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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

You Can Get a Copy

Go to www.CEE1.org

or contact

Rachael Shwomrshwom@cee1.org

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?