| November 2008 | Subscribe | Contact | Advertise | Reprints | |
Product Gallery | Case Studies |
ROOFTOP UNITS are available with Puron refrigerant instead of R-22. The WeatherMaker rooftop line with Puron has 3- to 10-ton units that feature an EER of 11.2, fit existing company curbs and match utility connection locations. The WeatherMaker LRT, at 20 to 60 tons, is available in eight sizes and multiple configurations — cooling, cooling with gas heating, and cooling with electric heat, with vertical or horizontal discharge arrangements, and constant or variable air volume. CARRIER
GAS PHASE FILTER MEDIA uses a two-layer construction. The upstream layer provides particulate filtration and protects the carbon layer from particulate loading. The downstream layer is made of activated carbon and controls odors from alcohols, VOCs and cigarette smoke, among others. Can be used in single-stage systems or in multistage systems as pre-filters. KIMBERLY-CLARK FILTRATION PRODUCTS
SCREENWALLS in steel or aluminum contain an average 30 to 50 percent recycled content, with 23.5 to 25 percent post-consumer content, respectively, and are recyclable. EcoScreen perforated screenwalls can mask building equipment and control light pollution. A new brochure details the various features, including pattern, profile and material options. CENTRIA
WHITE EPDM MEMBRANE is constructed of 30-mil white EPDM over 30-mil black EPDM. The RubberGard EcoWhite EPDM’s fully adhered, bi-laminate, cured membrane allows for year-round application, according to the manufacturer. It has a manufactured initial reflectivity of .80 and can be used with the EcoWhite line of accessories. FIRESTONE BUILDING PRODUCTS |
WINDOWS AND DOORS are made of five-layer fiberglass composite material that is nine times stronger than vinyl and twice as strong as aluminum in tensile strength tests, according to the company. The Impervia windows and doors with low-E glass have total unit U-values as low as 0.28 and are ENERGY STAR-rated. PELLA CORPORATION
ASSET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE tracks the consumption of water, air, gas, electricity and steam by individual assets in real-time, evaluates the data against user-defined conditions, alerts users to anomalies when assets exceed acceptable performance thresholds, and monitors fugitive emissions, like ozone-depleting refrigerant gases. Infor EAM Asset Sustainability Edition uses asset submetering and can use wireless mesh networks for communications. INFOR PAINT contains no VOCs and no hazardous materials as defined by OSHA and EPA, according to the company. Mythic latex paint has a 1,232-color palette in both interior and exterior finishes. Contains no fungicides. Unopened paint has a shelf life of two years. MYTHIC PAINT
INSULATED WALL SYSTEM for steel stud wall assemblies uses three products in tandem to reduce installation time and number of layers needed. The Thermax total wall system uses Thermax exterior insulated sheathing with an R-value of 6.5 per inch, Styrofoam spray polyurethane foam insulation on the interior of the steel stud assembly and Weathermate flashings. DOW BUILDING SOLUTIONS
VEGETATED ROOFING SYSTEM layers include the company’s single-ply TPO or multiple-ply TriPosite XL for waterproofing, a 4-in-1 drainage foundation system, location-specific growing medium which includes a carbon filtering compound for improved runoff, and regional plant varieties. The GardenScapes line comes with a single-source guarantee for the complete garden roof system, including plant maturation. GAF MATERIALS CORPORATION |
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CARPET is manufactured with 50 percent recycled nylon. Mystic Journey’s five carpet patterns were inspired by nature. All are available in broadloom and Falling Rain is also offered in 18-by-18-inch carpet tile. The backing system uses a latex formulation that recovers mineral residual from the paper recycling industry. 
HIGH EFFICIENCY TOILET uses dual flush technology. Pull up on the handle for a 1.6 Gpf/6.0 Lpf flush, push down for a 1.1 Gpf/4.0 Lpf flush. The pressure-assist EcoQuantum has a pneumatic actuator for “easy touch” flushing action. The two-piece model’s options include a 17 1⁄4-inch bowl height. 
HYDROELECTRIC GENERATOR for restroom hands-free faucets generates its own power as water passes an internal turbine. As the turbine in the EcoVantage Hydro Generator spins, electrical energy is stored in the rechargeable cell. The hydro generator provides a self-sustaining system for 10 years or more, according to the company. 
