HVAC equipment engineers a basic review of fan engineering from an energy perspective.

his webinar offers HVAC equipment engineers a basic review of fan engineering from an energy perspective.  Fan terminology, performance characteristics, and fan laws will be presented with emphasis on fan selections that assure high energy efficiency and compliance with applicable codes and standards.  The presentation will also include an overview of emerging fan technologies that provide cost and energy benefits to high-performance HVAC systems. Participants will learn to read, interpret, and apply fan performance curves, and how to estimate fan energy usage. 

By the end of this webinar, attendees should be able to:

• Determine and apply the operating characteristics of a fan using fan curves.
• Estimate the annual energy usage of a given fan application.
• How to right-size a fan for best energy utilization.
• When, and when not, to use the fan laws. 

UNEP ask to stop using ozone damaging chemicals on air conditioners.

The ozone layer refers to a region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of uv radiation form sun. The ozone layer is very small, it is vitally important to life.

Africa UNEP urging the suppliers like refrigerators and air-conditioners to stop chemical which damage ozone layers. We all know air conditioning units use HCFC cooling chemicals, it’s mainly damage ozone layer very badly.

UNEP representatives asked air-conditioning and refrigeration business owners to consider putting a limit on the amount of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment

With decreased demand for HCFC, "new equipment coming into the country is cheaper and it's coming with alternatives.

Advantages of Geothermal HVAC Systems

The main advantage of the geothermal is a renewable energy system that does not require taxpayers to purchase fuel like natural gas. Geothermal therefore insulates taxpayers from future price increases in natural gas and provides a method for cutting energy costs, helping keep the budget balanced and can help decrease future tax increases.

Advantages of Geothermal HVAC systems

1.       Geothermal HVAC systems have longer period than any other HVAC systems

2.      Life span will be four time greater than a normal HVAC system.

3.      Very low maintenance cost for your home comfort

4.      No need of additional fuel or power

New Family of HVAC Micro controllers

The No 1 Company in embedded systems, today launched a new family of microcontrollers targeted at hvac applications. The Spansion® Traveo™ microcontrollers are based on the ARM® Cortex®-R5 core and will deliver high performance, enhanced human-machine interfaces, high-security and advanced networking protocols tailored for a broad range of automotive applications such as electrification, body electronics, battery management, automotive cluster displays, HVAC and ADAS.

HVAC Services

Air Track Inc Mississauga's most trusted source for heating, ventilation and air conditioning services, products and solutions for more than 20 years. We service and install a full range of residential, commercial and industrial HVAC equipment -- from conventional to geo-thermal. We guarantee our customers quality service in a timely fashion. While that may seem like a simple creed, it is uncommon in the HVAC industry.

Delta Electronics to Exhibit Its Latest Energy-Efficient Building Automation Solutions

Delta Electronics, Inc., a global leader in power and thermal management solutions, announced today that it is showcasing a broad range of energy-efficient solutions for a variety of applications at CeBIT Australia 2014. Delta’s building automation solutions for HVAC systems commonly enable up to 50% in energy savings which is a significant benefit for Australian enterprises that must deal with some of the highest electricity costs in the world. Delta is also introducing its uninterruptible power supply (UPS) products in the Australian marketplace that are highly adaptable, scalable and capable of enhancing the energy efficiency and reliability of mission critical applications, such as banking, healthcare, telecom services, mid-sized datacenters and others.

Delta Electronics, under the guidance of its corporate mission “to provide innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow”, is committed to delivering world-class standards of energy conservation to Australia. Thus, as an end-to-end solutions provider capable of fulfilling the different needs of small, medium and large enterprises, Delta will present at CeBIT Australia 2014:

