July 11, 2017 by Julie Chao Thermal imaging was used to measure surface temperatures near the window, which in turn was used to evaluate the occupants level of thermal comfort. Credit: Berkeley Lab

By using advanced lighting and automated shades, scientists from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) found that occupants on one floor of a high-rise office building in New York City were able to reduce lighting energy usage by nearly 80 percent in some areas.

The dramatic results emerged at a "living laboratory" set up to test four sets of technologies on one 40,000 square-foot floor of a building.

Berkeley Lab partnered with the Building Energy Exchange (BEEx), an independent nonprofit, to demonstrate that even in relatively modern office buildings, installing the latest generation of smart, actively controlled energy efficient lighting and shading can dramatically lower energy costs and enhance the quality of the work environment. These results will be important in speeding market adoption of emerging energy-saving technologies, according to Berkeley Lab scientist Eleanor Lee, who led the project.

"Context matters when it comes to figuring out where the market barriers are with respect to contractors, facility managers, and office workers isolated tests in a laboratory environment are often not enough," she said. "Reducing stakeholders' uncertainty about performance and occupant response in a real-world setting can be critical to accelerating market adoption."

On the living lab floor, T5 fluorescent lights were swapped out for dimmable LEDs with new sensors, which were adjusted throughout the day using advanced controls depending on daylight levels and occupancy of the space. Automated shades were raised or lowered to open up views to the outside, admit daylight, or reduce glare as needed. Researchers monitored the effects of the retrofit for six months, following a year-long baseline monitoring period before the upgrades were installed.

Compared to the baseline condition, energy use for lighting in the 40-foot deep perimeter zone on the living lab floor declined 79 percent, while the associated peak lighting electric demand went down 74 percent. Much of the savings came from the switch from fluorescent lamps to LEDs and being able to dim lights across the floor, not just next to the windows. The advanced controls enabled more granular fixture-by-fixture control with wireless sensors and communications, enabling zone control to be customized at the work-group level.

Many of the decisions related to configuring the controls were driven by the desire to maintain bright interiors and access to outdoor views. Despite the huge reduction in energy use, people surveyed on the living lab floor were generally content with the lighting levels and indoor temperatures.

Though heating and cooling use weren't monitored during the study, researchers estimated that a building-wide retrofit would have provided total electricity cost savings of $730,000 a year, assuming an average rate of $0.20 per kilowatt hour. Using industry estimates of typical installed system costs ranging from $3 to $10 per square foot, the retrofits would pay for themselves in three to 12 years. The researchers also emphasized the importance of installer and operator training, along with systems that have strong diagnostics and troubleshooting tools, in boosting the adoption of these technologies.

BEEx acted as local managers for the Living Lab and documented lessons learned across the entire process of technology selection, procurement, and installation. These lessons have formed the backbone of multiple educational resources, from exhibits to professional training sessions and toolkits, aimed at professionals who make decisions about lighting systems in commercial spaces.

"Using everything we learned on this project, we've developed a series of tools that will really help the engaged design professional or building owner make better decisions about lighting system upgrades, and avoid the common pitfalls on the road to a high performance office space," said Yetsuh Frank, BEEx managing director of strategy and programs."

The market for efficient lighting and shading controls continues to evolve. When the study began in late 2013, the researchers said, even basic features like wire color weren't yet standardized among technologies, causing confusion during installation.

But "manufacturers have really thought about how to reduce the complexity of their systems" over the past decade, Lee said, making them easier to install and more turnkey, while costs continue to come down. She added: "In the next 10 years, as components integrate with coordinated, optimized systems, we anticipate these technologies will deliver even better performance at even lower costs."

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Shading and lighting retrofits slash energy use in New York 'Living Lab' office demonstration - Phys.Org

Geothermal energy is one of the lesser-known types of renewable energy, but a new Alphabet company called Dandelion wants to change that by harnessing the heat underneath your yard to heat and cool your home. For the time being, the service is only available in certain areas of upstate New York. The signup website allows you to check if your home is within the serviceable area by zip code, and boasts immediate savings over your current energy payments thanks to zero down financing for qualified customers. Since the system simply either draws heat into your home from the earth below, or wicks heat from your home down into the earth, there are no service charges to pay, so youre only paying for your installation over time. The payments are touted as being fairly low. Your installation also comes with a smart thermostat.

