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HVAC Installation and O&M:
Improving Energy Efficiency in Rooftop Air Conditioning
Marc HoffmanExecutive Director
Presentation to Energy Management WorkshopMonday, February 10, 2003
Session ObjectivesABOUT CEEOverview of HVAC research:
• CEE – Guidelines for Energy-Efficient Commercial Unitary HVAC Systems (2001)
• CA – Program Research on Integrated Design of Small Commercial HVAC Systems (underway)
• NW – Small Commercial Rooftop Packaged Unit Pilot Project: Enhanced O&M Service Development (underway)
CEE – Who We Are• A nonprofit started in 1991
• Develops national initiatives to promote the manufacture and purchase of energy-efficient products and services
• Members include: utilities, statewide and regional energy-efficiency administrators, environmental groups, research organizations and state energy offices
• U.S. DOE and EPA provide support and participation
CEE – How We Work• Changing the marketplace
for Energy Efficiency (work with manufacturers, retailers, distributors, etc.)
• Aligning regional programs for national impact
• Providing a forum for MT
HECAC High-Efficiency Commercial
Air Conditioner Initiative• Initiative in place since 1994• Promotes specifications for commercial air
conditioners and heat pumps• Tier 1 (eliminated in January 2003, same as
ASHRAE 90.1-1999)• Tier 2 about 12% more efficient than Tier 1• Currently 27 organizations are promoting
CEE’s Tier 2 in their programs
Promoting High-Efficiency Equipment is Only Part of the Answer• HVAC System Efficiency can be increased
significantly through proper installation, sizing and maintenance
• Members chose to undertake research to identify opportunities to ensure system efficiency
Interest in sustaining the energy savings gained from promoting high-efficiency equipment installations
PROJECT SPONSORS• New York State Energy Research &
Development Authority (NYSERDA)
• Pacific Gas & Electric
• National Grid USA
• NSTAR
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District
PROJECT PARAMETERS• Compilation of “Best Practices” for the
sizing, selection, installation and commissioning of:
Unitary air-source AC and HPUp to 30 tonsFor new commercial installations and retrofit projects
• Gather existing information/data— secondary research
• Serve as guide to EE program managers and others in the HVAC field
RESEARCH RESULTSA first-of-its-kind compilation of best practices entitled “Guidelines for Energy- Efficient Commercial Unitary HVAC Systems”
White Paper for the Guidelines Provides background on the guideline development
Provides underpinning for the resulting content, scope and depth of the Guidelines
PROCESS• CEE served as the contract manager in
this project• Christina Manansala of the Davis Energy
Group was the principal author• Directed by project Subcommittee• Reviewed by Group of Industry Advisors• Approved by CEE Board in the Spring of
2001 as a component of the HECAC Initiative
CHALLENGES
• Limited primary commercial HVAC research to draw upon (in 2000)
• Large variation of installation for the commercial market (residential installations are more homogenous)
SPECIFIC AREAS COVERED
AC & HP Load calculation Equipment selection Installation Economizers Ventilation
Air Distribution Zoning Duct systems Duct installation
Controls
HVAC commissioning New and existing
systems
KEY FINDINGSElements Potential Energy Savings*Load Calculation (proper sizing)
Up to 50% energy savings
Unit Selection 10-20% over Fed Min.& 40% comp with older units
Ductwork Design VariesSystem Installation Up to 20% supply air leakage can result
in 60-70%increase in fan powerControls Economizers may save 15-80% of
cooling energyCommissioning Up to 20% energy savings
O & M 11-42% energy savings
* Savings are not additive
Benefits of Energy-Efficient Installation Practices• Energy Cost Savings• Construction Cost Savings• Improved Comfort• Reduced Maintenance & Business
Interruption• Decreased Environmental Impact
Research Currently Underway
• California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program Research on Integrated Design of Small Commercial HVAC Systems
• Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s Small Commercial Rooftop Packaged Unit Pilot Project – Enhanced O&M Service Development
PIER Program Research on Integrated Design of Small
Commercial HVAC SystemsCoordinated by the New Buildings Institute (NBI)
Field research by Pete Jacobs of AEC (subcontractor to NBI)
PIER’s Research Objectives
• Identify problems affecting efficiency and performance of small commercial HVAC(under 20 tons)
• Recommend improving efficiency through:
Integrated designOperations and maintenance
Premise of the ResearchOpportunities to save energy can be achieved when designers:• Understand the implications of good
integration
• Have proper guidelines for total integration of the system for minimum energy consumption
• Have financial and market incentives to implement total integration
PRELIMINARY RESULTS(from HVAC field inspections of 80 buildings)
70% of the time economizers have a problem 45% of the time fans run during unoccupied
period 28% of the time cycling fans have a problem
13% of the time low air flow is a problem 8% of the time there is no outdoor air 7% of the time there is simultaneous heating and
cooling In-situ unit efficiency is impacted by excessive
fan power
RECOMMENDATIONS• Utilizing field results, recommendations
regarding design and O&M are being developed to decrease the incidence of these problems
• CEE will be exploring the potential for an initiative promoting these recommendations
To Stay Informed
• Results and recommendations will be available at www.newbuildings.org
• You can contact Rachael Shwom of CEE for an update of progress in this area
NW Alliance’s Small Commercial Rooftop
Packaged Unit Pilot Project Enhanced O&M Service Development
Conducted by Portland Energy Conservation Inc. (PECI)
PILOT GOAL
Create a market for energy-efficiency tune-up services for rooftop units (RTU) in small commercial buildings to capture energy savings
Review of Previous Research and Field Test on over 60 Existing RTU
Identified that the most prevalent problems that waste energy were:
Economizer operation problems
Dirty condensor and evaporator coils
Incorrect refrigerant charge
Low airflow across evaporator
Duct leakage
Poorly programmed thermostats
These Problems are Being Addressed through a Pilot
AirCare Plus
Is a comprehensive maintenance service recently developed to optimize the performance of existing rooftop-packaged units
Will be offered to select service contractors in 10 markets throughout the NW
AirCare Plus Components• Evaluates the refrigerant charge, Airflow
and Economizer operation using state-of- the-art technology and industry knowledge
• Refrigerant charge is evaluated using diagnostic software
• Airflow is measured using flow meter
• Economizer is inspected & optimized using a protocol specific to the type of equipment
AirCare Plus Program Design Recommendations• Refrigerant charge: CheckMe!
(diagnostic tool)• Airflow: True Flow flow meter• Economizer Protocol: field study and
develop• Coil Cleaning: Recommend• Programmable thermostats: Incorporate
into protocol
Program Features• Technical & sales training• Ongoing technical and sales support• Quality control• Comprehensive marketing plan• Financial incentive for customers or
contractor in some areas• Financial assistance for necessary
equipment purchases
To Stay Informed
• Summary of field data and lessons learned will be available in late spring at www.peci.org
• Contact Rachael Shwom of CEE
• If the new service offering is determined viable, a full program launch will take place in 2004
Questions?