• Building Automation Solutions include the Intelligent Sensorless Vector Control Drive CP2000 which enables prime energy conservation in HVAC systems in buildings. The CP2000 has control functions for pumps and fans in the HVAC systems, including PID control, sleep/wake-up modes, flying start and skip frequency. It also supports high speed communication interfaces with built-in MODBUS RS-485 and BACnet protocols, and provides fire mode and bypass functions for HVAC system operation safety. Delta’s Integrated Elevator Drive IED series provide installation space and cost saving solutions for elevator system in buildings, and users are able to monitor real-time elevator operation with Human Machine Interfaces (HMI). Delta’s building automation solutions provide greener and better living/working environments.
• Single-phase rack-mount UPS – The Amplon RT Series UPS (5/6/10 kVA) are energy-saving backup power solutions that help enhance the competitiveness of medium to small network devices, POS systems, security and surveillance systems. Indeed, its double-conversion on-line technology, high power density, low current harmonics and 1+1 parallel redundancy function can provide the highest standards of reliability and energy efficiency to Australian businesses.
• Three-phase monoblock UPS – The Ultron HPH Series UPS (20/30/40 kW) are engineered to achieve leading AC-AC power efficiency of up to 96% for mission critical applications such as industrial equipment, data centers, traffic control facilities, broadcast stations and backbone networks. The HPH series UPS is a new-generation system that delivers optimal power performance (kVA=kW). The HPH Series was awarded the CIIF (China International Industrial Fair) Silver Award in November 2013 while being designated by the organizers as a new technology and breakthrough product in the global high tech industry.
• Three-phase modular UPS –The Modulon DPH Series UPS (25-200 kW) offers a scalable architecture that allows customers to optimize capital expenditures by aligning their power demands with the business growth without over-sizing power backup capacity. Its self-synchronized power and control module, as well as its hot-swappable feature ensure Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) close to zero without downtime risk. Energy savings are palpable given its leading AC-AC operating efficiency of 95% at 30% light load and 96% from 50% load.

HVAC Equipments Market Growing at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2012 to 2018 : Transparency Market Research

Activities of industry participants highlight key challenges faced by them and concurrent growth strategies adopted. These players under the stress of market saturation and low profit margins in the developed markets of North America and Europe are now focusing on emerging economies of Asia Pacific and Latin America. Moreover, the binding effect of different environmental protocols/treaties is pushing the need to develop environment friendly equipments, which require heavy investment in research and development activities. This has poised capital challenges for new entrants to the market.

Analysis of the global HVAC equipment market based on different components identifies cooling units as a dominant segment. Control systems segment is expected to see CAGR of 6.9% for the period 2012 – 2018. This growth is supported by increased usage and demand of control devices from manufacturers. Manufacturers in order to meet changing consumer behavior are developing smart solutions which are then incorporated in new equipments, so as to make them more efficient and responsive to consumer requirements. This has dual impact as it not only generates demand for new equipments but also replacement demand for the obsolete and inefficient equipments.

7th Edition of Advanced Components & Maintenance HVAC Training Program

05 May 2014: In its 7th edition, the "Advanced Components & Maintenance in Heating, Ventilation & Air-conditioning (HVAC) - Training Course" scheduled for 08th to 11th June 2014 in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and 22nd to 25th June 2014 in Doha, Qatar; is set to bring latest topics, technical advancements and updated standards to the attending HVAC professionals.

Elan is an independent HVAC consultant, with about 25 years experience in EPC project execution of all equipments and piping systems for heavy industries including water, utility, piping, and HVAC systems right from concept to commissioning. He has rendered his services to large corporations in India and in Middle East; also provides trainings and seminars to various technical training institutes like Indian Institute of Technology, Jain Group of Education, Dayanand Sagar Institute of Engineering etc. Elan is also an active member of associations like ASHRAE and ISHRAE.

This focused training program will gather HVAC engineers, operators, supervisors, technicians | Maintenance engineers, technicians & staff | Design, electrical, mechanical, operation, maintenance, inspection & repair managers, supervisors & engineers.

Building-Integrated Solar HVAC on the Rise

According to data released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), a growing sector of the industry has reached a major milestone, with 5 million square feet of building-integrated solar air heating collectors now installed in North America.

SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch says these systems represent 250 megawatts (MW) of thermal energy and displace nearly 100,000 tons of CO2 each year from the atmosphere.