DATA CENTER AC UNITS can provide free cooling via outdoor air. The Spacemaker uses a direct drive fan and R-410a refrigerant. Options include gas phase or ultraviolet filtration, dehumidification, humidification and hot gas reheat, and VFD or electrically commuted motors. Available in three-, five- or seven-ton units. 
WINDOW FILM rejects 97 percent of solar infrared light, 99.9 percent of UV rays and has less interior reflectivity than glass, according to the company. The clear and metal-free Prestige Series PR 60 and PR 70 transmit 61 percent and 69 percent of visible light and reject 52 percent and 50 percent of total solar energy respectively. 
ROOFING MEMBRANES are white, combine a top ply of APP modified-bitumen compound with a self-adhesive bottom ply and incorporate a fiberglass-reinforced polyester mat, manufactured with recycled content, to enhance stability and puncture resistance. Polykool and Polybianko have a .70 reflectivity and .80 emissivity. Polyfresko has a .75 reflectivity and a .84 emissivity. 
MODULAR CARPET is PVC-free and available with adhesive-free backing made from algae and forestry resin. Persian Dynasty comes in four designs offered in 50 cm tiles. Manufacturer will help renew, reuse or recycle the carpet at end of life. Carpet’s production process uses alternative energy, including methane from a local landfill. 
CORK FLOORING uses Acrodur, a water based acrylic binder that contains no solvents and no ingredients such as formaldehyde, phenol or isocyanate. The binder replaces the usage of melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin in the Wicanders, Ipocork and Corklife product lines. 
DAYLIGHTING SYSTEM uses fiber optic cable to deliver natural light up to 60 feet. The company’s fiber optic skylight uses an exterior-mounted panel that has 64 computer controlled lenses that track the sun. These lenses focus the sunlight into the optical fibers which are bundled into 6 mm optical cables. A variety of luminaires available. 
EXTERIOR PAINT has VOC levels of 50 grams per liter. SuperPaint Exterior Latex and A-100 Exterior Latex are 100 percent acrylic and have been reformulated to provide better flow and leveling and increased hide, according to the company. In most sheens, both can be applied in temperatures as low as 35 degrees F. 
GENERATOR SET meets EPA’s Tier 4 emissions regulations, according to the company. Rated at 10 kW, 15 kW, 20 kW and 25 kW, these generator sets feature four-cycle, naturally aspirated, in-line diesel engines. Able to run at full standby load in up to 131 degrees F ambient air temperature. 
INDUCTION LAMP has a power factor of .99, a lamp life up to 100,000 hours, and energy efficiency similar to a T8, according to the manufacturer. The LVD induction lamps have a CRI of 82 or higher, ignite below -40 F and contain no mercury. Available in 15W to 300W lamps. 
ENERGY USE DISPLAY shows a building’s historical or live energy data for energy efficiency education. Interactive Green Design’s system uses photo-realistic graphics and animations to illustrate data pulled from the building automation system using LonWorks or BACnet protocols. Display options include walk-up kiosks and LCDs and touchscreen overlays for existing LCD or plasmas. 
GYPSUM BOARD has a water-resistant core and moisture- and mold-resistant paper facing. ProRoc with M2Tech achieves a score of 10 for mold resistance per ASTM D 3273, according to the company. The face and back paper contain both pre- and post-consumer waste, with a recycled content of nearly 100 percent. 
WIRELESS ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM includes wireless thermostat controllers, sensors, input/output modules, and a Modbus radio module that allows existing Modbus RTU devices to be wirelessly enabled. WaveLink uses a Web-enabled gateway for systems configuration, monitoring, and maintenance using only a Web browser. The gateway can be accessed by automation systems through Modbus TCP or Modbus RTU. 
HIGH-EFFICIENCY URINAL uses 1 pint (0.125 gpf/0.5 Lpf) of water. The sensor-operated battery-powered SMOOTH half-stall, wall-mount urinal features an integral trap and includes call hangers, inlet spud, outlet flange and rubber gasket. The flushometer body is available in chrome, satin chrome, polished brass, gold plate and brushed nickel finishes. 
