Traditional methods for residential heat pump sizing allow for sufficient unit performance and comfortable indoor conditions. Variable capacity heat pumps have the ability to provide a range of sensible cooling, latent cooling and heating output, and therefore have flexibility in how they are sized for a specific application. Unconventional sizing of a variable capacity heat pump may offer energy savings and power demand reduction, while maintaining indoor comfort. This seminar examines two unique perspectives of unconventional heat pump sizing with variable capacity technology.

Closed-loop geothermal heat pump (GHP) systems offer a variety of possibilities that can be optimized to the needs of the building type and owner’s resources. This session offers recommendations for identifying characteristics and design approaches important to good matches of buildings and ground loops. The advantages and disadvantages of centralized GHP systems utilizing chiller(s) are examined and compared to distributed geothermal-source water-to-air heat pump systems.

This seminar proposes to compare design and benefits of pressure independent control valves versus standard control valves. It covers system background, valve design evolution as a result of system requirements and ultimately the benefits provided by the control valves. The presentation ethos/pathos/logos aims to paint a detailed and complete picture of the possibilities of solutions at the disposal of design engineers, contractors and facility technicians.

Codes and standards establish minimum levels of compliance. Medical facilities have minimum levels understandably higher than many other fields. However, as the world of controls technologies and sequences of operation have advanced, medical construction codes and standards have not kept pace. In many cases, this limits the ability of owners and operators to use newer technologies and controls capabilities to save energy while keeping medical facility occupants safe and comfortable. Speakers present case studies where some of these challenges have been successfully overcome, as well as approaches that can prove new technologies for inclusion in medical codes and standards.

It is common knowledge in the industry that buildings and systems have become both more complicated and more complex. This complexity often manifests itself in the interplay and display between various systems. Concomitant with this complexity has been the growth in the art and practice of commissioning. This program looks at commissioning from an international perspective. Experienced practitioners from far and not so far afield tell us how they get it done.

Historically, combined heat and power (CHP) design guides have focused on design and development features of major system components. Although these elements are critical to develop high-performing and reliable components, they are not of particular interest to an engineering practitioner seeking to understand and apply a CHP system to a specific application. This new ASHRAE design guide, developed by ASHRAE research (RP-1592), provides application and operational information about prime movers, heat recovery devices and thermally activated technologies; technical and economic guidance regarding CHP systems design, site screening and assessment guidance and tools; and installation, operation and maintenance advice.

Everyone is talking about improving energy consumption. However, if you can't measure it, you can't improve it. In a college setting where an entire campus may be fed from a single electrical or natural gas meter, individual building submetering is essential to identifying big ticket energy waste. This session highlights two different approaches to submetering: one campus which utilized their building automation system and the other which built a network of web-enabled sub meters tied into an energy dashboard. See how each campus is making their metering investment pay back through targeted benchmarking and monitoring-based commissioning.

BIM is promoted and marketed by all factions of the design and construction industry as being THE critical component to successful project delivery with promises of streamlined cost and schedule metrics and efficiencies galore. More projects and owners require BIM now than ever before. This session brings together three industry experts to provide ASHRAE members with practical guidance on strategies to successfully implement BIM-based workflow for MEP design and building energy modeling.

This session addresses the challenges of high ambient countries in finding alternatives for the widely used HCFC-22 in residential air-conditioning applications. A project was launched to test locally built prototypes running with different low-GWP alternatives. The session discusses the outcome of these tests and a comparison of the results, which by no means endorse any of the tested refrigerants, but shed light on possibly workable refrigerant alternatives for high ambient operation. Other aspects of the project dealing with economics, technology transfer and the challenges of implementation are introduced, including recommendations of further required investigation.

This seminar covers international and domestic codes, standards and guidelines for the management of Legionella in building water systems. The Health Safety Executive of the UK and Public Works and Government Services Canada have issued regulations for managing Legionella; in June 2015 ASHRAE published a standard for risk management of Legionella at the same time the American Industrial Hygiene Association released a guidance document for the recognition, evaluation and control of Legionella.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a powerful modeling tool, widely applied in HVAC design. However, it could be computationally expensive and complex, and new techniques and models are needed for application in standard design practice. The building modeling community has been developing methods that are fast and accurate enough to be used in early stage of the design or even in real time control systems. This seminar presents application of coarse grid CFD, fast fluid dynamics (FFD) and reduced order modeling (ROM) on real problems, such as air distribution in buildings and data centers. It considers speed improvement and accuracy.

