Objectives

Crate & Barrel’s mission is People, Product, and Presentation. The Northbrook, IL-based company’s goal is to keep customers comfortable in the store so that they can maximize their exposure to the many houseware and furniture products that Crate & Barrel has to offer. Crate & Barrel stores typically use 12W/ft2 for lighting to create their target product environment, four times the average for a retail space. Consequently, the store’s thermal load from lighting is considerable — potentially impacting customers, employees and products — and store personnel must be able to control both lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in a precise, flexible manner to preserve customer comfort and suitable humidity levels for optimum product quality. Prior to building a new facility in Durham, NC, Crate & Barrel consulted with the controls specialists at Carrier’s Melrose Park-based distributor, Temperature Equipment Corporation (TEC), to discuss an integrated solution.

Solution

TEC designed a control system that integrated Crate & Barrel’s extensive lighting — more than a mile of track lighting incorporating some 1,000 fixtures — with its HVAC components, including 120 tons of cooling from rooftop units. BACnet® controls were installed on all the equipment in the store, from exhaust fans to lighting zones, plus sensors from BAPI®, Carrier and Veris for a total of 29 devices and 2,715 points. The i-Vu® Open control system by Carrier integrated all components and provided a user-friendly web interface which enabled fluid scheduling of both lighting and HVAC systems, providing store personnel with the capacity to maximize conditions for customers and products alike.

Synopsis

Crate & Barrel’s mission is People, Product, and Presentation. The Northbrook, IL-based company’s goal is to keep customers comfortable in the store to maximize their contact with the store’s many housewares and furniture products, which are displayed in a vignette style, simulating actual rooms in the home. This approach requires intensive lighting to maximize the products’ visual appeal. Consequently, Crate & Barrel stores traditionally use 12W/ft2 for lighting, four times the average for a retail space, and the stores’ thermal load from lighting is significant, potentially impacting customers, employees and products. To manage these conditions, store personnel must be able to control both lighting and HVAC systems in a precise, flexible manner to preserve customer comfort and suitable humidity levels for optimum product quality. Previous stores utilized separate control systems for lighting and HVAC, which proved cumbersome and expensive. Therefore, prior to building a new facility in Durham, NC, Crate & Barrel consulted with the controls specialists at Carrier’s Melrose Park-based distributor, Temperature Equipment Corporation (TEC), to discuss an integrated solution.

TEC designed a control system that integrated Crate & Barrel’s extensive lighting — more than a mile of track lighting incorporating some 1,000 fixtures — with its HVAC components, including 120 tons of cooling from seven rooftop units. BACnet® controls were installed on all the equipment in the store, including three exhaust fans, eight lighting zones and a gas-fired unit heater in the warehouse, plus BAPI® wireless temperature sensors, CO2 sensors and Veris BACnet power meters for a total of 29 devices and 2,715 points. The i-Vu® Open control system by Carrier integrated all components and provided a user-friendly web interface which enabled powerful and fluid scheduling of both lighting and HVAC systems from a single user inferface, providing store personnel with the capacity to maximize conditions for customers and products alike with a minimum of training time before the store opened.

The control system in place at the Durham store, in combination with a lighting re-design, has reduced usage from Crate & Barrel’s previous average of 12 W/ft2 to 6W/ ft2 while maintaining the company’s preferred levels of comfort and product display. The store has also returned a 70 percent reduction in HVAC costs over earlier stores. Dominic Eorio, Manager of the TEC Controls Division and the designer of the Crate & Barrel control system, said, “Most controls companies only focus on 90 percent of the equipment in the building. We focus on 100 percent. You have to control everything if you want to maximize energy savings.”

John Moebes, Director of Construction for Euromarket Designs (the parent company of Crate & Barrel), said, “It is rare to find someone who can design a solution based on our needs, rather than from a set of requirements.” The i-Vu system and the BACnet protocol have performed so well that TEC and Crate & Barrel are currently working together toward a standardized control package that can deliver the same exceptional results in comfort, control and energy savings in the company’s other new and existing stores.

Project Summary

Location: Durham, NC

Project Type: Controls and building automation Building Size: One-story, 25,000 ft2 (19,000 ft2 retail, 6,000 ft2 office/warehouse)

Building Usage: Retail store

Unique Features: Over 1,000 track lights to be controlled in tandem with HVAC system. Durham store is Crate & Barrel’s first building to attain LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification.

Major Decision Drivers: Customer and employee comfort; products must be well-lighted; HVAC must be able to handle high heat load.

Objectives: Customer comfort to increase time in store; humidity control to maintain product quality; integration of lighting control into building automation system.

Design Considerations: Control of high heatload lighting system must be precise and flexible.

Controls: i-Vu® Open Plus web user interface; RTU Open controllers; UC Open and UC Open XP controllers for lighting zones, exhaust fans, gas-fired heater; BAPI® wireless space temperature sensors; Carrier CO2 sensors; i-Vu® Open Link for Veris® BACnet® kWh meter.
Installation Date: 2010

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At Fairmont State University, Fairmont, West Virginia, teaching and learning matters and students are first priority. When the only on-campus, apartment-living complex — The College Park apartments — approached the end of its lifespan, the need for new student housing became apparent. After several years of research, planning and design, the University Terrace project took shape in 2015 and was completed in October 2016. The new 110,000-square-foot facility is comprised of two four-story buildings and one three-story building housing a total of 345 students. When it came to selecting efficient mechanical systems for the project, the university looked at a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system from Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating (Mitsubishi Electric).

Stephanie Slaubaugh, construction project manager, Fairmont State University, acted as the owner’s representation and oversaw the scheduling and budget coordination on the project. The university had a few requirements on the search for their new system. She said, “We wanted a system that was energy-efficient with low ongoing maintenance costs. We also wanted a system that offered a high level of occupant comfort and control.”

Michael Heath, senior mechanical designer, McKinley & Associates, Wheeling, West Virginia, was hired to specify the new HVAC systems. “The university originally wanted a system that was inexpensive but very energy-efficient to achieve a quick payback. They also wanted zone control and every suite within the building to have its own unit.”

With Heath’s assistance, the university considered three types of systems: packaged air terminal conditioners (PTACs), variable air volumes (VAV) and VRF. After a deep energy analysis, Heath presented the best options for the university. He said, “If the university selected VRF, it would take three to five years to get a full payback on the system. With a PTAC, they were never going to get the savings back, and with VAV, it would be 10 to 12 years. Although VRF required a little more money to install, the school gets energy savings.”

Challenge: Selecting an energy-efficient HVAC system for a newly built on-campus housing facility

In addition to VRF’s substantial energy savings, it also offered another perk to the university: easy maintenance. Heath said, “In other areas of the university, they have VAV and heat pump systems, but wanted a system that offered less maintenance as well. They wanted something where the maintenance crew didn’t have to be there every day.”

The university agreed with Heath’s recommendation. Slaubaugh said, “We had used ductless in several converted classroom renovations that turned out pretty well, but never on a project of this magnitude. This technology also helped us overcome our biggest concerns like comfort in below zero temperatures during winter as well as met our requirements for aesthetics and noise.”

To select a brand, the university compared Samsung and Mitsubishi Electric. After an in-depth analysis, the project team concluded that Mitsubishi Electric VRF technology was the appropriate choice. Slaubaugh said, “Mitsubishi Electric offered a leading product and performance rating. We toured several housing projects outside of our state that utilized Mitsubishi Electric and their maintenance department had good reports on the equipment.” She continued, “We also were able to remove the need for a third-party controls contractor. Mitsubishi Electric offered controls as part of their base contract. We went through several demonstrations, toured a mock setup and were able to interact with their controls software and it was comparable to the base controls that we wanted so we deleted the controls package and used their web-based program.”

Solution: Mitsubishi Electric VRF

Heath also noted how the distributor, Comfort Supply, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, played a key role in helping the university select Mitsubishi Electric. “Dave Heckler and Justin Kern sold Mitsubishi Electric so well. They arranged for the entire team to look at apartments at the University of Pittsburgh. We toured and spoke with the maintenance guys. The university really liked the system.”

Upon selection of the system, installation proceeded smoothly. Slaubaugh said, “The installation was very streamlined and met our extremely tight schedule. There were no issues that arose creating change orders related to the VRF system. The crew took care of sealing off all ductwork from any construction/drywall dust and changed the filters.”

Heath also added that the contractor, HRANEC Sheet Metal Incorporated, Uniontown, Pennsylvania and Comfort Supply were both helpful throughout the installation. He said, “The contractor did a very good job installing the refrigerant piping and the ductwork, but also placing the indoor units in accessible areas where it’s easy to maintain. Comfort Supply also sent a few technicians to help on the job site. They made sure the piping was installed correctly and were available to answer any questions. They didn’t just help sell the project, they helped out on site.”

Result: Year-round comfort and substantial cost savings with Diamond Controls

Since the project completion, the system has lived up to the university’s expectations. Slaubaugh said, “The students have been very happy with the individual control of the system as opposed to PTAC units. We did conduct several evening trainings for the students and showed them how to use the thermostat, which helped greatly. Overall, the experience has been good based on the minimal number of comfort complaints we have received.”

Heath also added that the university has benefitted from using Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Controls to monitor the new apartment complex. “We simplified the controls for the university, and they’ve had hardly any complaints. The only complaint was in the learning process making sure the students understood the systems. Stephanie went through each space making sure the suites were going to be very comfortable for the students.”

Slaubaugh agreed: “Mitsubishi Electric’s web-based controls are a top-of-line building control system. With 3-D, interactive graphics, the system allows you to adjust temperature on an entire floor, an entire building or the whole complex. We were also able to tie in and control our Energy Recovery System from Engineered Air.”

In addition to having superior control over occupant comfort, the university has plans to take full advantage of the energy savings. Heath said, “They are going to conduct an energy saving analysis at the start of the 2017 school year and try to achieve an ENERGY STAR® certification.”

With Mitsubishi Electric VRF in place at the University Terrace apartments, Fairmont State University can now offer students a comfortable living environment without fear of paying too much in utility bills. Slaubaugh said, “We are not regretting this decision because of the energy savings. The system does everything we wanted.”

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Johnson County Community College (JCCC), Overland Park, Kansas, serves about 20,000 students. In 2009, the school formed the Center for Sustainability to promote an environmentally, socially and economically responsible campus. The Center set goals, including becoming a zero-waste-to-landfill campus by 2025 and a 100 percent renewable energy campus by 2050. This commitment to sustainability has affected every building project on campus, including Galileo’s Pavilion, a new 3,000-square-foot academic building. A host of super-efficient practices and products, including Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology from Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating (Mitsubishi Electric), has made Galileo’s Pavilion a true showcase of sustainability – with LEED® Platinum certification to boot.

Jay Antle serves as the executive director for the Center for Sustainability, as well as a professor of history. He said, “This is an age where sustainability and green building are going to be increasingly important. We wanted a place for technology to be on display – for students to learn about renewable energy, energy efficiency and what pioneering, highperformance buildings look like. And the students themselves had expressed interest in having a cutting-edge building on campus to serve as a learning lab for sustainability – so that’s where the project began.”

The team at JCCC had recently read an article about Studio 804, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) in Lawrence, Kansas, comprised of graduate students of the University of Kansas (KU) School of Architecture, Design and Planning. Each year, these students design and construct a technologically sophisticated, green building under the direction of Dan Rockhill, distinguished professor of architecture at KU and the founder and executive director of Studio 804. The organization was a strong match for JCCC’s vision, so the school contacted them. Rockhill said, “We designed Galileo’s Pavilion – its two classrooms, lounge and exhibition/display space – using our current knowledge of sustainable design. We took advantage of the daily and seasonal cycles of nature to passively cool, heat and daylight the building, as well as supply electricity and utility water. We planned rainwater harvesting, green roof trays, photovoltaics and a wind turbine to further reduce or even eliminate the need to use public utilities.”

When it came to selecting an HVAC system, Rockhill said, “We basically had three distinctly separate spaces. Although they’re in the same building, the loading on them is different. So that resulted in us needing three separate air-conditioning and heating solutions” – or, zoning. Efficiency was of course paramount, as well: “We pride ourselves on being able to promote sustainable everything, so HVAC is no exception.” VRF was the clear choice.

Rockhill had used Mitsubishi Electric VRF on a recent project – KU’s Center for Design Research – and had been impressed. “Mitsubishi [Electric] is, first of all, leader in its field. That’s the most important thing. Many of the others follow, but Mitsubishi [Electric] developed the variable refrigerant concept. They know what they’re doing. For Galileo’s Pavilion, we wanted to demonstrate the most technologically advanced equipment in the industry. So VRF and its capacity to simultaneously cool and heat all of the spaces within the building was a fit.”

