaters beyond the cost of the water things to consider are the size of the hot water heater and the type of fuel it will use to heat the water. (more…)
HVAC Duct Systems - Ductwork systems channel the air to the spaces where it is needed from the air handler. HVAC duct systems also will pull the air from the space and channels it back to the air handler where it needs to be conditioned. In some commercial applications, the area above the ceiling is considered the return duct. All the return air is channeled back to the air handler through the plenum where it is conditioned in the air handler. Part of the conditioning process is the air being passed through an air filter and then an exchanger like a coil or heat exchanger. (more…)
Wireless WiFi Smart Thermostats - The future of wireless thermostats have already arrived as there are a handful of wireless thermostats available on the market now. These are the forefathers of wireless thermostats and offer basic functions that the average wired programmable thermostat has to offer that are currently available on the market.
As we progress and the thermostat manufacturers tweak and improve on their thermostats, the thermostats will grow far more complex than the wireless thermostats offered today. This new breed of the wireless thermostat is a far cry from the once state-of-the-art thermostats that offered touch screens and adaptive recovery features that the current breed of thermostat offers.
As we move into the future, we see new features and options that will offer us more control, monitoring, and energy savings. All the manufacturers have something in the pipeline for wireless thermostats including Venstar, Emerson (White-Rodgers), and Honeywell to name a few thermostat manufacturers. (more…)