Solar air heating systems work by heating incoming ventilation air before it is brought into a building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC), using wall-mounted collectors that are typically made of metal and have 30-plus year lifespans.

HVAC Energy efficiency plan advances

The Washington Island School Board unanimously approved awarding Johnson Controls a performance contract for the district’s upcoming energy conservation and facility improvements project during its Monday meeting.

The board OK’d the company installing a HVAC system with an air handling unit and a liquid petroleum boiler. Sevastopol, Southern Door and Gibraltar have undertaken similar energy-efficient projects with Johnson Controls in the last few years.

According to Superintendent Tim Raymond, the cost for those three projects is $568,573. The board plans to exceed state-imposed revenue limits to pay for the upgrades.

County Board OKs sponsoring For HVAC upgrade at museum

NEW ULM Brown County commissioners unanimously approved sponsoring the Brown County Historical Society's (BCHS) application for a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage (Legacy) grant to upgrade the museum HVAC system on Tuesday.

The BCHS will apply for a $170,000 Legacy grant and would receive $20,000 from Brown County for phase one of the project estimated at$209,000. Improvements taking place in 2015 would include HVAC controls, chiller, water pumps and control valves.

The museum was originally built as a post office in 1910 and operated as a post office for 66 years. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

Commissioners consider BCHS grant for HVAC upgrade

NEW ULM Brown County commissioners on Tuesday will consider sponsoring the Brown County Historical Society's application for a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage (Legacy) grant for the Brown County Museum.

The BCHS seeks acceptance of a March 18 heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) study and its recommendations. In addition, BCHS hopes to receive a $170,000 Legacy grant and $40,000 in cash matches for the $210,000 project, according to a letter from BCHS Director Bob Burgess .

The request includes Brown County committing $20,000 towards the local match required for Phase 1 of the Legacy Grant HVAC system project.

Commissioners will also consider:

Planning Commission recommendations including a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to continue to allow a KNUJ Radio transmission tower not to exceed 500 feet in the A-1 Agricultural Protection Zone, Section 18, Home Township.

The 2014 County Health Rankings released March 26, by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Among the state's 87 counties, Brown County ranked 22nd in health outcomes and 37th in health factors, according to the report.

Health outcomes include the collective years of life lost due to people dying before age 75, the percentage of people who report being in fair or poor health and the rate of low-birth weight infants. Health factors include health behavior, clinical care, social and economic factors and physical environment.

The low number of low-birth weight babies and teen pregnancies are areas where Brown County ranked better than the state average. Brown County also ranked favorably in the number of primary care physicians.

Although Brown County maintained an obesity rate above the state rate of 26 percent, over the past three years, the obesity rate fell from 31 to 29 percent.

"I consider this a success and a result of the hard work by communities making changes in schools, restaurants, grocery stores, lifestyles, SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Plan, the Heart of New Ulm, Heart of Brown County, and other organizations that promote health like the Springfield Wellness Task Force," Brown County Public Health Director Karen Moritz wrote.

"An area of concern is the rate of excessive drinking and alcohol-impaired driving deaths in Brown County," Moritz said. "We report 23 percent of adults engaged in binge or excessive drinking compared a 19 percent state average. The conversation of how to promote moderate alcohol vs. excessive alcohol consumption is ongoing."

The county board meeting starts at 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 15 in the courthouse commissioners room.

UAE-based HVAC firm signs distribution deal

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) coil manufacturer Oasis Coils & Coatings (OCC) has announced the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement with Heat Pipe Technology (HPT) at the 2014 AHR Expo in New York.

The agreement was signed between OCC’s CEO Navin Valrani and Mazen Awad, senior vice president of sales and marketing for HPT, in the presence of Gene Toombs IV, president of HPT.

OCC will serve HPT as their exclusive distributor within the markets of the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.

“This exclusive distribution agreement will have a significant impact with OCC as it delivers HPT’s energy-saving heat pipe systems to all its customers within the GCC region and beyond,” said OCC’s Navin Valrani.

“OCC and HPT are joining forces to seize the opportunity to lead the industry towards a sustainable and greener future, and we are convinced this partnership will allow OCC to take a leading position in the GCC region,” he added.