He continued, “Mitsubishi [Electric] was also very generous in working with us on the engineering aspect of the Center for Design Research. I thought

that was a real strength. So with Galileo’s Pavilion, it was no surprise that Mitsubishi [Electric] was happy to accept its role and be respectful to the other aspects we were bringing to the project. Mitsubishi [Electric] gets passive solar, and gets that it’s the sum of the total of all the parts that makes the systems positive. In other words, it’s not just air conditioning and heating, but how that’s balanced with many factors. And there was never any pushback from them. It was always, “Yeah, that’s great.”

Since Studio 804 not only designs but constructs each project, once the team finished its plans, construction got underway. “Installation went quite well. The Mitsubishi [Electric] units are compact and easy enough to install that the whole thing really was pretty simple,” said Rockhill.

The team also constructed exterior louvers to block out intense summer sun, a concrete thermal mass floor to absorb and radiate heat, strategically placed operable windows, skylights for natural lighting, superior insulation, living walls and more.

A solar array of 44 photovoltaic panels and a 2.4-kW wind turbine installed on the site now produce about 70 percent of the building’s energy. Loads are reduced through occupancy sensors, LEDs and fiber optics, and a lighting control system. “The school monitors the whole thing,” explained Michael Rea, JCCC’s sustainability project manager, “through our building automation system. The Mitsubishi [Electric] system is integrated into that. So we can see humidity or change set points, for example.”

He continued, “Everything with the Mitsubishi [Electric] system has been going well. No compressor failures, no leaks, no fan problems, nothing. Our maintenance is easy, too – just changing the filters and making sure the condensers are clean.”

Another sign of success: LEED Platinum certification. Rea said, “For us in the Center, we were excited to get something above Silver, our current standard. Galileo’s Pavilion is a showcase about what a sustainable building can be on a campus. We were also honored to receive the 2013 CSI Kansas City Chapter Innovation in Sustainability Award for the building.”

Rockhill has also been pleased with the project – both for his students and all the JCCC students who have enjoyed the building so far, and who will enjoy it for years to come. “For my students, the experience was very important. The polar ice caps are melting. We can no longer dispute that as hearsay. So educating my students in that area is imperative, because they’ll eventually be seeds that are planted in architectural offices around the country. And then for the Johnson County students, Galileo’s Pavilion makes them more aware of the ways our buildings impact the environment. It is a living textbook that significantly impacts their education.”

To further that education, detailed informative signs were posted in the building’s lounge, along with an energy management system display that shows the building’s real-time energy usage on a monitor. The whole team says these details, among the building as a whole, have been received positively.

Antle said, “I am fortunate to teach a class in Galileo’s Pavilion and can personally attest to how students have positively responded to this building. The classrooms have a very comforting feel about them. And while the students are here, they are learning both actively and passively about what high-performance buildings can really be. They leave wondering why other buildings don’t have the features this one does. And so in that sense, Galileo’s Pavilion is perhaps the crown jewel of Johnson County Community College’s green portfolio.”

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Responsible Comfort and LEED® Platinum Certification at Historic Friends Center\

Project Objectives

The Friends Center is a campus of three buildings in central Philadelphia, owned and operated by The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers. The complex includes the historic Race Street Meetinghouse. Faced with the need to renovate the heating and cooling plant, the Friends decided to take this opportunity to eliminate their reliance on fossil fuels and secure the future comfort of worshippers, office inhabitants, and the children and staff of the onsite daycare center using 100 percent renewable energy. Environmental integrity, responsible use of resources and the goal of carbon neutrality were driving forces in the Friends’ decision-making process. In addition, their design solution had to take into account the campus’s location in center-city Philadelphia.

Solution

The centerpiece of the $12.5 million Friends Center renovation is a Carrier geothermal exchange system designed to eliminate the property’s reliance on fossil fuels for heating and cooling. Using deep wells installed directly below the Friends Center campus, the new system — which includes Carrier geothermal heat pumps, air handlers, air terminals, fan coil units, hot water coils and digital controls — enabled the Friends to use geothermal technology despite their metropolitan location, in which the extensive surface water-loop of a typical geothermal system would have been impossible. In addition, the i-Vu® open protocol web-based building automation system was specified, enabling Friends Center staff to monitor and control every aspect of the geothermal system as well as other building functions. This forward-looking solution helped the Center attain a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)® Platinum certification.

Project Synopsis

The Friends Center campus, located just two blocks from City Hall in historic downtown Philadelphia, includes three buildings: the Race Street Meetinghouse, a national historic landmark built in 1856, and two modern facilities that house office and conference space. The 54,000 square foot facility is home to nineteen non-profit organizations and a day care center, and is used by about 300 employees and 75 children each day, plus the congregation of the Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting.

The Religious Society of Friends felt that the Center required renovation before it could be used to serve the next generation responsibly. In particular, the Friends felt a need to eliminate the Center’s dependence on nonrenewable resources and cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero, while still providing a comfortable place for workers and worshippers alike. In addition, the historic integrity of the Race Street Meetinghouse had to be preserved. And finally the Friends hoped to complete the project according to such high standards that it would receive a LEED® Platinum registration.

Geothermal technology was identified as the key to the Friends Center’s sustainable future. Robert Diemer of AFK Group, the award-winning firm that created the engineering design, said, “A traditional geothermal system would have required a well field larger than possible within the dense Philadelphia environment, so deep wells were used instead.” The six deep wells drilled for the Center are the first in Pennsylvania, each six inches in diameter and more than 1,500 feet deep. Water from the wells is used to supply the geothermal heat pumps, which provide heating and air conditioning for the Center. Carrier geothermal equipment was chosen to transform the latent energy of the well water into comfort for the inhabitants of the Center.

Jonathan Salemo, Project Manager for Elliott-Lewis, the renovation’s LEED-experienced contracting firm, selected the equipment for the Center. “We chose Carrier because they provided heat pumps and controls that met our requirements in terms of efficiency, capacity, features and cost. I was very impressed with the operation of the Carrier water-to-water heat pumps and with their ability to operate as both a chiller and a boiler, allowing the system to provide simultaneous heating and cooling.” This ability enables Friends Center staff to manage the comfort of the highly diverse areas of the facility using one integrated system that draws solely on renewable energy.

In order to avoid wastefully replacing equipment that was still in good working order, the new system was integrated into some existing components. Dan DeSantis, Senior Sales Engineer for Carrier, said, “Mixed use facilities provide unique design challenges.” In the Race Street Meetinghouse facility, which could not use ductwork due to its National Register status, individual water-to-air geothermal heat pumps were used to provide efficient space comfort. In the two newer buildings, water-to-water heat pumps replaced the existing chiller and city steam system. The existing air handler was improved with a variable speed drive, which increases efficiency and extends equipment life, while the air system was upgraded to variable air volume, again an efficiency improvement. Finally, fan coil units were deployed in perimeter spaces to offset heating loads.

Robert Pry, Senior Controls Engineer for Carrier, said, “One of the most significant challenges of the controls design at Friends Center was the integration of water, air and ancillary systems. The equipment was connected via the open protocol i-Vu® system, which allows staff to observe and control the operation of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and rainwater collection systems.”

In the end, the careful process of renovating Friends Center paid off. The Center eliminated its fossil fuel emissions of 326 tons per year, is now positioned for a sustainable future in their center-city location, and was rewarded with a LEED Platinum certification, indicating that the Friends have obtained their goal of responsible comfort and good stewardship of resources.

Project Summary

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Project Type: Retrofit of major mechanical systems
Building Size: 54,000 square feet
Building Usage: Mixed. Office, conference, daycare, worship
Objectives: To be fossil fuel free and carbon neutral
Main Decision Drivers: Using geothermal heat pumps to eliminate chiller and boiler
Project Cost: $12.5 Million ($2 million in HVAC)
Project Date: 2008
Equipment: Carrier water-to-water geothermal heat pumps, water-to-air geothermal heat pumps, fan powered mixing boxes, single duct VAV boxes, fan coils, and one air handler
Controls: i-Vu® open protocol control system used to integrate Carrier equipment, existing HVAC equipment, VFD (variable frequency drive) pumps, water valves, and radiant panels.

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If you want to build a profitable commercial HVAC business without staying too small and having to do everything yourself then you need to read this immediately, because the myths and the TRUTH about successful commercial HVAC business are inside.

Myth #1: Good Technicians and Team Members Are Hard to Find

Why is this not true?

The thought that high quality team members are hard to find hurts you, because once you let those type of negative thoughts enter your mind, you start to put up walls around your options.

What is the reality instead?

You wouldn’t think a custodian or a restaurant maintenance guy would be obvious choices for your next HVAC technician, but those are now two of our strongest team members at Del-Air Mechanical. You see, the successful contractor is not complaining about how hard it is to find good technician, they focus on hiring good people who are already hard workers and train them to be great technicians.

The reality in this situation is there are great potential team members everywhere. Many of them are not already in our field, but we interact with them in other ways. For instance, if you are looking for a dispatcher or sales person, they don’t already need a wealth of industry knowledge to be successful. That is information that can be easily taught.

What can’t be easily taught? Personality and the traits a person needs to be able to interact better with customers, other team members, and leaders. An individual with a strong logistics type of mind with experience possible in another field may be very trainable. They don’t even need to know how to turn on an air conditioner to efficiently dispatch technicians.

Myth #2: You Must Have All the Answers

Why is this not true?

Believing you must have all the answers hurts you, because it can hold you back and prevent you from taking the actions necessary to grow to your next level.

What is the reality instead?

The reality in this situation is even the most successful business owners don’t know everything – and the smartest ones happily admit it! The key is to hire people with the skills that fill the gaps in the areas where you are weak and allow them to propel the company forward. Even though one of my strengths is to evaluate processes and know immediately what is needed, one of my weaknesses is writing up those procedures and processes. That’s why I have an excellent admin, who can take my thoughts and put them into a form everyone else can understand.

Additionally, the absolute best way to be successful is to build a network of other HVAC contractors that will share with you their own lessons and help you avoid the pitfalls they have already experienced. I personally joined an ACCA Mix Group with members from other areas of the country that are willing to share their many years of knowledge. This was a pivotal point in growth and efficiency for me as the member of the group serve the role of both consultant and coach.

Myth #3: There's Not Enough Business to Go Around

Why is this not true?

In the current economy, the thought that there's not enough business to go around is false. There is such an abundance of activity and needs, that a contractor who performs at a high level will have more work than they thought possible.

What is the reality instead?

The reality in this situation is business is abundant! Around every corner, on every rooftop there is commercial HVAC equipment. This equipment and these customers need our help – YOUR help! Our professional guidance can help reduce the energy consumption of their facility, increase the lifecycle of their HVAC equipment, and provide a better atmosphere for their customers and employees. Additionally, there is a multitude of ways to make contact with those potential new customers, some of which cost almost no money and simply take energy and action.

Now that you know the myths, I challenge you to become a “Myth Buster”!

I'd like to invite you to become more open to the reality of the topics discussed in this article and reach out to others both within our industry and in other industries for ideas and inspiration. I would also urge you to take advantage of the ACCA Mix Group program by joining a group of your peers and collaborate on best practices and business efficiencies.

The post The Three Biggest Myths About Operating A Successful Commercial HVAC Business appeared first on IE3: Business Tools for HVAC & Plumbing Contractors.

More and more companies are discovering the benefits of using drones for commercial purposes – and those in the construction industry are no exception.

“Thousands of businesses large and small, and across industries are embracing unmanned aircraft systems technology and integrating UAS into their operations,” says Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. “UAS are able to capture images and measurements in difficult-to-reach or dangerous places, saving time, money and even lives, making them a valuable tool for many businesses.”

An AUVSI study found that over the next decade, the UAS industry stands to create more than 100,000 jobs and over $82 billion in economic impact in the U.S. – many of them in the construction industry.

Federal Regulations

“Under a regulatory environment that allows for expanded operations, such as flights over people or beyond line of sight, there is no doubt these numbers could go even higher and even more businesses could tap into the tremendous potential of this technology,” Wynne says.

In August, 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration issued the “Small UAS Rule” spelling out flying requirements for drones weighing less than 55 pounds. Since then, demand for commercial drones has “increased tremendously” according to AUVSI, and as of March, more than 150,000 platforms have been registered with the FAA for commercial use. The agency expects more than 450,000 drones to be flying for commercial purposes over the next five years, three times as many as today.

