Choosing a High Efficiency Chiller System

In many commercial facilities that require air conditioning, chillers are a major energy user. Thus, it is important to select a chiller that costs as little as possible to operate for the specific application.

In the past 10 years, variable speed control for fans, pumps, chillers and HVAC systems has become an affordable way to save energy, thanks to advances in microelectronics and control
technology. Initially, utility companies introduced incentives to make it practical to switch from fixed speed and flow-throttling controls to variable frequency drives (VFDs).

Since then, more building designs have been specifying VFDs, and many building HVAC retrofits can become more cost-effective by replacing flow controls with VFDs at installed costs as low as $250 per kilowatt. Naturally, the process must be carefully studied to ensure that the application will be successful.

Boiler and furnace efficiency is usually defined in terms of steady-state operation. Efficiency measurements are taken and reported after the appliance has been running for a few minutes and has reached operating temperature. However, when appliance standby and skin losses are taken into account, the long-term or seasonal efficiency is usually much lower.

Boilers provide hot water for space and domestic hot water heating applications. A substantial portion of the total energy consumption in most residential, commercial and institutional buildings is used for hot water heating, as much as 40%.

Improving boiler efficiency results in a reduction of energy consumption and operational cost, while mitigating environmental impacts.

Dirt on heating and cooling coils can have a significant impact on building energy use. Dirty coils reduce airflow, decrease heat exchanger efficiency, and reduce Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system (HVAC) capacity.

In addition, dirty coils contribute to poor indoor air quality and are a major cause of compressor failures in refrigeration systems.

Building control systems, also called Direct Digital Control (DDC) Systems or Building Automation Systems (BAS), can be optimized to achieve low cost energy savings.

The following list of ten strategies outlines commonly identified opportunities in building control systems. These strategies are all noncapital, operational measures that have relatively quick paybacks of less than three years.

In commercial kitchens, exhaust hoods are used to remove the smoke, heat, and odours generated from cooking. To maintain a suitable pressure in the kitchen space, makeup air is typically brought in from the outside to replace the air removed by the exhaust hood. Most kitchen exhaust and makeup fans are interlocked and run at a fixed speed regardless of the level of cooking activity, often 24 hours a day. As such, a large amount of energy is required to condition (heat or cool) this outdoor makeup air flow.

Solar water heating systems harness the sun’s radiant energy to heat water and reduce the amount of purchased energy. Solar hot water systems typically are used to pre-heat domestic cold water before the temperature is boosted in a conventional water heating system. Other applications for solar water heating include heating swimming pools, specialized cleaning processes, and space heating.

In most cases, solar water heating systems result in lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Interested in some quick and easy no-cost or low-cost measures to try now?
Using combinations of the following measures can save you 10% to 50% on your energy bills.
Also, BC Hydro may provide technical guidance or other incentives for many energy efficiency measures.

Here’s a menu of can’t-go-wrong items to get you started:

1. Adjust thermostats. Turn down the building’s heating thermostat and turn up its cooling thermostat, especially when the building is not occupied.No Cost

2. Reduce the hot water temperature. Reducing the temperature on your water heater thermostat can decrease heat loss from your tank. For washing hands, you may be able to turn the temperature to 120°F (48°C). Dishwashing may require higher temperature settings such as 140°F (60°C).No Cost

3. Install water flow restrictors and aerators in sink faucets. These measures can save you money by reducing water use (including hot water).Low Cost

4. Reduce lighting. Remove lamps where you have more lighting than you really need, but be sure to maintain safe lighting conditions for work areas. Turn lights off when they’re not in use.No Cost

5. Seal heating and cooling ductwork. Leakage from areas such as joints, elbows and connections can be substantial — as much as 20% to 30%. This is especially costly if the ducts travel through unheated or uncooled spaces such as attics, basements, or crawlspaces. Use duct tape or caulking to seal ducting.Low Cost

6. Wrap the hot water tank with jacket insulation. This simple, inexpensive measure will reduce standby heat loss from the tank. Be sure to leave the air intake vent uncovered when insulating a gas water heater.Low Cost

7. Replace air filters regularly and follow maintenance schedules for furnace and air-conditioning equipment. Replacing a dirty air filter can save money by reducing the amount of electricity needed to run a blower motor (because there is less resistance to airflow with a clean filter).Low Cost

8. Install programmable thermostats. These inexpensive devices, most of which incorporate modern microprocessor-based electronics, can help optimize your building’s heating and cooling needs. And you won’t need to remember to change thermostat settings every time you leave the building or return home.Low Cost

9. Install automatic room-lighting controls. Similar to programmable thermostats, these devices help optimize lighting use by automatically turning lights on or off, depending on occupancy or time of day. Sensors and timers work well and are usually installed by a specialist.Low Cost

10. Clean heat exchangers and perform routine maintenance on refrigerating equipment. These simple measures will ensure the most efficient operation of heat exchangers needed for cooling or refrigerating equipment.No Cost

