We have always been interested in energy conservation, which is one of the things that got us started with Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing in the first place over 35 years ago. Though out the years we were naturally led to maximizing an owner's investment through quality products and installation for the entire building "envelope," which then started to include Polyurethane Foam Air Barrier and Fluid Applied Air Barrier services.
For building owners and our clients it all boils down to this: decreasing your energy consumption and increase profits while protecting the health of the occupants.
As there are many ways for to accomplish this, we found an article interesting in the Commercial Construction & Renovation July/August 2012 issue which talked about ways to reduce building HVAC costs with site-recovered energy by using Energy Recovery Wheel Technology, or Enthalpy Wheels.
According to the article, enthalpy wheels "transfer energy by rotating between outdoor air and exhaust air streams to transfer heat and moisture from one airstream to another." It retrieves the wasted energy in building exhaust air and recycles it and allows the building to increase outdoor air levels without making your HVAC unit work harder.
It also helps enable building owners to participate in energy programs. Energy recovery wheels are available from most HVAC OEMs and distributors.
Showing posts with label HVAC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HVAC. Show all posts
Give Your HVAC Unit a Break
Friday
How much money do you spend a year on your heating a cooling for your building? Commercial energy consumption has always been high but heating and cooling can be a bill you dread receiving. Much of the costs associated with these inflated numbers are due to air leaks in your building.
Many companies now are looking into air barrier systems for their building, which is also considered a "building envelope." The building's six sides are wrapped in layers comprised by a number of different materials which helps prevent air leakage and the diffusion of air caused by wind and other sources. It assists in keeping the warm air in during the colder months and the cool air in during the warmer months. It can also help with the prevention of mold and other pollutants that can be potentially harmful to people within the structure.
The Department of Energy says that air leakage can increase energy costs by up to 40% in colder climates and 15% in cooling costs. A good air barrier system can reduce these costs. In fact, since mechanical engineers design the HVAC units in buildings around air leakage, many times they are able to use smaller units when a building has a good air barrier system in place.
So give your HVAC unit a break and look into air barrier systems for your next building design or renovation. It will help your pocketbook, as well.
Many companies now are looking into air barrier systems for their building, which is also considered a "building envelope." The building's six sides are wrapped in layers comprised by a number of different materials which helps prevent air leakage and the diffusion of air caused by wind and other sources. It assists in keeping the warm air in during the colder months and the cool air in during the warmer months. It can also help with the prevention of mold and other pollutants that can be potentially harmful to people within the structure.
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| Application of the Walltite foam air barrier system at the University of Missouri School, Columbia, Missouri. |
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| Air barrier system envelope protects entire building. |
The Department of Energy says that air leakage can increase energy costs by up to 40% in colder climates and 15% in cooling costs. A good air barrier system can reduce these costs. In fact, since mechanical engineers design the HVAC units in buildings around air leakage, many times they are able to use smaller units when a building has a good air barrier system in place.
So give your HVAC unit a break and look into air barrier systems for your next building design or renovation. It will help your pocketbook, as well.
Fluid Applied Air Barrier Systems
Wednesday
The primary purpose of an air barrier system is to stop the air from leaking into and out of the building enclosure. Occupants of the building are more comfortable, are provided draft free space and are protected from pollutants entering the building.
Moisture laden air is also barred from entering the building which assists in reducing the corrosion of metals and mold growth.
Air barriers, especially when used to separate two different environments within a building, can protect one occupant from another occupant's pollutants (such as second hand cigarette smoke), odors (such as cooking odors) and noise (sound delivered by air transport).
Contractors applying air barrier systems should be members of the Air Barrier Association of America which provides ABAA certification and continuing education. For more information, visit the ABAA website or visit us online.
Equipment works more efficiently, like HVAC units, and sizing mechanical systems are easier because building owners don't have to compensate for drafts.When conditioned air leaks out of a building and unconditioned air leaks into a building we must then use additional energy to then condition this air. Air leakage can result in an increased use in energy costs of up to 30-40% in heating climates and 10-15% in cooling costs. (Source Investigation of the Impact of Commercial Building Envelope Air Tightness on HVAC Energy Use).
Moisture laden air is also barred from entering the building which assists in reducing the corrosion of metals and mold growth.
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| Washington Roofing & Insulation prepares a Missouri high school addition with BASF Walltite |
Air barriers, especially when used to separate two different environments within a building, can protect one occupant from another occupant's pollutants (such as second hand cigarette smoke), odors (such as cooking odors) and noise (sound delivered by air transport).
Contractors applying air barrier systems should be members of the Air Barrier Association of America which provides ABAA certification and continuing education. For more information, visit the ABAA website or visit us online.
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