AUVSI also conducted an analysis of the first 1,074 waivers granted by the FAA to fly drones beyond what is allowed under current regulations – such as flying beyond line of sight of the operator, flying at night, or flying multiple drones simultaneously. The association’s analysis found that aerial photography is the most popular commercial use for drones (79 percent), followed by activities for real estate purposes (56 percent), aerial inspection (50 percent), construction (47 percent), and infrastructure inspection and surveying (43 percent). Other uses include training, security, search and rescue, among other applications.

Of the first 1,074 waivers issued, nighttime operations were by far the most popular (959 waivers), followed by waivers to fly in certain airspace (96 waivers), operate multiple drones at the same time (17 waivers), fly beyond line of sight (4 waivers) and conduct flights over people (3 waivers).

3D Modeling

Joe Nichter, president of Comfort Systems USA Southwest in Chandler, AZ, says that nearly all the general contractors his company works with on commercial and industrial construction jobsites now have drones. Most of them use drones for land surveying and marketing, and to show the progress of the job to the customers and the lending institution, and some are using them for safety inspections.

“The pictures from the drones are often combined with 3D models for augmented reality and virtual reality, so customers and contractors can walk through projects virtually, looking to make sure each trades installation matches the BIM model and meets quality requirements laid out in the specification,” Nichter says.

For land surveying, drones are used for topographical mapping, which are currently being used by developers, land planners and civil engineers on projects, he says. For example, when laying out a large mixed-use community with residential, commercial and retail, drones are flown over the plat to look at the different elevations and possible obstructions on the site. The data gathered from the drones is then used in the 3D model.

“This allows the planner and engineer to develop a conceptual plan that can be presented to the developer and city to get approval for the planned project,” Nichter says. “Once approved this model is used as a marketing tool to solicit investors, realtors and tenants to participate in the development. In addition these 3D models can be used as twin models one being used to test changes, before they are actually incorporated into the actual project. “

Inspections & Surveying

For safety inspections, drones currently fly around the building’s envelope to monitor activities and see if there are any safety violations that could possibly contribute to a jobsite injury, he says. In fact, “nano drones” are in the testing stage — very small drones that can fly through floors of a building during construction to detect problems.

“I’m not concerned about such drones causing a safety issue themselves, as algorithms are loaded into the drone to make them fly very precisely around structures,” Nichter says. “The more artificial intelligence data that becomes available the more precise this process will become.”

General contractors also use the pictures from drones in pre-job planning meetings, showing the layout of the jobsite and where all the trades’ trailers are going to be adjacent to the site, he says. During the job, drones are used to make sure the project is moving along according to schedule. Drones may also one day be used to transport small parts to floors of a building, as soon as they have the capacity to lift more weight.

“I can see uses for drones not just on the construction side, but also on the service side of the business,” Nichter says. “Drones are being tested in Europe to fly over groups of building to make thermal maps. The maps are then put into software so that heat losses of buildings are compared to other buildings. That can be a potential energy efficiency solution for us to show customers.”

Drones could also be used by Comfort Systems’ sales people to survey roofs. As HVAC equipment comes out with bar codes, drones could be used to scan a bar code on a piece of equipment, which will give the salesperson a good picture of what’s on the building for maintenance.

“Anything we can do to incorporate technology to reduce labor is good, as the construction industry continues to face a great shortage of workers,” he says. “We have to be open, to this new wave of construction solutions.”

Nichter cites studies showing that implementation of drone technology has the potential to improve onsite productivity by up to 10 percent.

“This is only the beginning for this untapped potential created through new technology,” he says, adding that in 2015 there were just 31 start-up tech companies investing in new solutions for construction, and now that number has jumped to 2,200.

“At this rate of growth many new innovative ideas will produce cost effective solutions to help us overcome the crippling manpower shortage we are experiencing today,” Nichter says.

Marketing With Drones

Brian Rogers, corporate secretary at Rogers & Sons Inc. in Denver, CO, says that one of the company’s equipment suppliers with a new controls product used a drone on a school construction project to take pictures for an extended infomercial. Rogers & Sons Inc. also used the infomercial to show its own customers about the new controls system, because the supplier also included interviews from some of the company’s team members who worked on that job.

“The pictures you get from a drone are just so remarkable because there is a mechanism in the camera that takes out the shake even when the drone may not be flying that smoothly,” Rogers says. “You would be able to get that kind of quality picture from above unless you used a helicopter or airplane, which is much more expensive than a drone.”

When the rules for flying drones commercially “finally get sorted out,” Rogers & Sons may also use drones, but the company would hire a third-party who is licensed and insured to fly them. The drones would most likely be used to get pictures for marketing purposes, as well as for footage in internal training videos – just like the areas’ local apprenticeship program did for a virtual reality safety training program.

“As far as using drones on a jobsite, there might be safety issues if they are not used properly – but I’ve heard about frequency blockers that would blast out a frequency to drop a drone,” he says.

Rogers was part of the group working with AUVSI who was invited to one of the association’s recent shows to learn more about how drones could benefit contractors.

“I was certainly curious to go and participate,” he says. “I’m on the conservative side regarding technology. I might not run out and immediately do this, but it’s a fascinating world out there that I would consider it.”

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The Distillery North Apartments (The Distillery North), located in South Boston, embody the values of the local community: arts, culture and sustainable living. The 28-unit complex follows the Passive House model, a building standard aimed at true energy efficiency, comfort and affordability. With strict energy standards, the complex required a highly-efficient HVAC system. After consulting with a team of industry professionals, the choice was clear: Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating (Mitsubishi Electric) Zoned Comfort Solutions.

In 1984, Fred Gordon, principal owner of Second Street Associates, LLC, Boston, bought an old, 100,000 square-foot rum distillery originally owned and operated by Felton Rum. Five generations of the Felton Family made distilled rum in New England for 150 years.

“I just fell in love with it,” said Gordon of the warehouse. “It was a building that nobody wanted, in a part of the city that nobody wanted to be in and I, in certain ways, predicted that the whole thing would turn around.”

Fast-forward to the mid-1990s, Gordon was determined to use the space to contribute to the environmental movement. He bought the rest of the city block and in 2009 decided to build a multifamily Passive House on the distillery property. As the low-energy building movement was relatively new at that time, Gordon expended significant effort researching energy-efficient systems.

“The Passive House movement involves a huge amount of discussion about products,” noted Gordon. “If you went to the conferences both in Germany and in the [U.S.], which I did, there was all this buzz about air [-source] heat pumps. Air [-source] heat pumps were a revolution in terms of technology, energy efficiency and cost.”

Richard O’Dwyer, consulting principal, ICON Architecture, Boston, Massachusetts, was one of the architects brought on early to The Distillery North team. He explained that product research and selection was a collaborative effort.

“We were excited by the prospect of developing a project that would be intensely energy-efficient with a very low carbon footprint, that would deliver very clean air to breathe,” said O’Dwyer. “[Fred] had a great team of experts in the field; he brought in a Passive House architect from Germany who had extensive experience with the constructability of larger Passive House projects and also local professionals who were familiar with smaller Passive House structures to assist in the process.”

Targeting energy reductions of at least 60 percent, Gordon and his team had to tackle two issues to attain Passive House status: cut energy loads down as much as possible and use green power to assist in covering those loads. The Passive House Standard developed by the Passive House Institute also has strict benchmarks surrounding cooling and heating, requiring the building to have controlled mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). After 100 photovoltaic solar panels were selected to help bring in green energy, Gordon knew a highly efficient HVAC system with air-source heat pumps and heat exchangers that could perform MVHR functions was needed.

Sarah Carter, project manager, Petersen Engineering, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was one of the engineers who helped specify Mitsubishi Electric’s ductless system for The Distillery North. She said, “The loads are greatly reduced in [a Passive House] type of building so there needs to be equipment that’s available in small capacities. A lot of equipment’s preset sizes would all be considerably oversized in a Passive House building, especially if they are for one- and two-bedroom apartments.”

With this in mind, Gordon decided to create a trial period for all the equipment in the rum distillery before breaking ground on the multifamily complex. “We took a tenth of the existing building and retrofitted that with all of the equipment,” he explained. “We had about four years experience with all of the [HVAC] equipment before we made a commitment to a really major construction.”

In their design, Petersen Engineering selected ductless M-Series systems for each unit of the complex. Utilizing INVERTER-driven technology, M-Series was an ideal choice for a multifamily Passive House because each unit only uses the exact amount of energy required to cool or heat a space. Zoning allows for optimum occupant comfort, with substantial energy savings for the building owner.

Carter also knew they could count on Mitsubishi Electric to answer any questions they had during development. “In general, we get the best service from Mitsubishi [Electric]. Service from our sales rep, helping with selections, troubleshooting and anything that comes up…they’re always ‘on the job.’ It goes a long way in our world.”

Having spent much time in the renovation field, Gordon agreed, too. “We’ve heard of other people who got stuck with products that did not have sufficient infrastructure behind them to make sure they worked right. We have had no problems here – Mitsubishi [Electric] has been a trooper!”

The Distillery North Apartments have been open for tenancy since April 2017. Gordon and his wife, who actually live in the building, have been quite pleased with the first round of energy performance figures. Between the solar panels, positioning of the complex and an energy-efficient HVAC system, Gordon and his colleagues at Second Street Associates believe the utility savings are a real perk for residents.

“For heating and cooling, we’re talking $65 per unit, per year – that’s less than a cappuccino from Starbucks,” said Gordon.

O’Dwyer also believes The Distillery North has been a success from both an energy conservation and an aesthetic standpoint. Throughout the course of the project, the team found that some developers in the field were worried that the strict building envelope and efficiency standards of the Passive House guidelines would impact curb appeal.

“I think we’ve demonstrated with [The Distillery North] that we have a very contemporary building that ties in very nicely with the existing distillery building, which dates back to the 19th century,” O’Dwyer said. “Although incorporating the constraints of the Passive House model into the project was a challenge, with the right concept and a thoughtful design process those constraints ultimately enhanced the aesthetics of the final product.”

With the Passive House movement growing in popularity, Gordon is already developing another low-energy building on the property. This will add 37 apartment residences, six commercial spaces, an indoor theater, a grocery store and a 2,600 square-foot greenhouse. Gordon has big plans to turn his block into a community that celebrates both the arts and the outdoors. After being in the www.mitsubishipro.com neighborhood for 30 years, local institutions and residents are embracing it.

“This is a place which is really protected; people feel really comfortable,” he said. “In the end, we’ll have 300 people on-site, so it’s big enough to actually create [a] culture of its own.”

After years of collaboration with multiple green energy professionals, and the energy savings to back it up, Gordon has finally brought is Passive House to fruition. He noted, “Passive House is a very high bar, but we have way exceeded it. This building is something of a miracle.”

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Objectives

The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) in Baltimore has a large campus with several buildings that serve a variety of patient needs, from cancer treatment to pediatric medicine. Administrators planned to add a Shock Trauma Center to provide specialized care for patients who are critically injured or ill, the first integrated trauma center in the nation, to be named after Dr. R. Adams Cowley, the physician who created the concept of the Golden Hour in trauma care. The Shock Trauma Tower could not accommodate rooftop chillers due to its heliport, so the facilities staff sought to expand the capabilities of the campus’s existing central plants in order to provide energy efficient cooling, heating and domestic hot water to the Shock Trauma Tower and other buildings on the hydronic loop.

Solution

Facilities staff at the University of Maryland Medical Center selected three Carrier AquaEdge® 23XRV chillers and one AquaForce® 30XW heat recovery chiller to increase the cooling and heating capacity of their existing physical plant. The new chillers provide cooling, heating and domestic hot water to the Dr. R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Critical Care Tower and other buildings on the hydronic loop. The facilities staff — familiar with Carrier quality because of the AquaEdge 19XR chillers already in service at UMMC — selected the AquaEdge chillers and AquaForce® chiller for their energy efficient performance and heat recovery capabilities, and because they can deliver water chilled to a range of temperatures, a requirement when serving multiple structures of different ages and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) designs. Thanks in part to its innovative HVAC solution, the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Shock Trauma Tower achieved LEED* (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification.

Synopsis 

The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) in Baltimore serves hundreds of thousands of patients a year, with a large campus including multiple buildings that address a variety of patient needs, from cancer treatment to pediatric medicine. UMMC administrators planned to add a Shock Trauma Center to provide specialized care for patients who are critically injured or ill. The resulting facility, the 140,000ft2 Dr. R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Critical Care Tower, named for the pioneer of trauma medicine, serves more than 8,600 patients a year and is the nation’s highest-volume trauma center as well as the first integrated trauma hospital in the nation.

The heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) design for the Shock Trauma Tower arose from UMMC’s green mandate and desire to obtain LEED* Gold status for the project, and from conditions specific to the facility. For example, the Shock Trauma Tower could not accommodate rooftop chillers due to its heliport, where critically injured patients arrive by helicopter, so the facilities staff sought instead to expand the capabilities of the medical campus’s two existing central plants in order to provide energy efficient cooling, heating and domestic hot water to the Shock Trauma Tower and other buildings on the hydronic loop, which encompasses seven structures at a total of 2,300,000ft2.

To achieve the expansion of heating and cooling capabilities, facilities staff at UMMC selected three Carrier AquaEdge® 23XRV chillers and one AquaForce® 30XW heat recovery chiller. The staff — familiar with Carrier quality and reliability because of the AquaEdge 19XR chillers already in service — selected the additional Carrier chillers for the energy efficient performance provided by their variable frequency drives; for the heat recovery capabilities of the AquaForce unit; and because the chillers can deliver water chilled to a range of temperatures, a requirement when serving multiple structures of different ages and HVAC designs. To maximize efficiency, the UMMC facilities staff operates its chillers in series during Baltimore’s hot, muggy summer weather, while during the winter when both heating and cooling are required simultaneously, the chillers are run in parallel. All UMMC chillers — which use controls from Automated Logic Corporation, a Carrier sister company — are maintained by Carrier Commercial Service.

The AquaForce heat recovery unit works by capturing the heat created during the refrigeration process and repurposing it to hot water, which can then be used for room heating or domestic hot water.

John Baldwin, Chief Engineer, Facilities Department, UMMC, said, “We have no boilers to serve the Shock Trauma Tower. Heating comes from our heat recovery system and district steam. We anticipate using even more recovered heat as time goes on and we automate the process. All chillers produce heat as a byproduct, so there is more to be captured.” UMMC notes that heat recovery significantly reduces energy costs over standard boilers.

Keith Schepleng, Market Sales Manager for Carrier, said, “In addition to their heat recovery system, UMMC takes full advantage of the ability of Carrier chillers to produce chilled water in a range of temperatures, serving their low-temperature building as well as those whose HVAC design calls for higher temperature chilled water. UMMC really leverages the flexibility of Carrier chillers to serve their whole campus efficiently. It’s no surprise that the facility had added two more AquaEdge® chillers in another location since the Shock Trauma Tower was built.”

Additionally, staff from the University visited Carrier’s award-winning chiller manufacturing facility in Charlotte, North Carolina to observe chiller production and testing.

Thanks in part to its innovative HVAC solution, the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Shock Trauma Tower achieved LEED Gold certification.

Project Summary

Location: Baltimore, MD
Project Type: Expansion of existing system
Building Size: 140,000ft2
Built: 2012
Building Usage: Health Care
Objectives: Energy efficiency; use of reclaimed heat; attain LEED Gold Equipment: 3 Carrier AquaEdge® 23XRV chillers, 1 Carrier AquaForce® 30XW heat recovery chiller
Total Cooling Tons: 1,900
Controls: 2,804 Automated Logic Corporation controllers with 28,650 physical I/O points monitor or control mechanical applications and specialty systems over approximately 1,000,000 ft2
Major Decision Drivers: Carrier equipment efficiency and heat recovery capabilities; ability of Carrier chillers to provide chilled water in the range of 38°F – 43°F; contribution of Carrier equipment to LEED Gold level performance standards
Unique Features: All four Carrier chillers can be used for both chilled water and heat recovery; AquaEdge® chillers run in series in summer and in parallel in winter; recovered heat is used for both space heating and domestic hot water
Installation Date: 2012

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Dublin is an affluent suburb of Columbus, Ohio that annually hosts the renowned Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Golf Tournament and is home to several Fortune 500 companies. With a resident population of 40,000 that peaks to 80,000 during the daytime, luxury hospitality was needed to serve those commuting in for both business and recreation. In 2016, Crawford Hoying, LLC and Brackett Builders, a local real estate developer and general contractor, respectively, decided to meet that need with the AC Marriott Bridge Park – a sophisticated, energy-efficient hotel. Their HVAC selection? Mitsubishi Electric’s CITY MULTI® Water-Source Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology.

The Switch to Water-Source VRF
The developer was initially looking to install a load-matching water-source heat pump (WSHP) system for the 104,250-square-foot, eight-story hotel when Mike Machemehl, commercial sales manager, Mitsubishi Electric, decided to intervene.

“I knew the developer and was aware of the project,” said Machemehl. “WSHP systems are fairly energy efficient, but not as much as a VRF system. Knowing our technology would be a good match for the hotel, I told the developer I could save them about $100,000 annually through combined utilities and maintenance savings.”

Switching to VRF ultimately proved to be more cost effective even before accounting for maintenance and utilities savings. When the contracting team priced out the installation, the total installed mechanical costs came out to $550,000 less than the WSHP system. Crawford Hoying was sold.

Between a WSHP system and water-source VRF, the biggest difference in price and efficiency comes down to the number of compressors and water pumps required for the project.

“In the initial design with WSHPs, there’s a compressor bearing unit in every hotel room, plus more for the common areas,” explained Machemehl. “For each of the WSHP units, a fractional, horse power water pump is built into the heat pump cabinet.” With the more efficient water-source VRF systems, the total tonnage was reduced due to increased system diversity. In addition, the number of compressors was reduced from 182 down to 19 and the total count of water pumps was reduced from 190 to five.

Challenge: Selecting an energy-efficient HVAC system that adds to the luxury hotel atmosphere

Ensuring Comfort
Paring down the number of systems also proved to be imperative for a high-class guest experience. “The AC Marriott brand, founded by Antonio Catalan, is a lifestyle brand focused on sophistication, service and design,” explained general manager, Orcun Turkay, Shaner Hotel Group. “The most important thing for our hotel guests is that HVAC operation is simple, comfortable and unnoticed.”

Within the AC Marriott Dublin, compressors are located in the housekeeping rooms on each floor rather than guest rooms, making the hotel’s cooling and heating extremely quiet. “We’re seeing a pretty big shift in the hospitality vertical market towards VRF,” explained Machemehl. “The big reasons: energy efficiency through heat recovery, maintenance, comfort and acoustics. When I stay at a hotel and I can hear the compressor kick on, it wakes me up in the middle of the night. The result of the VRF system is a better experience for guests as well as much better comfort from a temperature and humidity control standpoint. Unlike traditional systems where the compressor constantly turns off and on, a VRF system always has the compressor running and adjusts the fan speed to continuously remove moisture.”

High-Performance Heating
Utilizing water-source VRF also has its advantages in handling extreme temperatures. Central Ohio winters can be harsh, with temperatures occasionally dipping below zero degrees. With traditional HVAC systems, extreme cold can cause a loss in capacity and efficiency, ultimately impacting the hotel’s ability to provide optimal heating. With water-source VRF, the system doesn’t struggle to accommodate temperatures below design as it strategically uses a combination of recovered heat and a natural gas boiler-heated water loop.

Machemehl and the hotel staff experienced the effectiveness of this design firsthand a few months into the AC Marriott’s opening.

“In January 2018, there was a 6-degree day — extremely cold. Though it was sunny with a high solar load on the building, I wanted to go out to the hotel to make sure the building was operating correctly,” noted Machemehl. “Basically, this system operates off the principle of heat recovery so the VRF system will capture all of the waste heat in the building – lights, people, projectors and kitchen equipment in addition to the solar gain on the building. When I checked the controls, not one of the boilers was running…from an energy savings and sustainability standpoint, that’s a home run to have your boilers off when it’s 6 degrees above 0 outside.”

Solution: CITY MULTI® Water Source Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) + Diamond Controls

Streamlined Controls
Mitsubishi Electric’s Diamond Controls also streamline the system’s monitoring and maintenance. For the facility’s Chief Engineer, AJ Strzelecki, Shaner Hotel Group, Diamond Controls play a large role in the hotel’s luxurious atmosphere.

“These controls give us the advantage to make a guest’s stay a little more flawless,” noted Strzelecki. “From a maintenance standpoint, Diamond Controls has made it easy compared to other properties I’ve been at. Having that central control system, I can just ‘jump’ into a room from the interface and 75 percent of the time I can fix the issue right in the Diamond Controls program. This is much more convenient rather than having to bug the guest, go to their room and start pulling equipment apart.”

Result: A quiet, energy-efficient HVAC system that qualified for substantial utility rebates

Substantial Rebates
Not only was water-source VRF the ideal choice for ensuring a comfortable guest experience, but the system’s high-performance efficiencies allowed Crawford Hoying and systems engineer, Prater Engineering Associates, to receive substantial rebates.

“We worked with the local utility company, American Electric Power (AEP), and their custom rebate program,” explained Machemehl. “A third-party energy modeling program was used to do a projection of energy usage. With AEP’s custom rebate program, they compare how much better the building’s projected performance is compared to a baseline ASHRAE 90.1 building. AEP pays 10 cents for the estimated first year’s kilowatt hour (kWh) and three cents per kWh to the designer. The team’s efforts were worth it – Crawford Hoying received $44,900 and Prater Engineering received $13,500!”

From rebates to controls to acoustics and more, water-source VRF has been a game changer for the AC Marriott Dublin. For the general manager, it’s made all the difference in surpassing guests’ expectations.

“The sophistication of this system is so different from others I’ve used,” noted Turkay. “With the nature of our building being all glass, energy efficiency is so important in our operations. We haven’t had any issues with the system and at the end of the day, our guests are happy.”

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Turner Construction Company is the largest general builder in the United States, with 5,000 employees and 2011 revenues of more than $8 billion. Turner’s Columbus, Ohio, office opened in 1964 and has been responsible for constructing some of the most notable buildings in Central Ohio including the Nationwide Arena, Greater Columbus Convention Center, The Ohio State University Stadium renovation, the new patient tower of Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Hilton Columbus Downtown.

After 14 years in the northern suburb of Worthington, the company decided in 2010 to move its offices to downtown Columbus. “We wanted a headquarters presence close to our many Columbus clients,” said Kurt Smith, Turner’s regional preconstruction manager.

M+A Architects in Columbus was hired to design Turner’s new office, after evaluating several options in downtown Columbus. “We looked at three options,” said M+A Associate Ryan Ware. Of those, Turner decided on a 30,000-square foot historic structure — a factory built in 1910 to manufacture mattress box springs. The old building is located just south of the Arena District, next to Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers (Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) and Nationwide Arena, home to the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets; both the stadium and the arena were projects completed by Turner.

Interior to Showcase Turner Expertise
For its new headquarters, Turner envisioned a space that would showcase its distinguished construction signature. The interior would be an open space showing off the fine old bones of the original building — the layered brick walls, the sturdy columns and trusses cut from 19th-century oaks, and the refinished old timber floors. The exposed ceilings would highlight the circuitry of lighting, HVAC linesets and indoor fan coils.

“Turner’s landlord tore down part of the building to make way for a parking lot, keeping the best-looking section of the old factory and leaving us with 13,000 square feet for our design work,” Ware said. “Turner then leveled the first floor slab, cut out several columns and removed three floor trusses to open up space for meeting rooms, and built a new entry feature. When it comes to aesthetics, Turner knows exactly what it wants.” Selecting an Indoor Comfort System for a Century-old Building

For this major restoration, Turner wanted LEED® certification. “In our planning and design work, they asked us to aim for LEED Silver as a minimum,” said Ware. To match this vision for exposed, natural interior spaces, Turner brought in Columbus-based Dynamix Engineering Ltd. Frank Hartley was the project manager for the Turner job: “When we first looked at this extraordinary interior, with very old conveyor belts running through the ceiling to the second floor, I thought to myself, forget all about plenums and space for mechanical rooms and systems.”

Hartley understood that he was dealing with an exceptional owner that understands the construction process. Dynamix needed to select the HVAC system carefully. Hartley sat down with Ryan Ware, Kurt Smith and Turner’s Mechanical Estimator Scott Blair to discuss the attributes of four possible systems from which to select:

1. A Variable Air Volume (VAV) system with hot water reheat
2. A VAV system with electrical reheat
3. Water-source heat pumps
4. Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) zoning systems

The Dynamix MEP team rated the benefits of each system. The Turner team selected the VRF zoning system from Mitsubishi Electric US Cooling & Heating Division, Suwanee, Ga.

Why VRF Systems Work So Well for Adaptive Reuse
In Hartley’s opinion, this VRF technology and equipment design are a perfect match for buildings constructed before air conditioning was invented. With a VRF zoning system, the compact compressors and components can be installed in smaller indoor and outdoor spaces. These systems require less piping and duct space. Because the VRF zoning system uses smaller VRF refrigerant piping, it gives back space in the form of higher ceilings.

Hartley went on to explain that VRF zoning systems are 31 percent lighter than chilled-water systems, making them easier to handle and less expensive to install.