Energy efficiency measures (EEMs) have been shown to reduce energy costs significantly, but the impact of operations and maintenance (O&M) on EEM energy savings is not well understood. An investment in advanced technology that ignores O&M and staff training can end up as a costly mistake and cause new problems. This seminar's purpose is to present O&M methods for optimal performance of advanced technologies in HVAC&R. Case studies are presented of successful and unsuccessful O&M for efficient HVAC&R.

ASHRAE has entered a partnership with NAHB and ICC to revise the 2012 version of ICC 700. The revised version of the standard includes some significant changes intended to increase its adoption and use. This seminar discusses key changes to the new version of the standard. ASHRAE involvement and feedback on the partnership with NAHB and ICC is also provided. Application of the standard from a user's perspective is discussed.

First time at an ASHRAE Conference? Did you know there is an ASHRAE meeting, too? Been coming for years, but still confused? What is a TC? What is a Standing Committee? Who can attend what? What is the AHR Expo? And why is all this happening at once? This crash course provides you with an introduction to the ASHRAE Conference activities and allows you to have your questions answered.

Proper acoustics for multifamily residential projects are important to address and typically required for compliance with building codes. Achieving a suitable acoustic environment requires an integrated approach and encompasses various aspects of the design and construction process. This seminar covers the key focus areas, such as sound isolation from exterior to interior and between units, noise control for mechanical and plumbing systems, and includes case studies with lessons learned and the latest industry trends.

The transition to lower global warming potential refrigerants such as HFOs, carbon dioxide and propane creates a number of design and operational challenges to compressor and system builders. Lubrication is one of the fundamental issues that must be addressed for any refrigerant change. This seminar presents examples of the lubrication challenges faced by the industry from three different perspectives; the compressor/system builder, the refrigerant manufacturer and the lubricant manufacturer. Examples are presented of strategies used to ensure that the transition to low GWP refrigerants results in refrigeration systems with the best possible properties of energy efficiency and long term reliability.

By agreement with ICC, ASHRAE Standard 189.1 provides the technical content of the next version of the International Green Construction Code. IgCC and Standard 189.1 have many similar provisions but also have major differences in some of the compliance requirements and calculation methodologies. This seminar provides an overview of the agreement between ICC and ASHRAE and its implications for future revisions to Standard 189.1. Key differences in the energy performance requirements between IgCC and Standard 189.1 are reviewed, along with options for updates to energy performance provisions within Standard 189.1.

Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar continue to increase their share of the national electrical power supply. The variable nature of energy production from renewables has made electrical grid stability a critical issue, with energy storage identified as a key part of the solution. Find out how mature and reliable thermal energy storage technologies can facilitate the fast-evolving integration of renewables into our energy supply, to the benefit of both building owners and power suppliers.

This seminar presents three aspects of implementing a water management plan in health-care operations, from the facility manager and infection preventionist's point of view. In healthcare organizations the water management team is a multidisciplinary group whose differing roles and responsibilities are critical to successful implementation of a plan. A roundtable discussion of the challenges and successes of implementing a plan that follows ASHRAE Standard 188P follows a brief introduction of each area of expertise.

The seminar's goal is to bring to ASHRAE members the technical highlights of the 24th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration held August 16-22, 2015 in Yokohama, Japan. The seminar starts with an overview of the Congress program. This is followed by three keynotes from the Congress dealing with latest issues/developments related to low-GWP refrigerants, microchannel heat exchangers and heat pumps in smart energy systems.

Demand response (DR) is defined as changes in electric usage from their normal patterns for the benefit of electrical grid in lieu of financial incentives by utility companies. Traditional DR mostly turns off the HVAC system completely or changes thermostats settings. Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems with their superior controls on compressors, fans and expansion valves can provide the kW reduction with minimal impact on customer comfort. This seminar provides an overview of DR capabilities of VRF systems and the benefits of providing DR with such systems.