If your home is within the service area, the process of signing up starts with a chat aboutyour home to assess it for installation with Dandelions experts. If that checks out, theyll come out to your house and plan the installation. If all goes well, the installation itself should take 2 or 3 days, and is done by contracted professionals. The installation can be done alongside a traditional heating and cooling system based on gas or electricity. Nodes are installed under the floor and in the walls of your home, and are hooked up to pipes that go down into the ground. From there, the system is able to pull heat up from the ground, or push it down into the ground from your home. Thanks to the simple setup, a Dandelion hookup can not only heat and cool your home, but can even be used in place of an electric or gas-powered water heater.

The newest spinoff from Alphabet to become an independent company was born within X, and in its current form, consists of X product manager Kathy Hannun serving as CEO, X technical program manager James Quazi as CTO, and former Conergy exec Katie Ullman in charge of marketing. The operation brings together experience from both inside and outside Alphabets wheelhouse, includingSolarCity and Mosaic. The company is still in its infancy, and there is so far no word on when or if the program may expand.

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Alphabet's Dandelion Offers Geothermal Heating & Cooling - Android Headlines

Bruce Dachis will install seven apartment units on top of his existing building at 29th & Bryant.

Prefabricated apartment units are coming to the Wedge.

Developer Bruce Dachis is planning to install seven apartment pods atop his three-story commercial building at 29th & Bryant, just south of the Midtown Greenway. The units will be built off site and placed atop the building via crane.

The project will include one studio apartment, five two-bedroom, two-story apartments and a seventh unit in which Dachis will live. It wont displace any of the building tenants, which include Soo Visual Arts Center, Awaken Pilates Studio and R&M Diamonds, among others.

Im basically building this because I want a place to live, Dachis said.

Dachis estimated that the two-bedroom units would cost $2,500 a month. The studio would cost about half of that, he said.

We think were really competitive in that price range, he said.

Dachis will extend the staircases and elevators up to accommodate the addition. The project also will include a two-car parking garage and closing the curb along Bryant Avenue. Residents will park in an outdoor lot already on the property.

The units could be placed on the building as soon as this fall, Dachis said.

Features will include decks that run the length of the units and high-efficiency furnaces and glass, which will contribute to a small energy footprint, Dachis said. His unit will have a aluminum skin, while the remaining unit will have a charcoal color.

Were using industrial material but in a contemporary design, Dachis said. We think this will be a cool art piece.

Dachis is working with St. Paul architecture firm Alchemy, which has built about 50 prefabricated projects since 2002. The weeHouses, as Alchemy calls them, are built in factories and delivered by flatbed truck to the sites. It takes the firm about nine months to complete projects from start to finish.

weeHouses consist of individual pods that are either 14 or 16 feet long and up to 60 feet wide. The pods can function as stand-alone units or can be combined to create large dwellings. Dachis project will include about 15 pods, for example.

Its really a small, efficient, sort of tool box of a structure, Alchemy founder Geoffrey Warner said.

A one-pod unit can include up to three bedrooms and two bathrooms, according to Warner. Two- and three-pod units are typically between 1,200 and 1,600 square feet, while four-pod units run between 1,8000 and 2,400 square feet.

The pods arrive on site between 80 and 90 percent complete and come standard with small porches and all interior plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, hardwood flooring, windows and doors. Heating and cooling systems and garages can be added.

Modular work starts at $80,000 and runs up to $300,000, according to the Alchemy website. Other costs include site work, delivery, unit placement and land. Alchemy charges a 15 percent fee on top of that.

Alchemys website touts the weeHouses as consuming less energy and having fewer greenhouse gas than a standard home. The firm can incorporate sustainability features such as rainwater collection, passive solar heating and solar panels into the projects.

Mary Bujold, president of Golden Valley-based Maxfield Research & Consulting, said there have been several groups trying to encourage more builders to build prefabricated units. She predicted that more developers are going to consider it, in order to save costs.

I think that theyve really improved the whole prefabrication thing, she said.

The Minneapolis Planning Commission on June 26 approved a conditional-use permit for the Dachis project, allowing him to increase the height of the building from four to five stories. It also approved a variance to reduce the setback on the south side of the building.

The Wedge Neighborhood Association board has supported the project, according to Vice President Katie Jones Schmitt.

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Developer to install seven prefabricated apartment units at 29th & Bryant - Southwest Journal

STEUBENVILLE After receiving an estimate for a new heating, air conditioning and ventilation system for the Ohio Valley Towers building, the Jefferson County commissioners are expected to take a loan for the project.

