Tag Archives: industrial hvac

Reducing Your Commercial HVAC Costs With An Energy Audit

Commercial HVAC Cost Control

commercial hvacDuring your next scheduled industrial air conditioning service, you might want to consider requesting an energy audit as well. While you may spend money on commercial HVAC services on a regular basis to ensure your commercial HVAC system is operating properly and not burning energy inefficiently it is important to also know how well your building is holding the heat that your commercial HVAC system is producing.  If your building is not holding the hot or cold air your commercial HVAC system is producing, then you’re throwing away money through the leaks. If the service technician tells you your HVAC system seems to be doing well each time you have an industrial air conditioning service inspection but your energy bills seem too high, then energy leaks might be the main culprit.

Energy Leaks in a Commercial HVAC System

Even though energy leaks are usually discussed regarding loss of heat during the winter months, they can also negatively affect the indoor air temperature during the hot summer months. A building energy audit will determine whether or not you structure is properly insulated and can be one of the most important commercial HVAC services you invest in. A proper energy audit can detect exactly where in your building is lacking insulation and sealing. They can also show you how to save money on hot water and electric bills. Maintaining the temperature within a building which has not been properly weatherized is like trying to regulate the temperature in a room with an open window. To achieve a comfortable temperature, you have to spend a considerable amount more on commercial HVAC costs than if the window was closed.

Weatherizing a building is inexpensive when you take into consideration how much money you’ll be saving over time in heating and air conditioning. To determine what your building’s specific weatherization needs are, an energy auditor will use a blower to determine how much air can get out through a door and how tightly sealed the building is. Using a calibrated blower can tell you exactly how much air is getting out through the cracks.   After the building is weatherized the auditor will retest the building to ensure the efficiency issues have been resolved.  A reduction in your commercial HVAC bill will also tell you things have improved.

Ways To Detect Leaks In Your Commercial HVAC System

commercial HVACInfrared cameras and infrared thermographs can also be used to detect energy leaks.  These will show the temperature differences in various areas of a building. By pointing out where the hot and cold spots are, you can then determine where your energy from your commercial HVAC system is leaking. Again, the auditor should use these tools before and after the building is weatherized to ensure that the leakage problems have been fixed.

All buildings have energy losses. In homes, this is usually in attics and chimneys. Basements can also be sources of lost energy through joists and other structural joints. To reduce energy losses from your commercial HVAC system be sure to keep windows and doors closed when the system is running. The efficiency of the boiler and chiller can also help you cut energy losses and costs.  Using an auditor can help you determine how to reduce big energy losses as well as small energy losses.  So even minor fixes like gaskets behind outlets will have a positive impact on your energy costs and will help your commercial HVAC system run as efficiently as possible.

Contact Sacramento Refrigeration to schedule an energy audit of your commercial HVAC system.

How Proper Industrial HVAC System Design Can Affect Your Bottom Line

Industrial HVAC Systems In The Manufacturing World

Industrial HVAC systems account for approximately thirty percent of the energy used by manufacturing companies.  While the purpose of an industrial HVAC system is to heat and cool an enclosed space, a good air system design also reduces the energy consumption, improves air quality inside the commercial building, and prevents the release of toxic gases into the surrounding environment.

What Makes Up And Industrial HVAC System?

industrial hvacThe word HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. An industrial HVAC system for a building can have different combinations of heating and cooling devices.  These systems can include a boiler, furnace, heat pump, rooftop unit, or electric heat. Common industrial cooling systems include rooftop units, heat pumps, chillers, and basic air conditioning units.

Industrial HVAC installation can be quite complex due to the requirements of the system and the size of the equipment being installed.  This is why it is critical the installation of an industrial HVAC system be performed by a company that is familiar with the building requirements and codes as well as the industrial HVAC equipment.  A basic HVAC system is often used for a single zone in an industrial plant. Whereas modifications to the basic set-up will be implemented when the system is cooling, heating, and ventilating multi-plants and large areas.

Design Of Industrial HVAC Systems

In a basic industrial HVAC system, air is brought in from an air intake located on the top or side of the building. The air is forced through a damper by atmospheric pressure that regulates how much air is taken into the industrial HVAC system. Air that has already run through the system is combined with the outside air. This air mixture is then run through a filter that removes large particles such as dust, leaves, and bugs. A second filter takes care of smaller particles before the air goes through a fan. Air leaves the fan and is heated or cooled by coils. A drain pan collects any condensation from the coils and the air is sent through the ductwork to cool or heat the building. It is then returned by air registers to be mixed with new air or sent out of the building.  While the ducting can be complicated in an industrial HVAC system it is important to keep it as efficient as possible.

Three main types of air conditioners are commonly used in industrial HVAC installation. An industrial HVAC system has other primary functions whereas a regular air conditioner’s main function is to make a space comfortable. Direct expansion coolers consist of three components including window units, heat pumps, and packaged units. Units may be located on the rooftop and air is cooled when it passes over the coils. Chilled water systems have a refrigeration machine that cools water that is used by a coil to cool the air. Finally, evaporative coolers combine hot air with a damp surface to eliminate heat in dry climates. This action causes the moisture to evaporate and decrease air temperature.

Industrial HVAC systems in a commercial or manufacturing environment can become very complex.  So it is extremely important to know what is needed before installation. Using an industrial air conditioning service that has experience in these types of setups can be very helpful and ensure you get a quality installation.

A bad installation can result in higher energy costs, bad air quality, and insufficient working conditions. These types of problems can decrease productivity and make daily operations of your industrial HVAC equipment next to impossible in some cases.  Contact us to discuss your industrial HVAC system and improving its performance.