Recent innovations in heat and mass transfer equipment result in continued improvement in the tradeoff between pumping power and heat transfer augmentation. However, such designs require advanced manufacturing techniques, such as additive manufacturing. The major limiting factors of the additive manufacturing are the low thermal conductivity of the metal used, feature size resolution of 150 micron or more, and build time. In this seminar, internationally renowned experts present their activities through CFD modeling, shape optimization, additive manufacturing of surfaces with disruptively high airside heat transfer coefficients with low pumping power penalties, and additively manufactured heat pipes.

Determining a building's energy performance for benchmarking, code compliance and investment decisions is extremely complicated. The choice of metric, methodology and values all matter if the primary intent of the initiative is to be achieved equitably in a competitive marketplace. This seminar compares and contrasts different metrics and approaches used by ASHRAE and other organizations, including metrics based on end use loads, site energy, energy cost, primary energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Benefits and challenges with each metric are explored, and options for reconciling differences among the metrics are examined.

Science: New ASHRAE Load Calculations User’s Manual and the current overview of load calculations. Application: Zoning and load calculation basics—what do you do early in design when you don’t have all the answers? Art: Case studies, horror stories, what to watch for and odd-ball cases.

The energy efficiency levels of new homes built in the U.S. have improved significantly in the past decade with developments in building science and improved construction practices according to the United States Department of Energy (DOE). This seminar provides updated design guidance for energy-efficient homes from DOE's Building America program to achieve zero energy ready performance. It also explores issues with depressurization and humidity loads with tight, efficient envelopes, and the potential impact on gas appliances along with ventilation strategies for a healthy indoor environment.

The purpose of this session is to inform practitioners about the latest developments in desiccant technologies.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were introduced as replacements for ozone-depleting substances. The use of HFCs and their replacements are critical to ASHRAE members because they are used as refrigerants in air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. A global effort is underway to manage HFCs under the Montreal Protocol, but several regional programs have emerged that will affect the way consumers and firms select, purchase, use and service HFCs. This seminar provides an introduction to new HFC requirements in the U.S., Canada and Japan occurring in 2016. The framework and implementation of each program and its impacts to ASHRAE members are discussed.

In recent years, the fastest-growing fuel source for residential heating has been biomass, especially wood systems. However, many system designers and specifiers are unfamiliar with biomass heating technologies and are often unable to provide guidance for someone pursuing biomass hydronic heating. This workshop is intended to introduce young engineers to specific challenges and design considerations in the use of biomass as heat source for hydronic systems. The first part of the workshop provides an overview of common biomass feedstocks. The second part discusses system design issues such as thermal storage, boiler sizing and fuel storage.

This session on absorption systems explains the working principle and an overview of the cycle, classification and types of absorption chillers and heat pumps. It also provides an overview of what makes modern absorbers different from those of the past. A case study is added where an absorption chiller is coupled with a CHP plant at a large retail store to increase energy efficiency and resilience.

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) and ground heat exchanger language is finally being included into national and international codes and standards. This is quite a coup for the GSHP industry. Eventually, these standards find their way into code formulated by independent code authorities. These codes are adopted by the regulatory authorities. We, as engineers, must design to both the standards and the code. What happens if standards and code conflict? What is the general impact of this conflict? How do we change or modify the code? Standard to disaster or standard to a well-designed system?

Operable windows provide occupants with the ability to control local environments and satisfy human expectation to access outdoor environments. Operation behaviors or strategies for operable windows have substantial impacts on the indoor environment and building energy consumption. Facility managers complain about operable windows left open in buildings with conventional HVAC systems. However, optimum control strategies of window operation reduce energy consumption for buildings via mixed-mode ventilation. This seminar presents recent research efforts on operation strategies for various types of building ventilation systems and thorough case studies on operable windows for LEED Platinum high performance buildings in Midwestern United States.