ENERGY RECOVERY HVAC offers a water source condenser/heat pump option. The line of 100 percent outside air TRICOIL and desiccant energy recovery ventilation system options includes an enthalpy wheel, cooling/heating coils, filters, louvers/dampers, variable frequency drives and modular design. Sizes range from 1,500 to 22,000 cfm, or custom sizes up to 45,000 cfm. 
Energy Conservation Plan Funds Infrastructure Renewal
Convincing trustees to approve the facilities upgrades was going to be a complicated task, given the investment required. After identifying several areas for improvement, Mike Gardner, operations manager at Butler, and Honeywell energy managers developed a proposal for an energy conservation and facilities renewal program. The energy savings from the $11 million, 10-year program would help fund infrastructure upgrades and implement a new energy management system. Plus, the savings were guaranteed through a performance contract with the company. The extensive upgrades included replacing the university’s pneumatic building controls with an energy management system that electronically relayed information back to a main command center, centralizing the university’s chilled water plant, a campus-wide lighting retrofit, several HVAC improvements in the school library and the installation of capacitors to correct the power factor of the university’s electrical substation. “Since completion of the upgrades in 1997, the university has saved more than $200,000 annually in energy and maintenance costs,” Gardner says. The success made it easier to convince the board to use the process again in 2003 when the heating plant needed a significant overhaul. At the time, Butler had two years left on its original performance contract. So the university decided to roll its last two years of payments into a new $4.3-million, eight-year agreement. Much of the university’s heating plant was decentralized and 18 energy efficient modular hot water boilers installed across campus. “Since installing the high-efficiency boilers, we’ve cut our fall and spring natural gas consumption by 35 percent,” Gardner says. “Over the course of the eight-year contract, that’s more than 3.1 million therms saved or $2.5 million in utility costs.” Butler also has initiated a MiniRetrofit Service contract. The agreement allows the university to tackle small-yet-critical projects that arise between broad energy management programs. Through this contract, several older boilers have been optimized, ensuring Butler can get the most use out of its existing equipment. |
Submeters Reveal Energy Savings Opportunities On CampusAs Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo., grew over the last 98 years, it increasingly strained its infrastructure. On the 55-acre site, a single 1960s-era 3,000-Amp service supplies nine of the 20 buildings on campus through a single utility meter. The university’s energy management team realized they had to find a way to isolate and monitor the electrical consumption and demand of each building in order to use energy more efficiently. To collect the needed electrical data, a network of E-Mon D-Mon Class 3000 submeters was The submeters provide a Modbus communications interface that connects the meters with the school’s existing BACnet infrastructure. A fiber optic backbone ties each building into the centralized building automation system, allowing energy usage, HVAC controls and other parameters to be monitored from any local or remote location via the Internet. Within their first year of operation, the submeters helped isolate several trouble spots. The energy profiling capability of the submeters revealed a 9 to 10 percent voltage drop at the building farthest from the transformer, indicating the need for a utility upgrade. In another building, the typical $1.25 to $1.50 per square foot baseline cost turned out to be almost $2.70, revealing the higher cost of running the main computer room and self-contained cooling systems. Peak demand in a third building showed an over-worked HVAC unit whose compressors were all firing at once, causing a major spike that was identified by the building’s electric submeter. |
Green roof helps State building earn LEED Gold Certification
The Pennsylvania DEP selected a GreenGrid modular green roof system. Six different sedum species are arranged randomly on the roof, which has a 1.5 percent slope, to achieve a patchwork pattern. These were allowed to grow out for approximately one year prior to installation to provide full coverage at time of placement. |
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An audit in 1995 of Butler University’s infrastructure revealed significant challenges. Butler occupies more than 20 buildings on a 290-acre campus. At the time of the audit, many pieces of the school’s infrastructure — such as boilers, steam traps and converters — had not been upgraded since the 1960s. In some cases, the equipment was close to the end of its useful life.
installed. This allowed the energy management team to measure the consumption of each building, perform a cost-per-square-foot analysis of each, then take the highest energy-use buildings and identify the problems.
When the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) built its offices in Norristown, Pa., the agency wanted to play a leadership role. In order to achieve a Gold certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, many factors such as site selection, construction materials and facility operations were taken into consideration. To maximize the contribution of the 1,400-square-foot roof, a vegetative roof was installed.