Langendorf Supply Co., a distributor and supplier of HVAC equipment throughout the Midwest, decided it was time to investigate how to make its own space more energy-efficient.
This month, I am continuing my recent exploration of situations where building systems do not pass their commissioning functional performance tests at the end of construction.
Industry change reveals not just different talents but varying levels of ambition, too.
April 1, 2015
Over time, many if not all employees eventually become comfortable in their work environment. I don’t think this can be helped, be-cause with routine comes contentment.
Reactors for AC drives are available as either AC reactors or DC reactors (DC link chokes). Both serve the same main purpose: to smooth the current flow to the AC drive, and reduce damaging harmonics produced on the power line.
125 South Wacker, a 31-story Chicago high-rise that is halfway through a five-year master plan, represents a massive undertaking both in volume and scope of equip-ment.
Last month’s column (February 2015) addressed the potential situation where the design engineers specify a change to a system which has already passed its commissioning functional performance test.
Back around 2002, I came up with this idea based on a perceived need to have commissioning software available for me to write functional performance test (FPT) documents.
More than ever, existing buildings are the key to future efficiency gains. And yet, better equipment isn’t everything. The knowledge and behaviors of both occupants and operations staff play critical roles, perhaps greater than you realize. An integrated team approach, smart training, and the Hawthorne Effect are but three factors contributing to your next retrofit’s ultimate fate.