OPEN SESSION: no badge required; no PDHs awarded; presented during the TC's meeting. The presenters give a report the final results from RP-1682. From 10:00 – 10:30, Dr. Idem presents “Study to Identify CFD Models for Use in Determining HVAC Duct Fitting Loss Coefficients: Experimental Results.” From 10:30 – 11:00, Dr. Sleiti presents “Study to Identify CFD Models for Use in Determining HVAC Duct Fitting Loss Coefficients: CFD Model Results."

The UK and China both have a tremendous amount of existing school buildings stock and demands for new school buildings. While these buildings being upgraded and built, unique challenges and opportunities are presented. Some of them are very applicable to the school building construction in North America.

With the availability of large amounts of building automation system data and the advent of automated building system commissioning tools, will the need for laborious human-based commissioning be replaced with automated commissioning? This seminar debates the advantages and disadvantages of both traditional component/building system commissioning and autonomous, model-based commissioning.

This session illustrates doing a better job serving the needs of most commercial buildings by utilizing “Low Flow/High Delta” water-based systems. Water has a high affinity for energy and should be used in a much wiser fashion. This presentation illustrates how to use water-based systems to transfer energy more efficiently, save operational expense, help control systems operate with greater ease and open other benefits to the overall building design and operation. Lessons learned are illustrated on the application of “Low Flow – High Delta” water-based systems.

This seminar discusses how the Internet of Things (IoT), which has been popularized by consumer devices such as fitness trackers, can be applied to HVAC maintenance and operations. Specifically, this seminar focuses on how light-weight sensors can easily be installed inside HVAC rooftop units to measure a wide variety of conditions and how these sensors can better aid in fault detection and diagnose equipment issues. This seminar also focuses on how much of the data from these sensors is being collected by remote, “cloud-based” databases so it can be further analyzed by mobile-based applications.

Electronically commutated motor (ECM) technologies have been used for years in wet running heating circulator pumps, with noted energy savings. These technologies are now available on pumps for general HVAC applications. This seminar describes the energy saving potential of ECM technology when used on general HVAC pumps and how it is applied in heating and cooling applications.

The efficient, reliable and environmentally sound operation of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems depends to a large extent on the presence of moisture, non-condensables, contaminants and refrigerant leaks. Good practices have been established over the years, yet time and cost-reduction pressures often lead to questioning some of these practices, such as minimizing component exposure to ambient before assembly and installation, brazing with inert gas, leak elimination and deep evacuation before charging with the proper amount of fresh refrigerant. This seminar illustrates the best practices with respect to the system chemistry and material compatibility in refrigeration systems.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) applications for providing building comfort cooling have now become a viable economic alternative. The speakers address various opinions and techniques to best apply solar PV for handling cooling loads.

If you have an old building, there are two possibilities to treat it. One is to demolish it and another is to retrofit it. This session introduces best practices in both cases. One is an environmentally friendly closed type demolishing method which was adapted for two skyscrapers in Tokyo. Another one is the retrofit project for large office complexes, whereby the water transport system for district heating and cooling was significantly improved. The third one is a medium-sized office building, in which an expanded BEMS, “Building Energy and Interactive Communication System (BEICS),” has been introduced.

With an ever-increasing demand for more stringent building environmental requirements, collaboration across the building ’team’ is critical to deliver effective buildings that meet standards and performance metrics. Successful projects do not come from 'silo' working practices and increasingly the engineer will be the lead for interdisciplinary design solutions that benefit from the integrating tools and technologies as well as timely, and properly informed, client communication and interaction. Illustrated with real-world examples, this seminar explores how such enlightened thinking and collaborative methods can deliver truly high performing buildings.

In the face of challenges regarding the stability and reliability of the electric grid, and growing interest for energy-reducing solutions, significant advances in residential appliances are being made to meet these needs. Much of the 38% of total electricity use and up to 50% of peak electricity loads contributed by residential buildings in the United States are associated with residential appliances. This seminar covers recent efforts to develop, test and implement advanced residential grid-connected solutions. This diverse set of solutions includes kitchen appliances, as well as HVAC systems, water heaters, batteries, electric vehicle charging stations and photovoltaic systems.