“Turner managers were especially impressed with the sound attenuation of the interior units and the connecting piping and wiring,” Hartley continued. “They were surprised that someone could stand a few feet beneath an indoor unit and not hear it operating. The contractor did a beautiful job of installing the insulated indoor units, piping and wiring, and Turner liked the clean, uncovered weaving of the exposed VRF zoning system hardware. Next to the wooden trusses and interior columns, it was attractive.”

VRF for LEED Certification
“The selection of this VRF zoning system made me a believer,” said Blair. “At Turner, we are recognized for our pioneering work in the green building movement. The thing that makes me happy is we proved that it is possible to bring century-old spaces up to 21st century standards. This state-of-the-art VRF technology is ideal for an office environment and has enabled us to pursue LEED Gold.”

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Building owners and managers find plenty to like in today’s commercial controls.

Every summer, Ivey Mechanical would receive three or more calls each week from one of its clients. The hundreds of employees in the five-story building, which serves as a company’s headquarters, routinely complained about the uncomfortably warm temperatures they worked in. This past summer, however, Ivey Mechanical didn’t hear a single complaint, even when temperatures soared.

What changed? Ivey Mechanical had reviewed the 15-year-old building, identified several engineering oversights, and removed equipment that wasn’t functioning correctly or at all. In went new air-handling equipment, configured to offset design shortcomings, and new, more sophisticated controls.

“After 15 years of being uncomfortable every summer, they made the capital available to upgrade their controls—and they’ve been really happy with the results,” says Wade Flannery, service controls engineer for Ivey Mechanical Company, LLC, which is headquartered in Kosciusko, MS., and has 11 locations throughout the Southeast. “The client has recognized a significant improvement in tenant comfort and had a major decrease in utility bills—and now, they also have the ability to monitor the building.”

Most commercial buildings are good candidates for upgraded controls, notes Frank Quintanar, service manager for J&J Air Conditioning in San Jose, CA. “We see it as a good market because a lot of pneumatic controls are still out there, plus the older systems needing upgrading,” he says. “We interview our customers as far as their intentions for the building, and then look at the best options available.” Some customers, for example, want HVAC controls that can be connected to a building management system that also encompasses lighting sensors and an alarm system. Long-term owners—or those aiming for green building certification—may favor installing a new controls system throughout the entire building. Shorter-term investors might prefer a piecemeal approach to lessen the inconvenience to tenants, installing standalone control modules that could later be networked.

Spell out Specifics

For the most part, say Quintanar and Flannery, owners and managers of commercial buildings have a general idea of what controls can do—at least enough to initiate a conversation about system capabilities. What those customers need from HVAC contractors is additional education on specific types of controls available and which ones offer the best fit for a particular property. “That puts the onus on us to constantly educate and train our technicians, because every controls system has its own niche or connection capabilities,” says Quintanar, noting that J&J Air Conditioning frequently hosts in-house presentations by vendors and always requests supporting data to share with customers. “In many cases, controls are expensive so you also have to educate technicians about the rebates available—another tool they can provide to customers.”

These benefits resonate most with commercial customers when they consider installing or upgrading controls

Tenant comfort. Many of Ivey Mechanical’s customers are property management companies that aren’t responsible for paying a building’s electric bill. To make their tenants comfortable and therefore happy, they focus on keeping the indoor environment from becoming too hot or too cold.

For preventive maintenance customers that establish an Internet connection to their controls system, Ivey Mechanical can review the HVAC system’s operation remotely and, from afar, adjust a set point or diagnose the problem when a temperature complaint is received. Flannery reports, “We can resolve a good portion of problems remotely, without charging the customer. At the least, we can save the property owner a couple hours’ worth of on-site labor because we can direct our service tech to the right area, based on the symptoms.”

Some systems have an email alert component—they automatically send an email when a temperature sensor reaches a pre-set alarm point. “Common trigger points are supplier temperature, return air temperature, and hot water temperature if it’s a boiler system,” says Quintanar. “When we get the alarm, we’ll try to make the repair online to reduce the downtime and tenant discomfort.”

Energy efficiency. Public facilities with lean budgets, such as libraries and schools, naturally look to commercial controls to monitor and help keep operating costs in check. But commercial buildings are in the business of generating profits for owners, making them equally interested in reducing utility costs.

J&J Air Conditioning, for example, services one office building that originally had multiple zones controlled by one thermostat. Leases for the multiple-tenant building called for HVAC usage between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. When the monthly energy bill began rising, the property management team suspected a tenant was engaging the HVAC system after hours—but had no way of determining which tenant was responsible. J&J Air Conditioning installed a wireless control system that added temperature sensors to and tracks usage in all the offices. The system also triggers an alarm if a thermostat within an office is adjusted outside a pre-set range.

“The new controls system was definitely a benefit to the owners, who knew exactly what suite engaged in after-hours usage and could then be billed for it,” says Quintanar. Installation of the wireless system also resulted in better system performance and improved tenant comfort throughout the building. “With more averaging sensors to give the system a better idea of temperatures, outside of just the thermostat locations, there was a noticeable reduction in the number of nuisance service calls about temperature,” he adds.

Quality control. Commercial controls are a boon for facilities that must maintain and operate within strict parameters. Hospitals, for example, must record the temperature and humidity within operating rooms as part of their accreditation process. For each of its hospital clients, Ivey Mechanical builds a customized platform for the ongoing monitoring and documentation of conditions in operating rooms; each hospital can then extract its data in graphical form to fulfill submission requirements.

“System monitoring can also give a manufacturing facility precise control of equipment and stop nearly all breakdowns,” says Wade Flannery. “That allows the manufacturer to either win or maintain contracts over competitors.” As an example, he points to a large factory that uses a chilled water process in the manufacturing of automotive parts. Until recently, a breakdown in the chilling system would shut down the production line and entail sending someone to the factory’s basement to adjust an assortment of knobs and levers. “That created a lot of downtime,” notes Flannery, “and it also created quality concerns from the supplier.”

Ivey Mechanical’s solution was to design two separate but identical chilled water systems, with one serving as the back-up while the other is in operation. The redundant systems were installed a year apart, then connected. If a problem with the chilled water occurs on the production line, the controls automatically activate a seamless transition to the standby system. The new controls also monitor and display the water temperature so employees can easily spot and address potential problems.

“We put in variable frequency drives so they’re able to run the pumps at an efficient speed, based on demand, and instead of multiple chillers we’re now down to one chiller,” Flannery explains. “Each system is using less energy than the old configuration, so there’s energy savings and an increase in reliability—and nobody has to go down the basement anymore.” And now, thanks to the new controls, the supplier has more confidence in the manufacturing facility’s ability to consistently provide parts that meet strict product specifications.

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OBJECTIVES:
Christian Health Care Center (CHCC) provides a range of senior living and health care services, as well as short-term rehabilitation and mental health services, on a 78-acre main campus in northern New Jersey. CHCC has 12 buildings of different ages, sizes and purposes, served by heating,  ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment from several manufacturers, including boilers, rooftop units and water source heat pumps. The facilities staff at CHCC is tasked with providing a safe, comfortable environment for residents, staff and daily visitors. In addition, the staff promotes the facility’s green mandate by maintaining an energy efficient HVAC system.

SOLUTION:
The digital controls that monitor and adjust any HVAC system contribute significantly to the energy efficiency, ease of use and reliability of the system. In the case of a complex campus such as CHCC, controls provide the integration and remote access to equipment that enables the facilities staff to monitor the performance of systems from a central location and to receive timely alerts when system adjustments are needed. In addition, controls can increase the energy efficiency of individual components by enabling staff to fine-tune operations according to the needs of each conditioned space. The facilities staff at CHCC has undertaken several controls upgrades in recent years, incorporating Carrier controls and the i-Vu® building automation system to integrate disparate equipment into a single network with comprehensive visibility and accessibility, even from a distance.

SYNOPSIS:
For more than a century, Christian Health Care Center (CHCC) has served the northern New Jersey community with a range of mental health and senior health care services. CHCC currently provides a range of senior living residences and programs, from independent living facilities through supported living to special care for people with memory impairment. In addition, the Center offers short-term rehabilitation services and both inpatient and outpatient mental health care. CHCC operates a 78-acre main campus with 12 buildings of different ages, sizes and purposes, including residential, administrative and hospital buildings. The main campus is served by heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment that includes boilers, rooftop units and water source heat pumps, all from a variety of manufacturers. The facilities staff at CHCC is tasked with providing a safe, comfortable environment for staff and daily visitors to live, work and heal. In addition, the facilities staff provides good stewardship of natural resources in accordance with the Center’s green mandate by maintaining an energy efficient HVAC system.

The digital controls that monitor and adjust any HVAC system contribute significantly to the energy efficiency, ease of use and reliability of that system. In the case of a complex campus such as CHCC, controls provide the integration and remote access to equipment that enables the facilities staff to monitor the performance of systems from a central location such as the physical plant offices. This means staff do not have to travel across campus to check equipment, saving time and freeing staff for other work. Controls also enable facilities staff to check the system remotely, in case adjustments are required during off hours, such as overnight or on weekends and holidays.

Robert Pry, Senior Sales Representative, Carrier Controls Division, said, “The controls network at CHCC enables facilities personnel to receive timely alerts, an essential feature when the health of fragile patients is at stake and any disruption in climate conditions could adversely affect the residents. Controls also enable staff to maximize the energy efficiency capabilities of individual pieces of equipment by fine-tuning operations according to the needs of the individual conditioned space.”

Working with Mark Rosenblatt, Project Manager, Carrier Controls Division, the facilities staff at CHCC has undertaken several controls upgrades in recent years, incorporating Carrier controls and the i-Vu® building automation system (BAS) to integrate their disparate equipment into a network with comprehensive visibility and accessibility.

Dave Cilona, Senior Field Engineer for Concord Engineering, which conducted functional testing on an upgrade of heat pumps and their controls in several buildings at CHCC, said, “The upgrade was built around energy savings. After an energy audit, CHCC chose the most effective steps to reduce energy consumption, including replacement of inefficient equipment and outdated controls with new equipment and controls that deliver better energy performance.”

The Carrier i-Vu BAS is a web-based operator interface that supports BACnet®1 and Carrier Comfort Network® (CCN) communication protocols. From any web-enabled computer, phone or tablet, the i-Vu BAS enables facilities staff to graphically configure and view schedules, setpoints, trends, alarms and reports. The system can integrate and control building systems beyond HVAC, such as lighting, security, shading and more, using all major automation protocols.

In fact, the Carrier controls and i-Vu BAS at CHCC have proven so effective that the facilities staff is currently planning an additional upgrade that will take advantage of the i-Vu’s building automation capabilities to add lighting, domestic water pumps, booster pumps and other items to the control network for even greater visibility and accessibility of all property systems.

Project Summary

Location: Wyckoff, NJ

Project Type: Controls

Buildings: 12

Built: Range from 1911 to recent construction

Building Usage: Healthcare

Objectives: Enhance the comfort of residents, patients and staff; and improve energy efficiency

Equipment: Variety of rooftop units, boilers, cooling tower, water source heat pumps from several manufacturers

Controls: i-Vu® building automation system: i-Vu BAS user interface, Carrier Open (BACnet) controllers, and Carrier Comfort Network (CCN) controllers

Major Decision Drivers: Ease of use of Carrier controls and i-Vu BAS interface; energy efficiency capabilities; remote access capabilities

Unique Features: Integration of buildings of disparate ages and uses — including care of elderly, memory impaired and psychiatric patients — into one energy efficient, remotely accessible network

Installation Date: 2008-2015

The post Carrier Controls and i-Vu® Building Automation System Enhance Comfort, Efficiency at Christian Health Care Center appeared first on IE3: Business Tools for HVAC & Plumbing Contractors.

In Summer 2016, UBER Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) officially opened its doors in downtown Pittsburgh. As the main campus for UBER’s autonomous vehicle research and development labs, the building presented a unique design challenge. Vehicle testing garages sit side-by-side with state-of-the-art conference rooms and office space. This drove the need for zone control and specialized ventilation. After the engineer consulted with the local Mitsubishi Electric distributor, Comfort Supply, Inc., a comprehensive solution was clear: CITY MULTI® Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology applied with PremiSys® Fusion Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) managed via Diamond Controls Solutions.

Challenge: Selecting a streamlined HVAC system and controls platform for a multi-functional office space.

Unique Requirements
“We house all the software engineers and techs who build the data and software for our autonomous cars,” explained TJ Wolkiewicz, facilities lead, UBER ATG. “When we took over this building – originally a 110,000-square-foot warehouse – we needed the space to work for us.”

After planning for a second floor, the project and facilities team knew the layout required advanced HVAC technology.

