Sunday, January 24, 2016: 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Cutting-Edge Technologies
Chair:
Mina Agarabi, P.E., Agarabi Engineering PLLC
Technical Committee: 07.03 Operation and Maintenance Management
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.
2.00 Advanced Technologies Alone Are Insufficient to Deliver Energy Savings
 |
Tom Sahagian, Retired |
High-efficiency equipment does not automatically mean high performance. A brand-new multifamily building in New York City had all the bells and whistles: condensing boilers, multi-sensor BMS, and photovoltaics, among others. Unfortunately, the building was not able to reap any of the benefits. This presentation will answer the following questions: 1. Why is advanced technology alone insufficient to deliver energy? 2. Is it possible to obtain acceptable energy savings with less-advanced technology? 3. When does it make the most sense to use advanced technology? 4. How can I increase the probability of obtaining promised performance out of advanced technology?
3.00 Case Study: Lessons Learned after Advanced Technology Project Implementation
 |
Mina Agarabi, P.E., Agarabi Engineering PLLC |
A mixed-use NYC high-rise was built in 2000 with advanced technology. An energy audit revealed that the BMS had unsupported controllers, an inadequate graphics card, sensors out of calibration and settings errors. Benchmarking confirmed that O&M was inadequate and equipment was not operating as designed. Additionally, staff were not adequately trained in the use of the equipment or the BMS. As a result, the building's energy performance was worse than that of many 100-year-old steam-heated buildings. This presentation will cover the lessons learned from this case study. Moving forward, what options are the most cost-effective way to achieve the intended performance of this building?
1.00 Operating Practices to Maximize the Energy Savings Potential of VFDs
 |
Tristan Schwartzman, Goldman Copeland Associates |
Over the last twenty years, variable frequency drives have become a widely accepted technology, consistently installed in new projects and retrofitted into many old buildings. However, the energy savings potential of this technology is greatly limited by lack of training on their capabilities at the building level. Especially where VFDs have been retrofitted onto old buildings, we often find them being used only for softstart or not at all. This presentation provides examples of a number of cases in which the potential of VFDs has not been maximized, and recommends adjustments to installation, training and operational practices that could address these issues.