Five Most Valuable Green Building Lessons

1. You should be able to achieve the same energy and water savings as any Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum building around the world, because there is nothing magical or geographically specific about good design.

2. A high-performance building stands out due to the commitment of the owner and building team to achieve “best-in-class” results. noted that the projects he studied were all LEED Platinum, which means they started with high-performance energy-efficiency and water-conservation goals, along with other green building measures.

3. High-performance design uses about the same energy everywhere in the world, said, from Northern Europe to the tropics. Typically, once a good building envelope and efficient HVAC system have been put in place, half the remaining energy use comes from plug and process loads, along with lighting, which tend to be geographically similar in most office buildings, leaving about 15-20 percent for heating and cooling loads to account for regional differences.

4. The best green buildings are just as beautiful as buildings with ordinary energy and water performance. One of the core tenets of the book, he stated, is that there is no inherent conflict between buildings with great architectural value and those with high-performance green characteristics.

5. Finally, the research indicated that there are no standard definitions of building energy use, and no good ways to “tease out” core energy use from special operations such as onsite data centers. In fact, in Australia, the authors were surprised to find that building energy use is typically reported only for the base building, leaving out tenant loads in commercial offices, a practice that dramatically understates actual energy use and one for which the book was able to account.

New refrigerator technology uses magnets, boosts energy efficiency

GE Appliances is developing magnetic refrigeration for residential use, a technology that needs no refrigerants or compressors and promises to increase the energy efficiency of refrigerators by 20 percent.

Magnetic refrigeration - technically called magnetocaloric refrigeration - is not a new concept, but it hasn't yet been used in residential refrigeration. That should happen within five years, the company said in a news release.

Here's how GE describes the technology:

"The system uses a water-based fluid rather than a chemical refrigerant such as Freon to transfer heat from inside the refrigerator and achieve the cooling process. Instead of a compressor, magnets are used to create a magnetic field that agitates particles in the fluid causing it to cool. The strength of the magnetic fields determines how cold the fluid becomes, and in turn, how quickly it cools the refrigerator."

The lack of refrigerant also will make recycling used refrigerators easier and cheaper, noted Venkat Venkatakrishnan, GE Appliances' director of advanced technologies.

When to replace a furnace

I hope your furnace is getting a well-deserved rest after this freakishly frigid winter. But you ask a great question: How can you be sure an older-but-operable unit can handle another heating season?

Highly rated HVAC experts tell our team that you should consider three factors before deciding if it's time to invest $2,500 to $5,500 in a new furnace:

- Age: A furnace has an average life span of 12 to 18 years, so if yours has been warming you for at least a dozen years, it may be time to consider replacement.

- Energy efficiency: Outdated furnaces generally use more energy than new models. Also, an older unit may be oversized, which can cause it to "short cycle," or turn on and off more often than needed. Upgrading to a newer, smaller furnace may reduce your energy bills and increase your comfort level.

- Problem signs: Signals that your furnace may need either a pro's attention or replacement include unusually high utility bills, rooms heating unevenly or a screeching or squealing noise, which may indicate a blower motor problem.

When considering if it's worth it to invest in a repair, remember this rule of thumb: If a repair will cost more than half the price of a new appliance and the unit is more than 6 or 7 years old, it's probably best to buy new.

If you decide to shop for a new unit, consider its AFUE number. AFUE stands for "annual fuel utilization efficiency" and is a measure of how efficiently a furnace converts fuel energy to heat over a typical year. A unit with an AFUE of 95 percent means that 95 percent of the fuel it burns becomes heat, while the other 5 percent is lost. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the furnace.

Intelligent Mobile Support Customer Presents Axon at ACCA Conference Noted HVACR Contractor Cites Profitability Impact of Mobile Solution

SOLON, Ohio, March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Within weeks of its launch, Intelligent Mobile Support's (www.imobilesupport.com) mobile solution, Axon, is receiving praise from users. One of the nation's most respected distributors, Gustave A. Larson Company (www.galarson.com), recently adopted the new technology, citing Axon's positive influence on new-customer recruitment and building loyalty with established contractors such as Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning (www.shavitz.com).