“We had several different parts going into this building: a garage, special research areas, office spaces, gathering areas, a café and so on,” said Aaron Doubt, facilities & special projects director, UBER ATG. “We had to have a system that gave us precise control over each zone. With a traditional, forced air HVAC system you have mass conditioning. We could have never provided a comfortable atmosphere for our occupants with a centralized system.”

All-in-One Support
Knowing VRF had the zoning capabilities required, one brand stood out from the competition. “Mitsubishi Electric had everything the building engineer was looking for,” noted Justin Kern, senior commercial sales engineer, Comfort Supply. “They were able to provide a single source contact for the VRF system, ventilation equipment and building controls. It’s not often you can have one company responsible for all three. It makes for a better overall project whenever that happens.”

Combining their experience, the engineer and Comfort Supply worked directly with Mitsubishi Electric’s Controls Solutions Team (Controls Solutions) to layout and design a cohesive system. A feature of Controls Solutions, building automation is paired with top-notch customer service from initial design to post-installation and follow-up support. Kern described Controls Solutions as a huge benefit – particularly for the planning stages of any project.

“Mitsubishi Electric was involved right from the construction phase, even coming out onsite several times,” expressed Kern. “Controls Solutions helped us communicate to the HVAC contractor exactly what needed to occur during the install since we don’t have a controls background. Sometimes when I’m on a project, there’s minor startup issues when we’re dealing with a third-party controls company. Controls Solutions thoroughly understands how to control and operate VRF. ”In addition to the VRF system, the team specified four PremiSys Fusion DOAS units for ventilation, as well as third-party electric heaters and exhaust fans throughout the building. All control systems were integrated into Mitsubishi Electric’s building management system (BMS), Diamond Controls – a feature not very common with your standard BMS.

Solution: CITY MULTI® Variable Refrigerant Flow technology + Building Automation

Comprehensive Controls
“For a building like this, facility managers often have to deal with several manufacturers in addition to different controls programs – one for the cooling and heating system, one for the ventilation equipment, etc.,” explained Tom Greco, senior manager, controls solutions business development, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US LLC. “Diamond Controls are capable of full building automation right out of the box, even for third-party equipment. This controls package allows UBER to monitor and regulate the whole building efficiently.”

Within the testing garages, Diamond Controls is also a major component of ventilation safety for employees.

“In our R&D showroom, we pull in cars for research and testing,” noted Wolkiewicz. “Monitoring car exhaust and fumes is a priority. In addition to our DOAS systems, Mitsubishi Electric was able to integrate CO2 sensors into the controls interface. I can just put the system on ‘auto mode’ and it will alert us as well as our Pittsburgh Security Operations Center if it senses any kind of gas in the air. It’s so nice that we can see everything right from one dashboard.”

Diamond Controls features a full graphical interface and streamlines scheduling and HVAC management by zone, in-person or remotely – an advantage for UBER ATG’s facilities team.

“The best part of the interface is that we have remote access from anywhere,” said Wolkiewicz. “This job requires that we travel to our different job sites and we’re able to access the controls right from our laptops. If anyone asks us about cooling or heating, we can easily adjust that on the go.”

Optimum Comfort
Beyond the research and design facilities, the campus also has large office spaces and is a prime location for hosting meetings and events. Comfort is critical for staff and guests. “Having the ability to control each room with its own set point or even a small section of rooms with VRF has been great,” Doubt added. “It really makes it easy to not have those big temperature deviations or fluctuations that you would have with a traditional system. Not to mention the ease of having branch controller boxes in each zone that tie into the BMS – that has really helped us in our day-to-day operations.”

“The nicest part of this system is that we’re able to heat and cool at the same time,” explained Wolkiewicz. “The auto feature on the controls interface really helps provide a comfortable atmosphere as well because it regulates according to outdoor air temperature.” Doubt agreed, adding, “Much of our communication here is done through video conferencing. Microphones are very susceptible to picking up sounds. Having a system this quiet has really helped our staff communicate clearly and not be distracted.”

Result: An energy-efficient, comfortable office building with ventilation and HVAC tied in to one controls interface.

Sustainable Solution
Since UBER ATG opened, the facilities team has only expressed positivity around the experience – the goal of Controls Solutions. “We strive to fill the gap between HVAC manufacturer and end-user’s experience,” noted Greco. “We are proud to provide UBER with a cohesive package that is beneficial to them as well as the project team.”

The well-coordinated collaboration between UBER ATG’s facilities team, Comfort Supply and Controls Solutions, coupled with Mitsubishi Electric’s innovative systems, have helped the facility achieve comfort, control and energy efficiency aligned with its commitment to technology and sustainability.

“All in all, Mitsubishi Electric provided a turnkey solution that met all of our needs,” said Doubt. “At UBER, as we are a technology company, we believe in changing the way ordinary systems work to promote the betterment
of humanity. Part of that is having systems that are sustainable and help us reduce waste or any emissions we produce. We hold our vendors accountable for efficiency, functionality and end-user experience. Mitsubishi Electric has clearly met that with their VRF system and equipment.”

The post Case Study: UBER Advanced Technologies Group appeared first on IE3: Business Tools for HVAC & Plumbing Contractors.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, as of 2013, there were approximately 98,454 public K-12 schools in the United States and another 30,861 private schools. That translates into hundreds of schools in each state. At different times, different school districts will have building projects going on or will be taking on repairs and upkeep. That means that you have an opportunity to bid on jobs with schools and potentially land ongoing maintenance contracts as well.

Schools May Be Required to Accept Bids
In many states, public school districts are required to accept bids on construction projects. The Ohio School Boards Association states, “Ohio law requires boards of education to advertise and take competitive bids for certain construction, repairs and improvements of school property.”

Although laws vary from state to state, most school boards do advertise open jobs and take bids. They may or may not go with the lowest bid. In fact, there are many different things that schools look at when choosing a contractor to complete work on a building.

In California, a state appellate court ruled that no-bid contracts were illegal. Instead, schools are required to use a competitive bidding process. In an article by Jill Tucker for the San Francisco Chronicle, lawyer Kevin Carlin argued that using a process that avoids competitive bidding was basically a cover up. He said, “Such arrangements have created a pay-to-play culture … a system that encourages fraud, corruption, misuse of public funds and lack of competition.”

The decision by the courts that school districts must accept bids is good news for contractors wanting to get into school building projects.

School Job Bids
Bidding on school jobs has some similarities to bidding on other commercial jobs, yet is also entails some differences.

J. Jones, a former board member of a suburban school district in Indianapolis had the opportunity to review numerous bids during his time on the school board. “There was always one thing that was of the utmost importance to me when looking at bids.”

Jones shares that it wasn’t that the contractor had the lowest bid or even that he would complete the project the fastest. Instead, he looked at whether or not the contract had the experience to complete the project at a level that he would expect if his own children were in the building after the work was completed. “Will it be safe? Will it last?” he added.

What to Include in a Bid for a School Job
When bidding on a job for a school, no matter how large or small the job, keep in mind that there is a lot more to the bid than numbers.

Jones said, “When I looked at bids for any type of building or maintenance project in the district, I looked at so much more than just a bottom line cost. I looked at experience of the contractor and how much thought the company put into creating the bid. How detailed it was, for example.”

Start with Why You’re the Best Choice
Be sure to include in your bid proposal why your company is the best choice to complete the job. This can include previous experience with other commercial projects, the fact that you have children in the school district and care about the finished product, or anything else that is pertinent and will grab the committee’s attention.

Add Lifetime of Project Cost Analysis
Another thing you should include in your bid is approximately how long the project will last. If you are bidding an HVAC replacement, include details that analyze the cost of the project verses how long the repairs will last. Show that you understand that repairs are not a one-time thing and that you are trying to present the most cost effective option for more than just this moment but for long term savings. A unit that only has to be replaced every 20 years on average instead of every 10 may be much more attractive to school board members.

Give a Time Estimate and Special Considerations
Include info on approximately how much time the job will take to complete. This can be a vital part of the decision-making process as many schools now have year-round attendance. The shorter amount of time you can safely complete the project, the better. Construction can be quite distracting to students. You may also want to include special considerations such as that you will work later in the day, weekends, or some holidays in order to complete most of the work during a time when it won’t interfere with students’ learning.

Give a Solid Number and Proposal Details
Be sure to include a cost estimate and exactly what that bid includes (unit, labor, maintenance, etc.). The clearer you can be with your details, the better.

“Many times, officials will look at all the bids and then narrow the choices to two or three,” Jones explained. “If you want to be in that short list, make sure your bid is detailed. If I have questions about the bid, it is probably not making it onto the short list.”

Bidding on school jobs is a good way to build relationships in your community and secure lucrative contracts with ongoing maintenance deals. With just a little shift in focus, you can write successful school bids.

The post What You Need To Know When Bidding on School Jobs appeared first on IE3: Business Tools for HVAC & Plumbing Contractors.

OBJECTIVES: Motorcars Toyota is a family-owned car dealership in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. The 30,000 ft2 facility struggled with an 18-year-old rooftop unit that had become unreliable and inefficient, jeopardizing both the comfort of customers and staff, and the energy and maintenance costs of the company. The old heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system also had outdated controls that were neither secure nor easily accessible to the owner. The dealership management consulted their mechanical contractor, Tri-C Sheetmetal, who recommended Carrier replacement units.

SOLUTION: Motorcars Toyota selected Refrigeration Sales Corporation (RSC) to help them choose replacement units that would be highly efficient and reliable, with controls that maximized efficiency and kept the dealership management in touch with the HVAC system, no matter where they were. RSC’s Peter Eno provided modeling using Carrier Commercial Invest Rooftop Payback Analyzer to demonstrate the cooling cost savings of the Carrier 48LC WeatherExpert® rooftop unit. RSC also recommended the Carrier Connect Wi-Fi®-enabled thermostat, which allows the management to view and adjust the HVAC system via smartphone or tablet from any Wi-Fi-enabled location. The high-efficiency rooftop units also qualified for a $4,472.00 energy rebate, partially offsetting their first costs.

SYNOPSIS:
The family-owned Motorcars Toyota dealership located in Mayfield Heights, Ohio is a company which strives to create “customers for life.” To accomplish this, they work to make each customer’s experience a positive one at every point of contact within the organization. That means the dealership facility must be a comfortable and welcoming place. However, the 30,000 ft2 facility was struggling with an 18-year-old rooftop unit that had become unreliable and inefficient, jeopardizing both the comfort of customers and staff, as well as the energy and maintenance costs of the company. The old heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system also had outdated controls which were neither secure nor easily accessible to Matt Gile, the President of Motorcars Toyota. The Gile family consulted their mechanical contractor, Ken Castro of Tri-C Sheetmetal, who recommended Carrier replacement units based on his positive previous experience with Carrier products.

Motorcars Toyota worked with Refrigeration Sales Corporation (RSC) to select replacement units that would be highly efficient and reliable. RSC’s Peter Eno provided modeling using Carrier Commercial Invest Rooftop Payback Analyzer to demonstrate clearly the short return on investment and ongoing cooling cost savings of the Carrier 48LC WeatherExpert® rooftop unit. Eno said, “Customers manage decisions that they can easily measure. Commercial Invest is the most reliable ruler to measure the difference in rooftop unit efficiencies. When a client has the facts, it’s easy to decide on a high-efficiency unit.”

The Carrier 48LC WeatherExpert rooftop unit is a single-packaged unit that provides gas heating and electric cooling. Due to high part-load efficiency, the 48LC rooftop unit provides very high efficiency comfort cooling year-round, and is ideal for single-zone variable air volume systems, which makes it well suited for a facility such as Motorcars Toyota. It is available in various sizes, from 3 to 23 tons of cooling capacity.

To address the need for management to have remote access to the HVAC system, Refrigeration Sales Corporation recommended the Carrier Connect Wi-Fi®-enabled thermostat. The Connect thermostat allows the management to view and adjust the HVAC system via computer, smartphone or tablet from any Internet-enabled location. The thermostat controls both fan speed and humidity, has seven-day scheduling, and provides password-protected access to the system, so that no unauthorized changes can be made.

Matt Gile, President of Motorcars Toyota, said, “The Connect thermostat is easy to use and makes it possible to have different areas of the dealership on different HVAC schedules, according to their needs. We’re open seven days a week, except for a couple of holidays. We have the system respond when everyone leaves a given area, so we’re not wasting energy on empty departments.”

The high-efficiency 48LC WeatherExpert rooftop units won Motorcars Toyota a $4,472.00 energy rebate, offsetting their first costs. The low cost of cooling demonstrated by the 48LC units in the Commercial Invest modeling also led the company to select the same units for two of their other facilities.