11. Seal off unused areas and don’t heat or cool them. Storage areas are a good place to start.No Cost

12. Buy energy-efficient equipment. When buying appliances, compare energy requirements of various models.Low Cost

13. Seal exterior cracks and holes, and ensure tight-fitting windows. Seemingly small cracks or holes in the building exterior (like walls, windows, doors, ceiling, and floors) can really add up to substantial heating or cooling losses. Install weather stripping and caulking to stop these air leaks.Low Cost

14. Repaint building exterior with light colours. When it’s time to repaint the exterior of your home, consider using light colors. More sunlight will be reflected away from the building, thus helping to keep it cool in summer. This is also true for your roof.Low Cost

15. Keep exterior doors closed as much as possible. Don’t heat or cool the outdoors!No Cost

16. Block and insulate unneeded windows and other openings. Aside from the important security benefit, covering unneeded windows and doors can greatly reduce energy losses from these openings.Low Cost

17. Buy energy-efficient vehicles. When buying or replacing your vehicles, compare energy requirements of various models.No Cost or Low Cost

18. Encourage the family to be energy conscious. The importance of getting family co-operation shouldn’t be underestimated; their practices and activities can make or break efforts such as these.No Cost

As a hockey fan and a practitioner of energy management, I started thinking… how is Energy Management like hockey? A review of the key roles on a hockey team provides some interesting comparisons.

The General Manager (GM):

The GM determines the direction for the team, assembles the players, and sets the tone for the type of play. Will it be an offensive or defensive style team this year? Will the team be built around one or two superstars or a group of equally talented players? The GM provides the direction for the Coach, player and his management team.
For a successful energy management program, the organizations senior management position (CEO or President) needs to set the tone for the importance of energy management to the organization. He or she demonstrates this through leadership by example. This person communicates and inspires the organization to strive for energy improvements.

The Coach:

The coach organizes the players so that the sum is greater than the parts. He determines which players work best together and builds on the strengths of each. The coach has a strategy and sets objectives for the season, each part of the season and each game. He meets with support staff, players and management to adjust the strategy and deal with challenges that come up. As a facilitator, he tries to get the best out of each player. At many organizations, the “Energy Manager” is the Coach of the Energy Management Team. He tracks the progress each day and moves short term and longer term energy objectives forward. Using the Energy Management Plan as his playbook, he organizes the various parts of the energy team and ensures open communication.
The energy manager solicits feedback from others but ultimately it is his responsibility to move the program initiatives forward. Like the coach of the hockey team, the energy manager is not satisfied with the status quo and is always looking for opportunities to improve.

The Defence:

A strong defence is one of the keys to winning a championship. The defence needs to keep on eye on all the activities happening on the ice and needs to be ready to respond to any lapses in performance of other team members.
For an energy team, the defence is about identifying waste. When are we using energy when we don’t need to? What lighting is on when the room is empty? What computers are on when the computer lab is empty? What room temperatures are set higher than required causing excess heating energy? What walls, roofs, doors and windows have gaps or holes where heat is lost?
The defence wants to keep the puck in the opposition zone, just like the energy management team needs to keep waste down.

The Forwards:

The hockey forward needs to score goals. The focus is on offence — passing the puck to achieve a clear opening to the net and taking your best shot on net. For energy management, the offense is about efficiency improvements.
How can we do better at using the energy that is currently consumed? Replacing equipment with more efficient products and technology is how the energy team scores the goals. It may be through the installation of premium efficiency lighting products, high efficiency boilers, variable speed compressors, or high COP rooftop units.
Some new innovations, like LED lighting, have similarities to the fibreglass carbon sticks available to hockey forwards today: they work better than the traditional wooden sticks, however, they do tend to break in some instances. New technologies go through development cycles and the ones that come out on top are both reliable and efficient.

The Goalie:

The goalie is the last line of defence. If the goalie is distracted, looses focus or not performing, the puck will surely end up behind him. For the energy team, the building operator, security staff or cleaning staff are the last ones around that can prevent waste. They spot the opportunities at the end of the day, week or season.
These individuals are walking through the building and finding open windows, equipment left on, cooling systems running in vacant rooms.
When a high school closes in early July for the summer holiday, are the pop machines, coffee machines and walk in freezers still running? When the retail tenants from the local mall close up on Friday night, do the young staff members know what procedures to follow for the HVAC systems setback and store lighting before they head out for a night on the town. The energy management team needs the goalie to eliminate waste.

The Captain:

Some captains lead on the ice with their performance. Others may be slightly past their prime on the ice but lead in the dressing room by inspiring others to perform. Communication is key for this team leader to motivate others to take action. The energy team needs a captain to lead communication programs as well. He needs to build awareness of the actions others can take to save energy. He needs to provide a reason for change, a consistent message and provide feedback on how the program is doing.
Like the Captain of the hockey team, he needs to know when to fire up the troops and when a tap on the shoulder will do just fine. By communicating a consistent message, the captain of the energy team drives change of the corporate culture by changing one behaviour at a time.

