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The HVAC&R Industry, ASHRAE's free weekly eNewsletter for HVAC&R professionals, provides relevant, timely information about industry and technology for people who create healthy, comfortable indoor environments.
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To unsubscribe from this eNewsletter, click here. Industry News U.S. Exceeds Energy Conservation Expectations
WASHINGTON—Americans conserved about 112 million MWh of electricity in 2010, 21% more than in the previous year, according to a report released this week. The numbers for 2011 are likely to be even better, says the report by the Institute for Electric Efficiency, a nonprofit organization that promotes the benefits of electricity. Utility energy-efficiency programs as well as more efficient appliances and gadgets are cited as the primary drivers of the savings. Efficiency is considered a good investment because it's cheaper to save energy than to make energy. The report pegs the cost of saving energy at 3.5 to 4.3 cents/kWh.
Click here to read a related news article.
Click here to read the report, "Summary of Ratepayer-Funded Electric Efficiency Impacts, Budgets, and Expenditures."
Skyscraper Booms in China, India May Not Be Good for Economy
MUMBAI, India—Skyscraper building booms in China and India may signal an impending economic correction in the large economies, according to a new report. Barclays Capital found an "unhealthy correlation" between construction of tall buildings and impending financial crises over the last 140 years. China is home to half of the world's skyscrapers—defined as buildings 240 m (787 ft) and taller—under construction. India, which currently has only two skyscrapers, is seeing its first skyscraper building boom, with 14 under construction. Historically, skyscraper construction has been characterized by bursts of intense activity that coincide with easy credit, rising land prices and excessive optimism, but often by the time skyscrapers are finished, the economy has slipped into recession.
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'Melting' Buildings, Clothes to Save Energy
SEATTLE—A new building on the University of Washington's campus is designed to "melt." Encapsulated within its walls and ceiling panels is a gel that solidifies at night and melts with the warmth of the day. The phase change material (PCM) gel is designed to help reduce the amount of energy needed to cool the building by as much as 98%. A recent report predicts the use of phase change materials in buildings will grow from near zero today to $130 million in annual sales by 2020. PCM technology also is emerging for other applications. A UK company is using carbon dioxide, which changes phase from liquid to gas at a low temperature, to keep data centers cool. In China, PCMs derived from yak butter are woven into herders' clothing.
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EPA Launches Online Database of Greenhouse Gas Data
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is, for the first time, making comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) data reported from large facilities and suppliers accessible to the public online. EPA's GHG Reporting Program, launched Jan. 11, includes 2010 data from from facilities in nine industry groups that directly emit large quantities of GHGs, as well as suppliers of certain fossil fuels. The data can be sorted by facility, location, industrial sector, and the type of GHG emitted.
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Sustainable, 30-Story Hotel Built in 15 Days
HUNAN PROVINCE, China—A Chinese firm has erected a 30-story, 17,000 m2 (183,000 ft2) hotel tower in just 15 days, or 360 hours total. The hotel, erected from prefabricated parts, has a variety of sustainable features. The façade of the building is 15 cm (6 in.) thick glass curtain wall insulation that was pulled to the required level and then fixed in position. It has four-paned windows with external solar shading, internal window insulation and a heat recovery system. IAQ is maintained by a three-stage air purifying system. The building is designed to be sturdy enough to withstand a magnitude 9 earthquake.
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Researchers Develop Cheap Plastic That Absorbs Carbon Dioxide
LOS ANGELES—Researchers in California have produced a cheap plastic capable of removing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. In the future, the new material could enable the development of large-scale batteries and form the basis of "artificial trees" that lower atmospheric concentrations of CO2. A team of USC researchers, led by Nobel laureate George Olah, used polyethylenimine (PEI), a cheap polymer that absorbs CO2, dissolved it in methanol, and spread it on a batch of silica. In tests, the new material absorbed an average of 1.72 nanomoles of CO2, among the highest levels of absorption from air ever tested. The research is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
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 Feature of the Week Controlling Corrosion in Marine Refrigeration Systems
By Amey S. Majgaonkar, M.E.
Although corrosion can affect production in commercial applications, in naval warships and submarines, corrosion can affect the crew's survival. This article discusses corrosion control in marine refrigeration systems. However, according to the author, similar methodologies are applicable for any refrigeration system.
The author of this article is the recipient of the 2011 George Briley ASHRAE Journal Article Award. The award is recommended annually by the ASHRAE Refrigeration Committee to recognize an individual for excellence in contribution to ASHRAE Journal with an article related to refrigeration. The award is named for George C. Briley, Fellow/Life Member ASHRAE. It will be presented at the 2012 Winter Conference in Chicago during the Refrigeration Committee Meeting.
This article originally was published in April 2011. Click here to download the article. It will be available here through Jan. 26.
After Jan. 26, access to the article from this eNewsletter will no longer be available. It will remain available for free download by members here and for purchase by nonmembers in the ashrae.org online store.
Product News Chilled Water Plant Optimization System From Siemens
BUFFALO GROVE, Ill.—The Building Technologies Division of Siemens Industry introduces Demand Flow, an energy optimization controller system for centrifugal and screw-type chilled water systems. The system is designed to reduce the plant's total energy consumption by 20% to 50%. It automatically controls and sequences the operation of an entire chilled water plant. In particular, Demand Flow optimizes temperature set points for chilled water and condenser water, while controlling pump and fan speeds to maintain the proper energy balance.
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Hydronic System Noise Reduction Device From Watts
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.—The AS-MB Micro Bubble Air Separator from Watts Water Technologies reduces trapped air and bubbles in hydronic heating systems to minimize objectional noise. The patent-pending device has a high capacity and high temperature rating to control heavy "hydronic vocalizing." Also, its coalescing media withstands petroleum-based cleaners, glycol antifreeze and temperatures up to 240°F (116°C).
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Boiler From Viessmann
WATERLOO, Ontario—The Viessmann Group offers the Vitodens 100 condensing space heating boiler. The boiler features the new CombiPLUS Kit, which enables it to deliver on-demand domestic hot water (DHW). Because it can generate up to 3.6 gpm (0.23 L/s) of reliable on-demand DHW, the CombiPLUS Kit eliminates the need for a DHW storage tank in lower-load applications. The unit features a plate-type heat exchanger, built-in pressure bypass, three-speed DHW/space heating pump and three-way diverting valve. Built-in temperature and flow sensors ensure consistent supply, and DHW heating is managed through the boiler's on-board control.
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Subscription Management American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is an international membership organization founded to advance the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and related issues.
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