PROJECT SUMMARY:

Location: Mayfield Heights, OH

Project Type: Retrofit

Building Size: 30,000 ft2

Built: 1999

Facility Usage: Car dealership

Objectives: Replace outdated equipment with high efficiency, reliable units for comfort cooling for customers and staff; centralize control of system, and provide remote access

Equipment: 11 Carrier 48LC WeatherExpert® rooftop units

Controls: Carrier Connect Wi-Fi®-enabled thermostats

Total Cooling Tons: 243

Major Decision Drivers: Lower energy costs for HVAC system, as demonstrated by Commercial Invest software; more reliable comfort cooling; utility rebate; ability to view and control HVAC system from smartphone

Installation Date: 2017

The post Carrier Rooftop Units and Wi-Fi® Thermostats Win Utility Rebate, Deliver Efficient Cooling appeared first on IE3: Business Tools for HVAC & Plumbing Contractors.

Objectives

Verizon was experiencing inadequate comfort cooling from two existing air-cooled chillers and escalating service costs. They called on Carrier to propose a solution that would provide the following:
• Exceptional efficiency to reduce energy consumption
• High reliability to help reduce escalating service and repair costs
• Quick delivery and installation
• Smooth and quiet operation
• No service interruption

Solution

Carrier provided a turnkey installation that included two new 30XV325 AquaForce® air-cooled screw chillers — high efficiency units that can provide greater than 21.0 IPLV and wirelessly stream operating data to the cloud via Carrier® SMART Service to ensure optimal performance and uptime. With its quiet, reliable, and highly efficient operation, the 30XV chiller will help save on both utility and service costs over time. Additionally, the product qualified for an $87,000 per chiller utility rebate that provided a significant reduction in first costs. As this was a turnkey solution, Carrier also coordinated Verizon-owned mobile chillers (also purchased through Carrier) to provide temporary cooling for the hotel while replacing the old chillers, and provided start-up and commissioning for the two new AquaForce 30XV’s.

Synopsis

The Verizon Hotel of Basking Ridge is a 130,000ft2 (12077m²) hotel and conference facility with 171 guest rooms, 21,000ft2 (1951m²) of meeting space, a restaurant and bar. The property is located directly across the street from the Verizon headquarters in Basking Ridge, NJ. In December 2016, Verizon acquired the facility to provide convenient accommodations for visiting employees and guests. At the time of purchase, the building was experiencing inadequate comfort cooling and escalating service costs from the two original chillers. Nicholas Ramos, Executive Director, Verizon Global Real Estate Property Operations, immediately sought to replace the chiller units.

Ramos called Carrier to request a chiller solution that would provide high-efficiency comfort cooling for the hotel; operate quietly to preserve a pleasant atmosphere for guests; could be delivered immediately; and, would reduce service costs. In addition, Ramos wanted to maximize the cooling tonnage, given the available rooftop space.

Carrier presented Verizon with the new Carrier AquaForce® 30XV air-cooled screw chiller, a high-efficiency unit that can provide greater than 21.0 IPLV. The Carrier AquaForce 30XV is an air-cooled, variable-speed screw chiller that provides industry-leading efficiency in a smaller footprint, which makes it suitable for replacing most older equipment. The fully air-cooled variable frequency drives enable the chillers to operate efficiently at a greater range of outdoor air temperatures, and the user-friendly control with color touchscreen display is self-optimizing, so the 30XV runs at optimum performance in any given set of conditions.

Carrier’s chiller comparative analysis estimated a 29 percent gain in efficiency (i.e. lower operating costs) with the higher efficiency 30XV. Each chiller qualified for a utility rebate of $87,000 from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ SmartStart Buildings® program due to the exceptional efficiency. The chiller rebates significantly reduced the first costs of the overall project.

To prepare for the installation, Carrier integrated the hotel’s chilled water system with Verizon’s 53-foot temporary cooling trailer — containing two Carrier 30RB units — which Verizon had purchased to provide short-term cooling for  projects such as this. The temporary chillers provided seamless comfort cooling for the hotel while the Carrier team removed the original chillers and installed the two AquaForce 30XV chillers.

Nicholas Ramos said, “Everything went well with the installation. Carrier worked with my project manager to ensure that. The new chillers are a win-win for Verizon, with the utility rebate and the projected savings on electricity.”

As an added benefit, each 30XV chiller is Carrier® SMART Service enabled which will provide wireless data transmission of key operating data. This remote visibility into the system’s performance will ensure maximum up time via faster problem detection and resolution and reduced energy costs through performance optimization.

The new Carrier chillers are now in service at The Verizon Hotel of Basking Ridge, providing guests and employees with a cool and quiet atmosphere, and Verizon facilities staff with the lowest cost of cooling to enhance future profitability.

Project Summary

Location: Basking Ridge, NJ
Project Type: Modernization
Building Size: c. 130,000 ft2 (12077m²), 21,000ft² (1951m²) of meeting space; 171 guest rooms
Built: 1992
Facility Usage: Hospitality
Objectives: Provide exceptional efficiency to reduce energy consumption; be highly reliable to help reduce escalating service and repair costs; deliver and install quickly, and operate quietly and smoothly.
Equipment: Two Carrier AquaForce® 30XV air-cooled, variable speed screw chillers
Total Cooling Tons: 650 tons (2286kW)
Major Decision Drivers: First cost of new chillers in light of utility rebate; projected high efficiency and reduced utility and service costs.
Unique Features: Temporary cooling during installation provided by existing Verizon mobile chillers; Carrier® SMART Service
Installation Date: 2017

The post Carrier AquaForce® 30XV Chillers Position Verizon Hotel for Utility Rebates and Years of Efficient, Reliable Performance appeared first on IE3: Business Tools for HVAC & Plumbing Contractors.

Clay Norman has been a member of Bethel, Connecticut’s Walnut Hill Community Church since 1985. Serving as both an Elder and as the Director of Facilities, Norman has seen many church renovations over the years and knew the HVAC system needed to be replaced in 2017. With over 1,000 Sunday service attendees and many church activities throughout the week, energy efficiency for the sake of cost savings was critical. After consulting with an HVAC distributor and contractor, the selection was clear: Mitsubishi Electric’s CITY MULTI® Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology.

THE RIGHT APPLICATION FOR VRF
“We added a sanctuary space in 2002 and that’s when we installed the chiller,” explained Norman of the original HVAC system. “It started to show its age a few years ago and only worked at about 30 percent efficiency. We started looking at a direct chiller replacement or something with much more modern technology.”

Having previously owned a house with a split-ductless system and experienced VRF technology overseas, Norman was curious about what HVAC options could work for the 40,400-square-foot building and invited several HVAC contractors to assess the situation. Upon review, Jim Messenger, service manager, Eastern Mechanical Services, Inc., knew VRF was definitely the right system for the job.

“While the church initially brought me in to replace the chiller, I immediately told them about Mitsubishi Electric’s CITY MULTI system,” said Messenger. “The church has four, existing 32-ton ducted air handling units. It’s a four-pipe system with a boiler, chiller and coils. Taking those out would have been astronomically expensive and difficult. Together, myself, Matt Berry from Mitsubishi Electric and Taylor Cannavaro from Homans Associates sat down and came up with a design-build for the church.”

UNIQUE INNOVATION
Faced with large equipment and the need to keep things cost-effective, the three came up with an innovative strategy for the HVAC design: give a unitary system VRF capabilities.

“We decided to utilize Mitsubishi Electric’s LEV kits in a unique way. They were retrofitted and sized to fit the current air handlers,” noted Messenger. “This allowed us to use the unitary products and existing electrical to get the variable efficiency of VRF. It even allowed all the third-party equipment to communicate with the AE-200 Centralized Controller.” Mitsubishi Electric’s LEV (linear expansion valve) kits allow CITY MULTI outdoor units to connect to air handlers produced by other manufacturers. The team also added Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) to all the air handler motors. “Instead of the motors running constantly like they previously did, we can now soft start them and have the capability to slow down the fan speed to meet the comfort settings of the church,” said Messenger. “The motors are now running at two-thirds of their capacity.”

Eleven Mitsubishi Electric ceiling cassettes and one wall-mounted unit located in the administrative office also supplement the building for optimal comfort. The result has reduced monthly costs, improved comfort management and showcased the efficiencies of VRF technology.

SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS
“Conservatively, the cost savings for this church are projected to be about $50,000 per year,” explained Messenger. “When you have a traditional four-pipe system and you’re continuously running the chiller or boiler to maintain a certain coil temperature, you’re going to lose energy – it’s just an inefficient way to condition a building. We sold them on the energy efficiency of VRF. Anytime you talk with a customer about having a five-year return on investment – which is what we got with this project – they’re going to listen. Reducing operating costs like that is a huge benefit.”

“When we started looking at different brands and systems, I asked questions about energy, longevity and the complexity of maintenance,” noted Norman. “There was no comparison between the direct chiller replacement and the CITY MULTI system. CITY MULTI was a hands-down better selection.” With installation completed in April 2018, Norman has already begun to see utility bill improvements. “The 2018 cost is already 23 percent lower than 2017,” said Norman. “That also represents a 23 percent reduction in usage, with an 8-degree higher temperature for 2018.”

SIMPLIFIED MANAGEMENT
Now that the LEV kits have all the airhandling units connected to the system, Norman has one interface to control all conditioning needs and schedule for peak hours. “Previously, the church had an outdated building management system (BMS) that was complicated to navigate,” noted Cannavaro, sales applications specialist, Homans – the HVAC distributor for the project. “The AE-200 Centralized Controller gives them full control over their whole network of equipment. They now also have building integrations potential through their BACnet® licensing and they can tie in other systems such as lighting.”

The update streamlined Norman’s role in comfort management and the congregation has been vocal about the benefits.

COMFORT AND ACOUSTICS
“The level of sound from HVAC noise in our sanctuary has dramatically decreased,” said Norman. “The pastor and worship team have even commented on how much more pleasant it is to perform and worship because of the VRF system. We had no idea how much we were putting up with previously.”

Worship services were also never compromised – Eastern Mechanical worked with the church to adapt the workflow to the church’s schedule and there was never a time the construction disturbed the worship services. When asked about the whole process, Norman expressed only positivity.

“Updating to VRF was seamless and headache free. I can schedule everything from my computer. Everything has worked so well and we haven’t had any issues or maintenance since the install. Most importantly, the system is so efficient and takes a lot of humidity out of the air. It really gives you a better-quality feel of air.”

The post Case Study: Walnut Hill Community Church appeared first on IE3: Business Tools for HVAC & Plumbing Contractors.

Imagine a business world without new restaurants, remodeled hospitals, or redesigned libraries. Frightening, right?

Fact is construction represents a critical piece of the national and global economy. According to *Economy Watch,* those who build (and rebuild) our infrastructure comprise a whopping 10 percent of the world’s gross domestic product, and they make up roughly 7 percent of the planet’s workforce.

However, we massively oversimplify things if we lump everyone wearing a hard hat or gripping a set of fresh blueprints into one giant basket. When looking at construction, there is a tremendous range of work completed on a daily basis, under many different rules and environments. To understand truly the nuances that affect specific areas of constructions, we should divide this world into different segments.

For instance, those who work in commercial contracting face far different issues than those in the residential contracting sector. In addition to meeting building codes and satisfying the building owner’s needs and desires, commercial contractors must comply with additional rules and regulations, different pay stipulations and bigger projects.
For anyone involved with commercial contracting work — or looking to make the move into this line of work — here’s a closer look at some of the differences that you’ll face:

Getting bonded

Commercial contractors are required to get a performance bond, which is a guarantee from an insurance company or bank that the customer would be reimbursed — should the contractor not complete the work or do the job in a satisfactory manner.

This is no small thing.

Getting someone to back your business with money can be difficult, according to Lanny Huffman, president of Hickory Sheet Metal Company in Hickory, NC.

“Whether a contractor can be bonded or not will determine to what extent of commercial work they will be able to do,” Huffman says. “But if you are to be bonded, make sure your financial house is in order, both business and personal. Acquiring a performance bond can be difficult because bonding companies take no risk.”

Keep in mind, U.S. federal law requires that all contracts — issued by the federal government — be indeed bonded. Likewise, many state and local laws also require bonds.

Keep it clean

Hospitals and facilities that involve working with (or around) infectious diseases can present numerous hazards for contractors. You’ll need to account for a considerable amount of extra work when trying to get your building plans ready.

Such work areas often can’t have any dust, debris, or other contaminants — a tough task to complete when your work's byproducts are those very things.

Huffman says one project his company is currently working on has presented numerous issues.