The commissioners on Thursday received an estimate of more than $2 million to replace the buildings current system. The estimate came from McKinley and Associates of Wheeling, the commissions architectural consultant, which found controls and ductwork must be redesigned and reconfigured to meet the buildings heating and cooling needs.

Commissioner David Maple told his fellow commissioners, Were going to have to go after a loan and probably soon.

Following the meeting, Maple said the buildings existing HVAC system is aging and the commissioners had to bring in an exterior air conditioning unit to cool it. He acknowledged they also face extensive repairs or replacement of the buildings roof.

Maple said the commissioners also might draw on $500,000 remaining from a loan taken for earlier improvements to the building and the demolition of the courthouse annex.

Mark Morelli of Optional Utility Consultants, an energy broker for the county, noted a reduction in energy use since more energy-efficient boilers and lighting were installed at the building. In the near future Morelli is expected to propose the renewal of a three-year contract for the buildings electrical supply.

The Towers building also has helped to save the county money by bringing many of its departments and agencies under one roof.

Commissioner Thomas Graham said the Ohio State University Extension Service and the countys port authority will be moving into the building soon.

The commissioners also granted a request from Mingo Junction for $10,000 from the countys recreation fund to offset the cost for the villages amphitheater project, installation of a non-slip surface for the swimming pools dressing areas and repairs to a shelter house at the park.

Village Administrator Bob Smith said the project had to be redesigned because it would have disturbed a drainage system along the adjacent hillside, but is back on track and expected to be completed this summer.

Money in the recreation fund comes from the countys piggyback tax.

In related business, Island Creek Township trustees advised they used about $2,560 of $4,046 allocated from the fund for the Pleasant Hill ballfield for an emergency measure replacing a collapsing well house supplying water to the park with a submersible pump. The trustees said the remainder of the money was used to reimburse the Pleasant Hill Baseball Association for field mix.

In other business, the commissioners:

Agreed to advertise for a contractor to pave a parking lot at the annexs former site. The commissioners said the lot will include about 37 spaces, most of them for residents visiting the courthouse.

Accepted a $14,236 drug law enforcement grant from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services for the countys drug task force, with the task force to provide the 25 percent match from its budget. Its the fifth consecutive year the task force has received the grant.

Received three bids for a bridge replacement project on county Road 75: $829,000 from A.P. OHoro of Youngstown; $816,180 from Shelly and Sands of Rayland; and $747,463 from BOG Construction of Berlin Center. The bids were referred to the county engineer for review.

Approved a proclamation declaring Thursday as Betty Ferron Day in recognition of her 50 years of service as a county employee and volunteer. They noted that in addition to her role as director of the countys director of job and family services, Ferron has volunteered for the Jefferson County Fourth Street Health Center and other causes.

Appointed Todd Phillipson, Dave Lucas, Karla Martin and Rich Gualtire to the Jefferson County Youth Council and Kyle Brown, Karen DAnnibale, Nicholas Cacciacarro, Randy Stillings and Martin to the work force investment board. All will serve three-year terms.

All of the appointments are renewals except for Martin, who is the new coordinator of the Aspire GED program at Eastern Gateway Community College, and Cacciacarro, who is PNC Banks new representative to the work force investment board.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

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Commissioners mull loan for HVAC project at the Towers - The Steubenville Herald-Star

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The business that provides heating and cooling for most of the buildings in downtown Youngstown is in such bad financial shape, a state agency has stepped in to help.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio voted Friday to provide some help to the Youngstown Thermal Company. The meeting in Columbus lasted a short two and half minutes but created the process for a long-term plan to fix its finances.

In very short order, the PUCO staff conducted a review of Youngstown Thermals finances and determined that the utility is insolvent or in the imminent danger of insolvency, said PUCO Chairman Asim Haque.

The commission voted to ask Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine to seek the appointment of a receiver to solve the companys financial problems.

A PUCO investigation showed cash flow problems, utility disconnect notices, missed payroll, and a failure to pay debts.

Youngstown Thermal provides the steam that heats and cools most of downtown Youngstown, including city hall.

I would imagine with this receivership in place, at some point in time, it could be sold, it could be run by somebody else, Haque said.

But even with the PUCO using words like insolvency, Youngstown Thermal CEO Carl Avers said theres no immediate threat of the company closing.

The Public Utility Commissions responsibility is to continue service so there is no concern about the discontinuing of service of any kind, Haque said.