"Axon helps us differentiate ourselves from our competitors," says Gustave A. Larson Marketing Specialist David Blau. "It makes our customers' technicians more efficient in the field and gives them immediate access to our service advisors. Axon is a great marketing solution, too. We can send marketing messages via text or display banner advertisements while the service technicians are troubleshooting the equipment. IMS has developed an amazing product; we're very excited to share it with our dealer base as well as prospective business partners."

Axon, a smartphone/tablet application developed by Solon, Ohio-based Intelligent Mobile Support, is designed to streamline and strengthen the technical support process. It includes Hot Pages from OEM manuals to help technicians find installment and repair solutions quickly; Live Connect, a direct line to service experts, typically at the distributor level; and Dialog, which improves communications within a contractor's organization as well as between the contractor and distributor.

Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning's Service Manager, Brad Hunley, also saw immediate value in the new solution, and purchased Axon for every one of its service techs. The technology further impressed the company's CEO, Bronson Shavitz, who is presenting Axon as part of a seminar on Mobile Tech on March 18, 2014 at 2:30pm in the Washington B Room at the ACCA Conference in Nashville, Tennessee (www.acca.org/education/conference).

"Axon will help us eliminate service delays and prevent profit-eroding customer callbacks," says CEO Bronson Shavitz. "With Axon, we can tap into the service expertise of our entire company and instantly reach all of our distributor's service advisors. Axon literally delivers all of this service expertise to the doorsteps of every one of our valued customers. Yet as important as it is to our bottom line to eliminate service delays and call-backs in the short term, the real benefit is keeping our valued customers for the long term. At the end of the day, happy customers give us the word-of-mouth referrals that help us grow."

IMS offers free Axon webinars to contractors, distributors and OEMs interested in learning more about its capabilities.

Intelligent Mobile Support Intelligent Mobile Support (IMS) is a forward-thinking mobile cloud computing company dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions for improving profitability and productivity for business partners in the HVACR industry as well as other industry verticals. IMS is the only company that aggregates OEM content for the distributor and provides dealers with real-time access to distributor experts – all on a distributor-branded solution with a full suite of business analytics. For more information, visit www.imobilesupport.com.

Gustave A. Larson Company Gustave A. Larson Company is the Midwest, Plains and Mountain States' leading wholesale distributor of HVACR equipment, parts and supplies. Representing products from more than 440 leading industry manufacturers in commercial refrigeration, residential and commercial HVAC, food service and pressure/temperature controls, Gustave A. Larson has 350 team members serving customers in 17 states through 46 locations.

Bronson Shavitz, CEO of Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning Bronson Shavitz is part of the fourth generation of a 109-year-old family business that began delivering ice and coal from a horse-drawn carriage and has spent many family dinners talking way too much about HVAC. Starting as a parts gofer and install helper 16 years ago, Bronson has moved through the ranks delivering installation and maintenance services to both residential and commercial clients. Bronson returned to the family business after a brief stint as an Exxon engineer and found that this business was his true calling. Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning has shown steady growth for 10 of the past 11 years and relies on consistent technical training and customer service training of all staff members to continually improve the company.

Survey: 74 Percent of Contractors Unprepared for Efficiency Standards

As manufacturers help prepare the industry with new products to support upcoming regulatory changes, there is evidence that many contractors are not prepared to address these changes with their customers. A survey by Emerson Climate Technologies Inc., a business of Emerson, found that 74 percent of contractors are unaware of the upcoming 2015 standards for residential unitary air conditioning and heat pump systems. Nearly 80 percent of contractors are unaware of 2015 part-load efficiency requirements for light commercial split, package, and rooftop systems, and 84 percent are unaware of the 2015 chiller standards for air- and water-cooled chillers. Unlike the 2005 regulation changes, the 2015 changes will affect both residential and commercial efficiency standards.