The Training Staff:

The training staff not only keeps the team healthy but also monitors their fitness. Often, they will suggest new approaches to rehabilitation, like the hyperbaric chamber, to keep the players in top form. These members of the team research available nutrition and fitness approaches and stay on top of developments in the field. For the energy team, training is critical to increase competencies.
Some tools, like the online training for building operators that we developed for BOMA BC, is available online to take at their own pace from their own location. Other training for energy management include multiply day training for energy managers, various single day workshops and conferences.
By staying informed and increasing energy management know how, members of the energy team are more effective at managing their resources. Energy management training is a key component of a success program.

The Scout:

The scout is on the road looking at new prospects. Some young players have talent and these are watched closely but they will not all make it to the big leagues. Sometimes the scout takes a chance on a talented player and recommends him for the team. Your energy engineer or manager will be looking for the next round of potential for the energy program as well.
More than likely they are scouting alternative energy opportunities and giving them a tryout. Perhaps a pilot study on solar heating for the local motel that is looking to show customers their commitment to sustainability. Perhaps an office building manager looking as a solar powered parking lot area light or signage. All show promise but only the mature technologies will remain. The energy manager needs to be aware of current and upcoming alternative sources of energy.

The Capologist:

This is a new position in the big leagues as unions and management have moved to limit the spending abilities of the billionaire owners that can not seem to limit themselves (kind of like how my wife limits my chocolate intake). The Capologist knows the numbers- what each player’s salary is, how it adds up to the limit for the team, the impact of injuries on the cap, how trades will impact the teams numbers, and how other teams are doing with respect to the cap as well.
For the energy team, watching the consumption regularly is also a critical role. A monitoring, targeting and reporting system (MT&R) is critical to actively and effectively managing energy use. The energy manager needs to know what the trends have been and why, what has caused recent energy changes, and who to report to.
Like the capologist, he monitors some trends daily, like the electrical demand, and others on regular basis, like monthly energy consumption and costs. Sometime penalties occur, like power factor penalties, late charges, demand spikes and just like the capologist, he needs to take quick action to rectify the situation. Innovative programs such as the BC Hydro continuous improvement program merge MT&R with real time feedback of energy to develop a “continuous commissioning” process.

The Medical Doctor:

Puck in the face? Charley horse? Sometimes players get injured and need some medical care during the game, between games and during the off season. Energy consultants play that role for the energy management team…they bring tools and expertise to help.
Even large organizations with full time energy managers relay on energy consultants and their expertise. The consultant may bring ideas, calculation tools, expertise and knowledge to the energy program. Just like the medical doctor, it makes common sense to bring in the specialists when required.

The Power Play:

It is beautiful to see a power play that clicks: the pucks move crisply from one stick to the next, back and forth until success…a goal! That’s the feeling I have at the completion of an energy project: seeing the result, the savings from the retrofit project, is like the goal on the power play.
This is a chance for the team members to feel good about their work, to celebrate with high fives, and then get down to business as the game continues. Celebrating success is a key component for a long term and sustainable energy management program.

Slumps:

Sometimes even the best teams get into a slump and don’t win every game. Similarly in energy management project, not every project will turn out the way you want it to. Real winners will confront problems and look for ways to make the best of the situation. Strong leadership and determination are required to get back on track.

The Holy Grail:

Every NHL team wants to win the Stanley Cup and every team at the Olympics want that Gold Medal. They focus their energy and work towards this goal throughout the season. Training, teamwork, and focus on the objective are all keys to success. A successful energy management program needs to set goals to motivate, inspire and target.
The goals are shared with others and provide a common thrust for everyone involved. Objectives are then set each “period” so that the goals can be broken down into logical pieces. Tasks are then assigned to members of the energy team to ensure that there are responsibilities assigned with specific time projection.

The Team:

Some of the best players have not won a championship. They try their best but do not have support from others to achieve their ultimate goal. Like a star player, no one individual can achieve success in energy management without the support of others. A university campus needs energy champions in each building to build awareness and share concrete actions with building occupants. It needs maintenance staff to keep condensers clear from debris, filters changed, setpoints optimized. It needs building occupants like faculty and students that are aware of the impact their behaviour has on the campus footprint and care enough to do something about it.
An energy team is made up of individuals with various backgrounds, interests and abilities that come together to make a difference: reducing the environmental impact of their organization.

As you can see, there are many similarities between a hockey team and an energy management program (although it may be tough to sell tickets for fans to come see your energy management team in action). The important point is that just like hockey, it has to be a TEAM effort to achieve the ultimate success. Not just the superstar, not just the players, but a lot of others “behind the scenes” all working towards the same goal.

I hope your favourite hockey team achieves success this year. And I hope that you move forward with all the players on your energy team to enhance your organizations sustainability through smarter use of energy in your facilities.