“Some of the more difficult portions of this project are the ‘hot’ work permits, the infectious disease control criteria (each piece of duct is sealed on both ends with plastic), air monitoring and keeping areas at a negative pressure during construction,” he said. “Clearly, hospital renovation work is tedious, expensive, and you can lose money quickly.”

You don’t have to tell Ann Kahn of Kahn Mechanical Contractors in Dallas, TX. She knows all about work hazards.

However, she feels these types of hurdles can be handled with a bit of extra work on the front end of the project.

“We have worked in hospitals and other areas where a dust-free atmosphere is critical,” she says. “The key to a successful end result is the same here as in all projects: planning. With the right forethought and equipment, almost any situation can be overcome.”

Restaurants also have requirements when it comes to cleanliness.

Huffman says restaurant hoods are often a sticking point for building inspectors, who will refuse to give a project a certificate of occupancy unless the hood is adequately installed. The hood and the connecting exhaust system are needed to prevent smoke and odors from building up, as well as to remove potentially harmful particles out of the air that could otherwise fall into the food.

Super-size it

The sheer size of some commercial projects can makes them difficult endeavors. Huffman says problems arise with both (a) building beyond certain heights and (b) doing so within a customer’s time constraints.

“In some cases, a land-based crane cannot reach locations on the roof where HVAC units may be,” he says. “In those cases, helicopters can be used. However, there are certain FAA requirements that must be met along with paperwork that most of the companies providing helicopter crane service will help you through. Schools always present a challenge. They usually are on a very tight schedule. Whether it is a new school or school renovation, there is always a hard date to meet, and typically it is not negotiable.”

Big projects also require big tools. Big tools, in turn, require plenty of extra training for the contractor’s employees. Getting those employees, the training they need — and keeping them up-to-date on any advances in regards to the work they’re engaged in — costs contractors both time and money.

Show them the money

Most commercial contracting jobs are subject to prevailing wage laws. That is, you must pay workers the benefits and overtime that are due to the majority of laborers within a certain municipality. These wages are in effect to prevent one contractor from underpaying his workers by submitting a lower bid for a different contract.

Complying with these laws can cause headaches for contractors who have to balance the needs of their employees with their own profits, since profits are the ultimate goal of their businesses. Kahn says laws have become uniform across the country, in terms of how much workers make from place to place.

“The words ‘prevailing wage’ used to scare us all,” she says. “Back in the day, wages were much higher on the eastern seaboard than here in Texas. Today, we see prevailing wages that are more in line with what we pay and sometimes even lower.”

In addition, the additional wage regulations that commercial contractors must comply with also call for additional paperwork. Commercial contractors have to keep certified payrolls, which are documents from the government that have to be filed to ensure rules are being followed on federal projects. These regulations have been a sticking point for contractors since they were enacted during the Great Depression, but the dawning of the digital age has made things at least somewhat simpler.

“An online certified payroll form is available that does all the calculations for you, and that coupled with our software's certified PR report is a breeze compared with the hand-written, hand-calculated reports from the ’70s and ’80s,” Kahn adds.

Get it in writing

Contractors of all shapes and sizes must sign contracts with their customers. Nevertheless, commercial contractors have to put forth a lot more effort in completing that paperwork. That’s because commercial contracts include additional legal hurdles that could arise. Commercial contracts often involve more than two parties and are generally worth far more money. They also must often provide supply chain details, backup strategies, completion criteria, and other details.

Getting all of these details in order often requires expert help. Moreover, lawyers cost money. However, the expense could prove well worth the investment should the contractor be brought into a legal dispute with a customer. Having as many details drawn out on paper before lifting a saw or hammer helps protect the contractor in case of claims of inadequately done work — or work that’s not done at all. They help spell out clear expectations for the customers of what the job entails.

Ultimately, getting everything in writing protects both parties. For the contractor, it protects every dollar possible that’s there to be had.

“Just as in residential contracting, if you under-price a job, you lose money,” Huffman says. “If you under-price a commercial job, you lose money and, in some instances, your business.”

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OBJECTIVES
Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is a regional healthcare provider with multiple hospital and primary care locations, staffed by almost 14,000 employees. Its headquarters, home to the administrators who manage this large operation, is located in a multi-story, 160,000ft2 building in Allentown, PA. When LVHN acquired the facility, it was served by two chillers, one of which dated back to the building’s construction, circa 1970. The second unit was a more recent magnetic-bearing chiller. The original chiller had reached its planned lifespan, while the magnetic-bearing chiller had developed costly ongoing maintenance issues. Facilities staff sought to replace the original chiller with a reliable, efficient model that could also take over the load carried by the magnetic-bearing unit.

SOLUTION
The LVHN facilities staff was familiar with the quality, efficiency and reliability of Carrier chillers from their experience with the Carrier AquaEdge® 19XR chiller that serves one of their other buildings. Thinking forward to the future phase-out of the older, ozone-depleting refrigerants used by some chillers, the staff selected an AquaEdge 23XRV screw chiller with chlorine-free HFC-134a refrigerant, which is not subject to phase-out. Carrier Commercial Service, which maintains the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment for Lehigh Valley Health Network, was chosen to perform the installation. Since the 23XRV chiller came into service, reduction in electrical demand has led to approximately $24,000 lower utility costs at the facility per year.

SYNOPSIS
Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is a regional healthcare provider with multiple hospital and primary care locations staffed by almost 14,000 employees. The network’s 208,882 emergency room visits and 2,115,165 physician visits in 2014 represent just a portion of the multi-faceted care its facilities provide.

This complex network has its headquarters in a multi-story, 160,000ft2 building in Allentown, PA. When LVHN acquired the facility, two chillers provided comfort cooling. The first chiller dated back to the building’s original construction, circa 1970. The second unit was a more recent magnetic-bearing chiller. The original chiller had reached its planned lifespan, while the magnetic-bearing chiller had developed costly ongoing maintenance issues, such as the need for compressor re-builds, which averaged approximately $50,000 each and meant a six-month downtime period while the compressor unit had to be shipped to the mandated factory for refurbishing.

To attain modern energy efficiencies and reduce maintenance costs, facilities staff sought to replace the original chiller with a reliable, efficient unit that could also take over the load previously carried by the magnetic-bearing chiller.

The LVHN facilities staff was familiar with the quality, efficiency and reliability of Carrier chillers from their experience with a Carrier AquaEdge 19XR chiller that serves another one of their buildings. The staff also thought ahead to the future phase-out of the older, ozone-depleting refrigerants used by some chillers, and wanted to avoid the cost and downtime of re-charging the new chiller before the end of its operating life. With these points in mind, the LVHN facilities staff selected an AquaEdge 23XRV screw chiller. This water-cooled chiller has variable speed drive (VSD) for high efficiency under full- and part-load conditions, and uses chlorine-free HFC-134a refrigerant, which is environmentally balanced and therefore not subject to phase-out. Carrier Commercial Service, which maintains the HVAC equipment for Lehigh Valley Health Network, was selected to perform the installation.

Todd J. Bachl, PE, CEM, Senior HVAC Engineer at Lehigh Valley Health Network, said, “Carrier Commercial Service gave us a fair price and did a great job on the installation. During regular maintenance visits, they get right to the root causes of performance issues. And they are always responsive when we need them. Carrier Service Technician Frank Benick once took my call from his fishing vacation and immediately had another technician sent out to help us!”

The facilities staff at LVHN reports that the 23XRV chiller has been performing well since its installation, with no maintenance costs beyond its normal upkeep. And since the unit came into service, reduction in electrical demand has led to approximately $24,000 lower utility costs per year.

Donovan Denlinger, Commercial Sales Engineer for Carrier, said, “The staff at LVHN has been so pleased with the 23XRV chiller that they allow us to bring prospective customers to see the unit in action. People are always impressed by how quiet the chiller is. And the efficiency numbers speak for themselves.”

PROJECT SUMMARY
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Project Type: Retrofit
Building Size: 160,000ft2
Built: c. 1970
Facility Usage: Offices
Objectives: Replace outdated original chiller and magnetic-bearing chiller with reliable, efficient unit
Equipment: AquaEdge® 23XRV screw chiller Cooling Tons: 400
Major Decision Drivers: Previous experience with efficient, reliable Carrier 19XR chiller; desire to avoid refrigerants slated for future phase-out
Unique Features: Carrier 23XRV chiller, installed and maintained by Carrier Commercial Service, replaced original chiller and also took over the load of the magnetic bearing chiller
Installation Date: 2013

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The Garrett-Jacobs Mansion is a historic, four-story home in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. Built in the late 1800s, the celebrated building – preserved by state historical easements – has been home base for the Engineering Society of Baltimore, Inc. (Engineers Club) since 1961. Known in the industry as the “cultural capital of engineering in the Mid-Atlantic”, the Engineers Club opens its venue to various associations and the community for weddings, banquets, educational seminars and other private events.

A few years ago, the Engineers Club realized patrons required more accessibility to the upper floors of the mansion as well as a streamlined HVAC system. The Club decided to build an adjacent 5,600-square-foot tower that connects to the building, providing access to an elevator, stairs, accessible washrooms and additional storage.

Having a long-standing relationship with the Engineers Club, Smiley El-Abd, commercial area manager, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS),worked with distributor, Aireco Advanced Products Group, to provide CITY MULTI® Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) to serve both the new building and parts of the restored mansion.

THE VERTICAL EXPANSION
The project, known as the “vertical expansion” has been years in the making. As the engineer responsible for HVAC design, Cory Colassard, vice president of Spears/Votta & Associates, Inc., explained that the new VRF system is part of a plan to modernize the mansion’s heating and cooling systems.

“This project is an opportunity to improve the building, improve operating costs, give the Engineers Club flexibility and allow them to have individual temperature control in multiple rooms,” noted Colassard. “It’s an improvement that’s generating a master plan for moving forward instead of putting a bandage on the conditioning issues as they arise.”

VRF INNOVATION
In 2013, after one of the mansion’s boilers broke down among a slew of other HVAC issues, Mitsubishi Electric and Aireco came together to donate a 12-ton VRF heat pump. The donation, which conditioned both the library and a drawing room, made quite the impression on both patrons and Club members. Dale Whitehead, executive director of the Engineers Club, said based on that experience they were happy to renovate with Mitsubishi Electric again.

“That system has worked perfectly. It’s never broken down, it’s had minimal cost for maintenance – it’s always worked,” explained Whitehead. “Everyone’s thrilled with how the whole system operates. After the original donation we worked on with Smiley – which was so great – it was a no-brainer that Mitsubishi Electric was who we were going to go with for this project.”

Since the Club moved into the Garrett-Jacobs Mansion, over $12 million has been invested in restoration work – including HVAC updates. With several different types of conditioning systems and outdated boilers, the building was running inefficiently and couldn’t satisfy the venue’s comfort requirements. El-Abd noted that from the initial donation, the project team worked with the tower in mind to lay the groundwork for an eventual VRF overhaul.

A NEW PLAN FOR COMFORT
“When we started, there was no vision for conditioning needs. We came in with VRF and now the Engineers Club can envision how the building is going to work for the next 100 years,” explained El-Abd. “With historical buildings, it is so common that a person will add on one system, then another will choose a different one…which can have some negative implications. With Mitsubishi Electric it’s so easy. You can expand the system as needed while tying everything into one integrated controls system.”

Ultimately, Mitsubishi Electric’s R2-Series system with a Lossnay® Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) was selected for the vertical expansion tower – a four-story, light steel structure. In addition to the tower, the new system conditions some rooms on the second floor of the mansion, areas that previously did not receive conditioning or modern ventilation.

“We now have a modern system in a good percentage of the building,” noted Whitehead. “It’s unobtrusive and perfect for what we need.”

STREAMLINED CONTROLS AND ZONING
Both ducted and ductless units were installed in the mansion and the tower. Additionally, the building recently upgraded its dated controls system to the AE-200A Centralized Controller, giving Whitehead and Engineers Club staff precise management of the facility for both day-to-day operations and events.

As for continued VRF expansion, El-Abd is confident the Engineers Club will reap the benefits of switching its HVAC systems. “VRF significantly reduces the heating load calculations. At the mansion, people can rent out various rooms, people can utilize the Club bar… with zoning, the air handlers will serve the
specific zones in use.”

The vertical expansion was completed in September 2018. While many anticipated the reopening of the mansion, the building holds significant meaning to the project team. With several HVAC
engineering societies meeting regularly at the Garrett-Jacobs mansion, including The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), this project is really the effort of engineers coming together for the benefit of the field.

“Mitsubishi Electric was perfect for this job,” noted Colassard. “As the engineering community, we gain so much from these societies that we try to give back when possible. With Smiley being active in charitable activities, this was the perfect opportunity for Mitsubishi Electric to give back to the community.”

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