This session offers presentations based on a select group of recently published papers from the ASHRAE journal, "Science and Technology in the Built Environment," regarding new research in refrigerants with low global warming potential, response strategies for variable air volume (VAV) HVAC systems and fast fluid dynamics.

This session introduces three newly constructed buildings. One is the headquarters building of a major construction company, introducing various technologies such as ceiling radiation panel cooling, desiccant air-conditioning system and so on. The second is a university campus where CO2 emissions were reduced by 40 percent over other similar campuses. Major measures included large-scale thermal storage tanks and low-temperature low-volume air distribution units. The third one is owned by a life insurance company, featuring the installation of a large-scale central VOID (40 x 40 meters) and an air-type panel cooling system as well as others.

New and existing hospitals regularly have an EUI above 200 kBTU/sq. ft. due to continuous operation and code requirements. The first step toward net zero energy usage for hospitals is a reduction in the quantity of energy required to operate the facility. This program reviews a new facility that achieved an Energy Star rating of 97 and strategies for reducing energy usage in existing buildings, including a waterside economizer system that utilizes energy recovery.

This session offers presentations based on a select group of recently published papers from the ASHRAE journal, "Science and Technology in the Built Environment," regarding new research in UV-photocatalytic oxidation, and emissions from ozone reactions with human-worn clothing.

In every major American city, buildings account for the majority of energy use and air pollution – even more than the transportation or industrial sectors. If cities want to be more competitive and more resilient against unexpected energy and economic challenges, they must find ways to boost the efficiency of their building stock. This presentation will unveil the investments that Orlando is making to optimize our use of natural resources, an overview of City Energy Project initiatives, and share what the City of Orlando is working on to become a national leader in energy efficiency for new and existing buildings.

This seminar focuses on campus energy planning to centralize or decentralize. A short introductory presentation is provided naming the key issues on the topic, such as energy efficiency, maintenance and operational cost. Two case studies follow to present a central campus plan and a decentralized campus plan. The case studies include the key decisions made at the beginning stages which swayed the owner's decision.

Long ago in a land not too far away, TC 1.7 published the ASHRAE Survival Guide to Design-Build. Well, since that time, the design build (DB) delivery method has exploded. In Atlanta we listened to the members share their questions and sorrows with DB. In this seminar the speakers give the audience a first look at the new, improved and updated Design-Build Survival Guide.

Cooling technology requirements have moved beyond our basic needs for comfort and food safety, and their new development should meet extra requirements, such as compliance to new efficiency standards and legal codes on refrigerant. ASHRAE members have demonstrated a lot of development in these aspects for vapor compression technology, but what is happening to other alternatives? In this seminar, the new breakthroughs of three alternative cooling technologies—electrocaloric cooling, magnetocaloric refrigeration and elastocaloric cooling—are explored for their potentials to meet the new challenges. The presentations also cover their theories and experimental results, including potential commercial development.

Peak cooling demand in summer is associated with high solar radiation availability. This offers excellent opportunity to exploit solar energy with thermal technologies to cool the building efficiently. The presenters discuss the basics of solar thermal cooling and case studies of actual solar thermal-assisted air-conditioning installations, PV/thermal desiccant dehumidification systems and solar-assisted absorption cooling. The learning outcomes are to identify the main components of a solar thermal air-conditioning system and understand the process flow of a thermally driven chiller.

Large glazed façade results in high building heating and cooling loads, and thus significant financial and environmental burdens. Double skin façade (DSF) is one potential response to these problems. This seminar explores DSF dynamics, design, modeling, case studies, seasonal control strategies and energy efficiency. This session provides ASHRAE members with a fundamental understanding of DSF principles, challenges, key influential factors, evaluation criteria, and design and modeling approaches.

Over the past several years, use of electronic cigarettes has risen sharply. Debate continues regarding the efficacy of e-cigs as a smoking cessation technique, the health risks associated with “vaping” and the impact of secondary exposures indoors. This seminar provides an introduction to these electronic nicotine delivery systems, summarizes the related research conducted to date and offers insights on their relevance for ASHRAE members.

