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efficiency
Codes and standards dictate the design of HVAC systems; however, there are ways
to improve the design of non-residential buildings to achieve maximum energy
efficiency.
Gayle Davis, PE, CGD, CxA, Stanley Consultants, Austin, Texas
08/15/2016
Designers in the HVAC industry must be familiar with codes and standards.
Standards define the industry's agreed-upon minimum technical requirements,
procedures, guidelines, and instructions for engineers, designers, or
manufacturers. They also establish the industry's minimum standard of care.
Standards in the United States are mostly voluntary consensus standards,
which means they are regularly maintained and are developed through a
consensus process. Examples of industry organizations that develop
voluntary consensus standards are ASHRAE,Sheet Metal and Air
Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA),NFPA, and IEEE.
These standards may or may not be written in enforceable language.
IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1 address building systems such as building
envelope, lighting (exterior and interior), minimum HVAC equipment
efficiency, HVAC systems, service water heating, and system controls. The
standards also set the minimum energy efficiency and system design
requirements. Both references have adopted code language to increase state
adoption and improve enforceability.
The U.S. does not have a national energy code or standard, even though the
federal government supports the development of energy codes and
standards. Because there is no national energy code, energy codes and
standards are adopted at the state and local jurisdiction levels. The path that
energy codes and standards take for adoption varies by locality. In general,
energy code adoption is initiated when the DOE issues a positive
determination based on the most recent version of ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
The publication of a positive review sets in motion statuary requirements
directing states and local authorities to certify they reviewed their building
codes. All necessary updates are completed to meet or exceed the current
edition of ASHRAE Standard 90.1. Many states also have their own code-
update cycles that occur independently of ASHRAE, DOE, and IECC updates.
Figure 2 shows the status of state energy code adoption as of April 2016. The
codes, standards, and editions in force vary. Many states have adopted the
IECC commercial code, which allows for an alternate compliance path through
ASHRAE Standard 90.1. In jurisdictions that allow either compliance path, the
designer must choose either IECC or ASHRAE Standard 90.1 as the design
energy code and must complete the entire design using the chosen code.
Designers are encouraged to consult with their local permitting agency and
the AHJ to determine energy code requirements for states without an energy
code.
The first step in designing any efficient, effective HVAC system is to decide on
energy goals early in the design process. Whether the project is new
construction or a renovation, a thorough understanding of the owner's project
requirements and budgetary constraints is critical. This is often accomplished
through a "basis of design" document that clearly communicates the design
team's understanding of the owner's requirements, project goals for energy
efficiency, and goals to achieve or exceed the minimum code requirements
per the owner's directives. These initial decisions will direct the selection of
HVAC systems and equipment. A building that meets minimum energy code
requirements will have a different HVAC system strategy and components
than a building that achieves 30% energy savings beyond code minimum. In
addition, highly efficient designs using high-performance HVAC systems most
often require added effort and collaboration from all design-team members as
compared with conventional designs.
Variable air volume (VAV) fan systems with variable speed drive and
static pressure reset controls
Variable capacity pump systems with variable speed pump systems with
pressure-reset controls
Variable capacity chiller systems with variable speed compressors
Variable capacity cooling tower systems with variable speed fans and
reset controls
Temperature-reset controls:
o Air-side supply-air-temperature reset
o Water-side systems for chilled-water-temperature reset and
condenser-water-temperature reset.
An example of a
supply-air-temperature reset schedule is shown in Figure 3. Air-side systems
with cooling-only zones (electrical rooms, telecommunications closets, etc.)
require consideration of these critical zones, as they may prevent the air
handling unit (AHU) system from resetting the supply-air temperature (SAT). If
critical zones are served by the AHU system, the system should be capable of
meeting the zone loads at the reset SAT. Often, critical zones are served by
dedicated systems separate from the central AHU systems. The above
considerations would also apply to chilled-water-reset strategies.
Throughout the years, many different HVAC systems and control strategies
have been created to standardize control sequences and aid in the design
process. ASHRAE developed a set of control sequences for commonly used
HVAC systems. These sequences provide a good starting point for the
designer who can expand the sequences to suit the particular HVAC system
requirements, state codes and standards, and owner's requirements.
Maximizing HVAC cooling system designs for comfort cooling and energy
savings requires a good understanding of owner and local code-related
requirements; defined energy goals; complete interdisciplinary coordination;
efficient and right-sized equipment selection; and multiple design iterations.
With these steps and understandings, designers are better prepared to tackle
many of the system design challenges encountered in comfort cooling.
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