The survey of 472 contractors, conducted via email by Emerson Climate Technologies in late 2013, found the majority of contractors were either unaware of the standards or had little idea how the standards would affect their businesses. Only 12 percent had started training their technicians or thinking about an inventory plan.

“This isn’t the first time the industry has gone through a SEER change or updates to residential and commercial efficiency standards, and Emerson Climate Technologies is ready with technology to meet and exceed minimum efficiency requirements. We want to help the industry get prepared for these changes, and we will be providing additional information on our new website, AC & Heating Connect,” said Frank Landwehr, vice president, air conditioning marketing, Emerson Climate Technologies. “We will continue to support the industry’s readiness with educational materials, technology updates, and insights from additional surveys.”

Emerson’s survey also found that for the residential changes, 18 percent of contractors had read about the transition and 16 percent had talked about the regulations with an OEM or distributor. Only 3 percent had started developing a marketing plan for the new standards.

On the commercial side, Emerson’s survey found only 8 percent of contractors had trained their service teams on the new rooftop or chiller standards. Very few, only 3 percent, had talked to an OEM about the changes. Four percent started developing a marketing plan to address these regulatory changes with their customers.

“Contractors cannot afford to be unprepared for these regulatory updates. They need to be researching the changes that are coming to their region; talking to OEMs, wholesalers, and manufacturers; and identifying opportunities for their businesses,” Landwehr said. “Now is the time for contractors to be actively seeking information from trustworthy sources.”

Understanding The Incentives Of A New HVAC System

When the time comes to purchase a new HVAC system, you might find yourself concerned with the cost as you receive estimates for different types of systems and customizations. It may seem like the smartest decision to go for the least expensive option in an attempt to save money, but often times this will just result in needing to spend more money on repairs and maintenance. Aside from purchasing better quality, spending more money initially on a higher efficiency system can also bring you benefits of certain incentives and rebates that a lot of consumers are not even aware of.

Incentives that come along with air conditioners and heating systems are most often linked to the systems' efficiency ratings and performance level. The scale that is used to measure the efficiency of an air conditioning system is called the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, also known as SEER. The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, known as HSPF, measures heating systems. When a system has a high SEER or HSPF rating, this indicates a higher efficiency.

If you purchase a system that holds a high efficiency rating, the up front cost will be greater. However, a higher efficiency system will often result in more rebates and government incentives. These incentives can come in the form of tax credits, deductions, or direct rebates. Depending on where you live and the system that you purchase, you can often receive as much as $500.

Both government agencies and the power companies want you to use efficient systems because it assists in reducing power consumption during the seasons when everyone on the block is cranking their heat or air conditioning at its highest. This uses a significant amount of power and energy, and they want to promote the use of high efficiency systems to help take some of the burden off both the power companies and the environment. Offering incentives is their way of giving the consumer a reason to spend more money up front to hopefully receive the monetary difference back over time.

HVAC Air Conditioning Works

Hvac System gallery in canada

HVAC Fleet Increases Productivity 15% with Integrated Tracking Solution

With the implementation of an integrated fleet tracking system, Conditioned Air, Inc. said it has increased its overall fleet productivity. Conditioned Air wanted to move from separate solutions to one integrated solution to ensure they had all the functionality they needed to provide superior service to their customers.

The company used an integrated solution from NexTraq and Compusource.

“Several of the solutions we looked at had complicated user interfaces and outdated mapping technology. The NexTraq solution provided a clean interface that is easy to use and has advanced Google Maps functionality. We also had an outstanding experience with our sales representative,” said Evan Ayoub, Projects Director for Conditioned Air.

The company said that the integration of the NexTraq Fleet Tracking solution and Compusource field service software, which were completed in a single day, has increased productivity up to 15 percent.

“The mapping functionality really helped out our dispatcher who was initially unfamiliar with some of our service area. Now, she is able to send the closest vehicle to a service call to increase our overall feet productivity,” Ayoub said.

Additionally, Ayoub  noted the NexTraq solution has increased overall employee accountability. “We are a family-oriented business, so we don’t have many issues with drivers. If, however, there is a driver problem, we can easily identify and provide the proper counseling,” he said.