Late Friday afternoon, Avers emailed WKBN a statement, saying Youngstown Thermal has saved businesses $5 million a year in fuel costs for most of the last 35 years:

Some of our managers reactivated coal use with a clean coal technology burning operation at Youngstown Thermal in 1980 when Youngstown Thermal acquired the then fuel oil burning North Avenue Steam Plant from Ohio Edison. From 1979 to 2007 Youngstown Thermal saved the Central Business District approximately $140,000,000 in fuel savings. This reactivation was made possible with the installation of the then state-of-the-art pollution control systems which turned out to be the fore runner of todays most modern coal burning systems. Youngstown State University, City Buildings, County Buildings, YMCA and most of downtowns CBD have been the benefactor of low cost fuels not technically possible without a district steam network. Youngstown Thermal steam rates historically have been among the lowest steam rates in the country and provided an economic incentive for Youngstowns Central Business District. In 2006 it would have cost $5,000,000 more each year if the CBD buildings used natural gas for their fuel source for heating instead of clean coal.Incidentally in about 2008 the combustion/control technology at Youngstown Thermal was adopted as best available technology for theState of Pennsylvania.

Avers said he asked the PUCO to put Youngstown Thermal in receivership, in part because he said four companies which he would not identify owe him a million dollars and he hopes receivership will help him collect the money.

Youngstown Mayor John McNally said the Attorney General will likely begin legal proceedings in a week or so in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

I actually think this is a good thing to happen. I think its something that us here in city hall have quietly been waiting to see happen over the past two years, McNally said.

It isnt yet known if the receivership will be a single person or more than one person. Thats up to the judge.

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Company heating, cooling downtown Youngstown in financial trouble - WKBN.com

Democrats on a U.S. congressional committee have asked the president of a company that oversaw the maintenance of FEMA trailers issued to victims of Louisiana's historic floods in August whether he wants to change or withdraw testimony he made that absolved his company of knowledge that some of the manufactured homes had malfunctioning thermostats.

One of those malfunctioning thermostats is being blamed in the death of a blind military vet, a flood victim who was found dead inside one of the trailers in Baton Rouge.

The Democratic members of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform asserted they have obtained documents that contradict statements David Boone made under oath when he claimed that he wasn't aware of any issues with the thermostats until after the death of Everett Wilson.

+8

Congress has ordered a review of FEMA's manufactured housing unit program after a Baton Roug

Boone is the president of Capital Services, formerly called Chicago Bridge & Iron Federal Services. The company was sold Friday to private equity firm Veritas Capital.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency contracted with Capital Services to haul, install and maintain the manufactured housing units issued to residents displaced after the devastating floods.

Liza Kelso, the company's spokeswoman, acknowledged receipt of the letter and said they are reviewing the matter and will provide an appropriate response to committee members.

"However, we strongly disagree with any suggestion that false testimony was proffered by Mr. Boone during that hearing," Kelso said in an email Friday. "Various FEMA officials continue to pay compliments to the Capital Services team for the outstanding work in helping the Baton Rouge community recovery from this disaster."

Wilson, an 84-year-old blind U.S. Air Force veteran, was found on Oct. 25 unresponsive in a bed inside the trailer provided to him by FEMA after the August floods. He died from accidental hyperthermia, or overheating.

The temperature inside the mobile home at the time of his death registered at 124.4 degrees fahrenheit, and air coming out of the vents of the trailer's heating and air unit measured as high as 137.9 degrees, officials said previously.

Wilson's caretaker had made calls to authorities to fix the unit's heating and cooling system.

Boone claimed his company fully complied with all its contracted responsibilities from FEMA during an Oversight Committee hearing April 5.

The letter to Boone rehashes a portion of his testimony in which Boone claimed the company had only received "positive comments and glowing accolades" from FEMA about their performance under the contract.

"These claims are overwhelmingly contradicted by numerous documents obtained by the Committee," the letter states. "These documents leave no doubt that your company received significant criticism from FEMA for failing to meet its contractual maintenance obligations and to properly staff and run the maintenance hotline the lifeline that victims relied on to report problems with their housing units."

The committee's Democrats also claims they obtained documents showing that Capital Services knew from August 2016 that multiple thermostats were malfunctioning in the same manner as Wilson's was in his housing unit.

The letter says members of the committee gave Boone multiple opportunities to revise or retract his statements during the April hearing since some of the documents were obtained prior to his testimony.