This seminar reviews the peak envelope cooling loads in the U.S. and Australia and relates the historical development of the methods to the methods that are being taught to today’s engineers and architects, including: the Total Equivalent Temperature Difference/Time Average method (TETD/TA), Cooling Load Temperature Difference/Cooling Load Factor/Solar Cooling Load (CLTD/CLF/SCL) and Radiant Time Series (RTS) methods. The presentations include a brief history, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

OPEN SESSION: no badge required; no PDHs awarded; presented during the TC's meeting. This seminar focuses on the latest available technologies and solutions in building automation systems. It addresses topics such as wireless technology, dashboards and continuous commissioning, plus a number of other innovative solutions for today's green, sustainable buildings. This seminar is highly recommended for Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA). Ron Bernstein, Member, RBCG, LLC, Encinitas, CA, presents “What's on the Horizon for Building Automation Controls: Whole Building Integration, Cyber Security and Iot Cloud Apps.” Chad Moore, P.E., Member, Engineering Resource Group, Jackson, MS, presents “Future Applications of Controls—Today.”

This session presents the advantage of integrating seismic compliance and sound control early in the design build process. Design of building systems for seismic, wind, sound and vibration control is generally delegated to some point later in the project. After all, it is not exactly essential to the design of the HVAC, controls, electrical or other systems. But what happens when this seemingly non-essential item is overlooked until late in the game? Now the cost to meet code compliance and/or owner demands becomes more than budgeted. The speakers discuss how to avoid these pitfalls.

OPEN SESSION: no badge required; no PDHs awarded; presented during the TC's meeting. The objective of this forum is to discuss international BIPV as matured cutting-edge technology aimed at determining relevant tasks and a working plan for preparation of an International BIPV standard that is globally acceptable concerning BIPV technologies, technical requirements of both buildings construction industries and of the electronics industries, developed as a scientifically and technically sound hub. All relevant data and measuring-technical specifications enable globally correct national “top-down” insertions. ASHRAE TC’s could have a crucial role in international BIPV standardization. Prof. Dr. Stephen Wittkopf, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts presents “Singapore and Swiss BIPV Case Studies and Visual Standards”. Dr. Şiir & Prof. Birol Kilkis, Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey & Baskent University present “Comparative Evaluation of Energy and Exergy Efficiencies of BIPV Systems. Dr. D. Charlie Curcija, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab presents “FLEXLAB Testbed Measurement of the Energy and Daylighting Performance of Glazing-Integrated BIPV Façade.” Dr. Francesco Fontini, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland presents “BIPV Technical Standards-Developments within the European Union/Switzerland.”

The design and construction marketplace has and will change. Clients want buildings that work. Commissioning is vital to prove that the building performs satisfactorily. Practice posits that commissioning takes place during the whole construction period and does not finish until at least one year after turnover to the owner. It is also argued that formal documentation and proof of performance is required as part of the turnover documentation. Alternatively this cannot happen in a organically growing building—things are always changing. Both sides of the argument must be understood to write good work scopes and contract documents.

The ASHRAE Cold Climate Building Design Guide is being rolled out in Orlando and the speakers provide an overview of the guide, as well as best building practices. The guide was developed by an international group of ASHRAE members.

Building owners will often retain a criterion engineer (CE) to establish the initial design criteria for a project. The CE will create documents that will be handed off to the design build contractor. After this, the role of the CE can vary. The direction of the project can be very dependent on the CE involvement after bridging documents are completed. This seminar discusses the issues that can arise as the owner and design build contractor interpret the bridging documents and how open or closed a line of communication is with the CE during all phases of a design build project.

Building energy consumption is a systematic procedure comprehensively influenced by not only engineering technologies, but also cultural concept, occupant behavior and social equity, etc. People spend more than 90% of time in buildings and as a result occupancy behavior becomes a leading factor that affects building energy consumption, particularly in residential buildings, but it is quite often oversimplified. Hence, having a better understanding, description and model of occupant behavior in residential buildings can improve the accuracy of building simulations and guide the design and operation of buildings. This forum is part of IEA EBC Annex 66 activities.

This seminar presents the different techniques that are available for calibrating simulation models. The seminar also presents the ongoing research that has been conducted to develop methods to test calibration techniques.

Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), such as phthalates, organophosphates and siloxanes, are contaminants of emerging concern. Such chemicals are widely used as plasticizers, insecticides and flame retardants in building materials and consumer products used in households, such as antiperspirants, skin- and hair-care products, cosmetics and detergents. SVOCs are becoming more of a concern due to their widespread usage and potential health effects, such as endocrine disruption and cancer. The health effects of a specific SVOC depend on its chemical nature and the degree of exposure, which can occur through a combination of ingestion, respiration and skin absorption.

Commercial refrigeration systems are searching for low-GWP refrigerant options due to the environmental responsibility and governmental regulations to limit the use of high-GWP refrigerants. Energy efficiency is very important in the refrigerant transition. The seminar covers commercial refrigeration systems using both natural refrigerant and low-GWP synthetics. How to increase R744 system efficiency when it operates at elevated ambient temperature? What is the R744 system with ejector technology? What is the Hybrid Geothermal R744 system? How to change the equipment design and control of low-GWP synthetics refrigeration to improve energy efficiency?

This seminar covers best practices in variable refrigerant flow (VRF) from the perspective of the manufacturer (OEM), facility manager and service contractor. Installation, operation and maintenance of VRF systems are discussed, including: skill requirements for VRF systems compared to conventional systems, installation best practices, manufacturer specific training, utilizing manufacturer service tools for ongoing maintenance and commissioning. A case study is presented from the owner's perspective at a hotel where VRF systems were recently installed to replace conventional systems.

Cybersecurity of HVAC controllers and networks has become a topic of increased concern, especially in light of some recent highly publicized security-related incidents (i.e. Stuxnet and similar) in the industrial controls sector. This seminar provides a range of information related to HVAC cybersecurity.

Reducing the environmental impact of data center cooling and the cost of operation is rightly high on the agenda. However, from a business perspective, it is important to recognize that actions to save energy may impact how much IT can be installed and whether it will be resilient when redundant cooling systems fail. Similarly, deployments of IT Equipment, and their in-cabinet configuration, may impact IT resilience, future install capacity and energy efficiency. This seminar addresses how IT and Facilities Management can work together to balance all 3 parameters and meet the business need.

Advanced methods for modeling the compression process with low-GWP refrigerants and the associated challenges are discussed and illustrated on existing and new compressor designs.

A consistent strategy for energy saving and sustainability should benefit from the all the opportunities opened by scientific and technological development. One of the biggest challenges in a building is to find the right equilibrium between the energy demand and the well-being provided to occupants. The evolution of information and communication technologies, together with the decrease of the cost of sensors and monitoring systems, opened new perspectives. Nowadays the decision-making process is much better informed and based on performance indicators, which are widely used in energy and environmental rating systems for buildings. The experiences of European leaders will be presented

Cutting-edge simulation techniques have the power to expose design ideas that can radically reduce energy demands starting from an early point in the design process. However, integrating new simulation methods into existing design practices requires both creativity and depth of knowledge on the part of designers. This seminar brings together three experts from the industry to present how they have integrated advanced simulation techniques to increase energy efficiency, reduce resource consumption and further the design goals of a number of projects.

Affordable and healthy high performance net zero energy (NZE) homes that combine energy efficiency improvements with onsite renewable energy production are possible throughout the country. However, it can be difficult to determine the appropriate strategy for achieving NZE performance while maintaining acceptable occupant comfort and indoor air quality. This seminar discusses technology issues and local conditions and practices and provides design guidance and cost-optimal performance packages that are applicable locally, regionally and nationally. Modeling tools, an experimental facility and real-world examples of affordable net zero energy home design packages are reviewed.

This seminar describes case studies of integrating demand control kitchen ventilation (DCKV) with energy management system (EMS). In addition, the session covers changes related to DCKV in California Title 24 and ASHRAE 90.1 and updates to UL 710 Exhaust Hoods for Commercial Cooking Equipment and ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 154 Ventilation for Commercial Cooking Operations.