"Should you decline to take advantage of this opportunity, we may consider alternative measures," the letter states. "Testifying before Congress is a serious endeavor, and the Committee relies on witnesses to be truthful at all times to assist our oversight efforts and ensure that the American people are well-served."

Follow Terry Jones on Twitter, @tjonesreporter.

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Democrats on US House committee: How much did company know about thermostat problems in FEMA trailers - The Advocate

Smart windows equipped with controllable glazing can augment lighting, cooling and heating systems by varying their tint, saving up to 40 percent in an average building's energy costs.

These smart windows require power for operation, so they are relatively complicated to install in existing buildings. But by applying a new solar cell technology, researchers at Princeton University have developed a different type of smart window: a self-powered version that promises to be inexpensive and easy to apply to existing windows. This system features solar cells that selectively absorb near-ultraviolet (near-UV) light, so the new windows are completely self-powered.

"Sunlight is a mixture of electromagnetic radiation made up of near-UV rays, visible light, and infrared energy, or heat," said Yueh-Lin (Lynn) Loo, director of the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, and the Theodora D. '78 and William H. Walton III '74 Professor in Engineering. "We wanted the smart window to dynamically control the amount of natural light and heat that can come inside, saving on energy cost and making the space more comfortable."

Graduate student Nicholas Davy holds a sample of the special window glass, whichharvests one portion of the light spectrum to control other parts of the spectrum. Specifically, it uses near-ultraviolet light to generate electricity, which powers chemical reactions that lighten or darken the glass as needed. When darkened, the window can block more than 80 percent of light.

The smart window controls the transmission of visible light and infrared heat into the building, while the new type of solar cell uses near-UV light to power the system.

"This new technology is actually smart management of the entire spectrum of sunlight," said Loo, who is a professor of chemical and biological engineering. Loo is one of the authors of a paper, published June 30, that describes this technology, which was developed in her lab.

Because near-UV light is invisible to the human eye, the researchers set out to harness it for the electrical energy needed to activate the tinting technology.

"Using near-UV light to power these windows means that the solar cells can be transparent and occupy the same footprint of the window without competing for the same spectral range or imposing aesthetic and design constraints," Loo added. "Typical solar cells made of silicon are black because they absorb all visible light and some infrared heat so those would be unsuitable for this application."

In the paper published today in Nature Energy, the researchers described how they used organic semiconductors contorted hexabenzocoronene (cHBC) derivatives for constructing the solar cells. The researchers chose the material because its chemical structure could be modified to absorb a narrow range of wavelengths in this case, near-UV light. To construct the solar cell, the semiconductor molecules are deposited as thin films on glass with the same production methods used by organic light-emitting diode manufacturers. When the solar cell is operational, sunlight excites the cHBC semiconductors to produce electricity.

At the same time, the researchers constructed a smart window consisting of electrochromic polymers, which control the tint, and can be operated solely using power produced by the solar cell. When near-UV light from the sun generates an electrical charge in the solar cell, the charge triggers a reaction in the electrochromic window, causing it to change from clear to dark blue. When darkened, the window can block more than 80 percent of light.

Nicholas Davy, a doctoral student in the chemical and biological engineering department and the paper's lead author, said other researchers have already developed transparent solar cells, but those target infrared energy. However, infrared energy carries heat, so using it to generate electricity can conflict with a smart windows function of controlling the flow of heat in or out of a building. Transparent near-UV solar cells, on the other hand, don't generate as much power as the infrared version, but dont impede the transmission of infrared radiation, so they complement the smart windows task.

Davy said that the Princeton teams aim is to create a flexible version of the solar-powered smart window system that can be applied to existing windows via lamination.

"Someone in their house or apartment could take these wireless smart window laminates which could have a sticky backing that is peeled off and install them on the interior of their windows," said Davy. "Then you could control the sunlight passing into your home using an app on your phone, thereby instantly improving energy efficiency, comfort and privacy.

Joseph Berry, senior research scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, who studies solar cells but was not involved in the research, said the project is interesting because the device scales well and targets a specific part of the solar spectrum.

"Integrating the solar cells into the smart windows makes them more attractive for retrofits and you don't have to deal with wiring power," said Berry. "And the voltage performance is quite good. The voltage they have been able to produce can drive electronic devices directly, which is technologically quite interesting."

Davy and Loo have started a new company, called Andluca Technologies, based on the technology described in the paper, and are already exploring other applications for the transparent solar cells. They explained that the near-UV solar cell technology can also power internet-of-things sensors and other low-power consumer products.

"It does not generate enough power for a car, but it can provide auxiliary power for smaller devices, for example, a fan to cool the car while its parked in the hot sun," Loo said.

Besides Loo and Davy, Melda Sezen-Edmonds, a graduate student in chemical and biological engineering, is the co-author responsible for the electrochromic portion of the paper. Other authors are Jia Gao, a postdoctoral researcher in Loos group then, now with Enablence Technologies in California; Xin Lin, a graduate student in electrical engineering; Amy Liu, an undergraduate in computer science; Nan Yao, director of Princeton's Imaging and Analysis Center; and Antoine Kahn, the Stephen C. Macaleer '63 Professor in Engineering and Applied Science and vice dean of Princeton's School of Engineering and Applied Science. Support for the project was provided in part by the National Science Foundation as well as the Wilke Family Fund administered by the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Princeton.

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Self-powered system makes smart windows smarter - Princeton University

Cogeneration technologies are poised to play an increasingly important role in the energy mix of the future.

Cogeneration technology, including combined-heat-and-power (CHP) systems and district heating-and-cooling (DHC) systems, offers many economic and environmental benefits compared to conventional methods of energy production. By simultaneously producing thermal and electric energy from a single fuel source, such as natural gas or biogas, the systems require less total fuel to produce the same amount of energyand generate enormous cost-savings potential.

Because less total fuel is consumed, greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollutants are also reduced. In fact, CHP technologies are estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from new power generation by more than 10 percent by the year 2030.

Cogeneration of energy on-site can also support corporate environmental goals for sustainability and use of renewable resources, while simultaneously reducing the dependence on other regions or countries for imported energy. By increasing energy efficiency and helping to offset costs, cogeneration can give businesses a competitive edge.

Heat Sources Provide Opportunities Cogeneration systems achieve more than 90 percent energy efficiency by extracting and using thermal energy produced during the generation of electricity, heat that would otherwise be wasted. Systems based on gas-fueled reciprocating engines include several potential heat sources, and the ideal use depends on aligning the heat requirements of the facility with the available heat sources on the system.

Exhaust gas, for example, reaches temperatures exceeding 450 degrees Celsius, hot enough to support an absorption chiller, which, in turn, creates cooling energy. Sources such as the lube oil, jacket water or high temperature air/fuel mixture, on the other hand, reach temperatures closer to 90 to 200 degrees C, which makes them ideal for industrial processes, drying processes, building heat and steam production. Other heat sources below 90 degrees C include the low-temperature air/fuel mixture, calorific value boiler and radiator, which are ideal for drying processes, underfloor heating and return temperature heat.

When using all the available heat sources, a cogeneration system from MTU Onsite Energy can achieve overall efficiencies of up to 96 percenta best-in-class rating and a major improvement compared to conventional methods of energy production.

Site-Specific Factors To ensure optimal performance and efficiency, several factors must be considered before installing a cogeneration system.

Methane Number Most gasses are a mix of methane, hydrogen and other gas constituents. The methane number (MN) provides an indication of the gasses, tendency to knockor combust prematurelywhich can damage the engine. For example, pure hydrogen would have an MN of 0. A low MN signifies an extremely explosive gas with the potential to ignite before the spark plug fires, resulting in uncontrolled combustion. Pure methane (CH4), on the other hand, would have an MN of 100. Gasses with a high MN are less explosive, and therefore less likely to ignite before the spark plug fires, resulting in a more controlled combustion.

Natural gas has an MN of 80 to 90, making it ideal for controlled combustion. Gas composites (such as biogas) have an MN between 120 and 130. Understanding the knock resistance is important when specifying an engine for a gas-powered cogeneration plant.

Elevation Smart marathon runners train for the race conditions theyre going to runespecially if higher elevations are involvedotherwise, theyll never be able to catch their breath. Similarly, the altitude of an installation site can significantly influence the power output of a cogeneration system. As elevation increases, air density decreases, and engines need air to breathe.

When specifying a gas-powered cogeneration system for a high-altitude installation, proper preparation and planning are essential to avoid operating below the engines maximum power rating. For instance, a gas-powered MTU Onsite Energy Series 4000 cogeneration system can operate at full load in altitudes up to 6,700 feet without any derating simply by adjusting its turbocharger nozzle ring, which essentially enables the engine to take deeper breaths.

Temperature Like elevation, the ambient temperature of an installation site can significantly impact power output. This is because air volume increases as temperature rises. In warmer climates, if the ambient temperatures exceed a certain point, it can become difficult to provide the necessary volume of intake air for the engine to perform optimally, resulting in lower power output.

Cogeneration system manufacturers frequently offer different equipment models to account for these variations. And in some cases, the equipment will be installed in a temperature controlled (air conditioned) room to help offset the impact of excessive ambient temperatures.

Humidity Air humidity and dew point must also be carefully considered when specifying a cogeneration system. Dew point is the saturation temperature for water and air, the point at which water droplets begin to condense and form. This measure of moisture varies according to atmospheric pressure and humidity. To ensure maximum power output, specifications must include an analysis of humidity and its related dew point temperature based on the climate of the installation site, along with other factors such as methane number and type of gas. Similar to temperature, cogeneration system manufacturers frequently offer different equipment models to account for these variations.

The need for highly efficient electricity, heating and cooling is universal. Cogeneration is a powerful solution that can generate cost savings and environmental benefits just about anywhere in the world. A wide number of applications utilize cogeneration systems, including office buildings, condos, shopping centers, schools, community pools and dairy farms. The key to a successful cogeneration project is proper specification and planning, which should take into account climate- and site-specific factors such as methane number, elevation, temperature and humidity, in addition to thermal and electric requirements. While determining if a facility is an ideal candidate for CHP is an extensive process, exploring the option is a smart move for any facility with simultaneous needs for heat, cooling and electricity. The potential gains of CHP are too great to be ignored.

Author: Christian Mueller Gas Power Systems Sales Engineer, MTU Onsite Energy christian.mueller@mtu-online.com

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Cogeneration as a Universal Power Solution - Biomass Magazine

The West Virginia School Building Authority is giving $6.7 million in Major Improvement Project grant money to public schools in 10 counties.

The grants, awarded at the boards quarterly meeting on June 26, help public schools pay for construction and renovation projects statewide.

Counties requested a total of $9 million from the SBA in this years Major Improvement Project grant cycle.

Fayette County received the $1 million it requested for renovations to Oak Hill High School to accommodate an increase in enrollment from the closure of Fayetteville High School. The work will include a new safe school entrance with a mantrap and visitor processing area, office relocation and expansion, cafeteria expansion, and the creation of a new STEM/STEAM lab in the former shop area. The school system will contribute $397,482 of its own money to the project.

Webster County is getting $930,920 for new ceilings, lights, and lockers throughout the interior of Webster County High School. The project replaces ceilings and lights damaged by a leaking roof that was replaced in 2013. Webster has $10,000 in local funding to complete the project.

Pocahontas County requested and received $925,443 for renovations to Pocahontas County High School that include replacing the sewage treatment system, water tank, and a building-wide fire alarm, as well as new garage doors, windows, entry doors, and a roof over the storage area in the vocational building. SBA documents note the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection has fined Pocahontas County for noncompliance and faulty operation of the existing sewage treatment system. They also note the county cannot contribute any local funds because voters on Nov. 8, 2016, rejected a capital improvement levy which, in partnership with a SBA Needs Grant, would have resulted in $18 million worth of improvements throughout the county.

Taylor County will use $859,682 plus $300,000 of its own money to add three classrooms and a student restroom to West Taylor Elementary School. Then the system can move 40 Pre-K students that are housed in a collaborative head start program located at a church in Webster, making room for more 3-year-olds to enter Webster Head Start.

Monongalia County sought and received $743,211 for HVAC renovations and installation of new controls and rebalancing of all associated systems at the 26-year-old Mountainview Elementary School. The school system is paying 25 percent of the project cost, which amounts to $247,737.

Lincoln County asked for and received $600,000 to replace sewer plants at Midway Elementary School and Duval PreK-8 School to fix health and safety violations. SBA documents say the Duval facility has been warned it could be permanently closed if its systems retaining wall fails. Lincoln is paying 18.73 percent or $138,306 of the project cost.

Pendleton County intends to put a $50,000 federal Qualified Zone Academy Bond with the $592,353 MIP grant to pay for self-contained heating/cooling units plus duct work and controls in the gymnasiums at Pendleton County Middle/High School and Brandywine Elementary School. The current systems at those schools only heat the facilities and do not provide adequate ventilation or cooling or meet the current standards of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Mason County was awarded $384,154 and with $96,038 of local funding will replace and upgrade the HVAC at New Haven Elementary School, Hannan Jr./Sr. High, Roosevelt High School and Point Pleasant Primary.

Mercer County will use $280,830 from the SBA and $25,000 of its own money to renovate restrooms at Mercer Elementary School grades 3-5, including installing adequately equipped stalls to serve students who are wheelchair users or who require the assistance of an aide.

Four counties Kanawha, Cabell, Mingo, and Tucker did not get any of the funding they requested. According to an attachment to the SBA boards meeting agenda, Kanawha County had asked for $433,740 to help replace some windows at Horace Mann Middle School. Cabell County applied for $375,875 to fund half the cost of replacing a cooling tower at Cabell Midland High School. Mingo County had sought $796,776 to replace through wall HVAC units on the second floor of Gilbert Elementary School while salvaging parts for existing units on the first floor. Tucker County had requested $79,932 for masonry cleaning and sealant to prevent water infiltration and damage at Tucker County High School.

Staff comments in the agenda indicated that the other projects might be judged more meritorious than those not receiving funding. In other cases, the projects might have met only a minimum number of criteria used to evaluate the merit of the project.

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School Building Authority awards $6.7 million to 10 counties | The ... - The Exponent Telegram (press release) (registration)

Nine students recently graduated from Surry Community Colleges Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology program. Pictured from left are, front row, Cory Cockerham of State Road, HVAC Lead Instructor Stephen Hammond, John Hatcher of Dobson, Jed Whitaker of Mount Airy, Gerardo Carreon of Mount Airy; back row, Torrence Hubbard of Mount Airy, Arturo Pulido Jr. of Pilot Mountain, Parker Henry of East Bend, and David Anderson Jr. of King. Not pictured: Daniel Crutchfield of Mount Airy.

DOBSON Nine students recently graduated from Surry Community Colleges Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology (HVAC) program.

The graduates were Arturo Pulido Jr. of Pilot Mountain; Gerardo Carreon, Daniel Crutchfield, Torrence Hubbard and Jed Whitaker, all of of Mount Airy; David Anderson Jr. of King, Cory Cockerham of State Road,, John Hatcher of Dobson, and Parker Henry of East Bend.

The colleges HVAC curriculum provides the basic knowledge to develop skills necessary to work with residential and light commercial systems. Topics of instruction include mechanical refrigeration, heating and cooling theory, electricity, controls and safety.

Students enrolled in HVAC courses at Surry gain hands-on experience working on the latest high efficiency equipment as well as older heating and air conditioning systems in order to fully prepare students for anything they might see in the professional field, the school said.

Surry offers an associate of applied science degree, a diploma, and a certificate option for those looking to study air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration.

Those who earn a diploma will be able to do preventive maintenance, service and repair, along with the installation of residential and light commercial systems. Degree graduates will also be able to demonstrate an understanding of systems selection and balance for advanced systems.

Many Surry HVAC graduates go on to work for companies specializing in HVAC or start a business of their own, the school said.

High school juniors and seniors can take HVAC classes tuition-free through the Career & College Promise dual-enrollment program. Registration is open for Fall 2017 classes. Students must register for fall classes before Aug. 1. Those classes start Aug. 15. For additional information contact Student Services at (336) 386-3264 or Surrys Lead Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology Instructor Stephen Hammond at (336) 386-3572 or [emailprotected]

Nine students recently graduated from Surry Community Colleges Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology program. Pictured from left are, front row, Cory Cockerham of State Road, HVAC Lead Instructor Stephen Hammond, John Hatcher of Dobson, Jed Whitaker of Mount Airy, Gerardo Carreon of Mount Airy; back row, Torrence Hubbard of Mount Airy, Arturo Pulido Jr. of Pilot Mountain, Parker Henry of East Bend, and David Anderson Jr. of King. Not pictured: Daniel Crutchfield of Mount Airy.

http://mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_HVAC-Grads.jpgNine students recently graduated from Surry Community Colleges Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology program. Pictured from left are, front row, Cory Cockerham of State Road, HVAC Lead Instructor Stephen Hammond, John Hatcher of Dobson, Jed Whitaker of Mount Airy, Gerardo Carreon of Mount Airy; back row, Torrence Hubbard of Mount Airy, Arturo Pulido Jr. of Pilot Mountain, Parker Henry of East Bend, and David Anderson Jr. of King. Not pictured: Daniel Crutchfield of Mount Airy.

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