Sustainable Facilities Tool

Energy & Atmosphere

Buildings and facilities rely on the operation of mechanical systems and electrical systems to maintain a comfortable indoor environmental quality for occupants. Building operations consume approximately 39% of the energy and 74% of the electricity produced annually in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Greenhouse gases are generated and released throughout the life cycle of producing and consuming fossil fuel energy. These greenhouse gases directly contribute to air pollution and climate change. Therefore, atmospheric problems can be reduced by increasing the efficiency with which energy is used‚ optimizing the use of natural energy resources‚ and understanding the effects of energy technologies on the atmosphere.

Related Topics

Air Conditioning

Air Conditioning uses the refrigeration process for cooling air or water for conditioning and cooling the space. In air conditioning systems, a chiller is typically used to cool water that is distributed to heat exchangers, or coils, in air handling units, or other type of devices which cool the air in its respective space(s). The water is then re-circulated back to the chiller to be cooled again.

Air Handling Unit (AHU)

Air conditioning uses the refrigeration process for cooling air or water for conditioning and cooling the space. In air conditioning systems, a chiller is typically used to cool water that is distributed to heat exchangers, or coils, in air handling units, or other type of devices which cool the air in its respective space(s). The water is then re-circulated back to the chiller to be cooled again.

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Ai

ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) is the governing body which creates and releases the standards regarding indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and energy efficiency.    

http://www.ashrae.org

Boilers

Boilers are fuel-burning appliances that produce either hot water or steam that gets circulated through piping for heating or process uses. Proper maintenance and operation of boiler systems is important to ensure efficiency and reliability. The source of heat for a boiler typically is combustion of fuels such as natural gas, coal, oil, or wood.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/technologies/eep_boilers.html

Building Automation System

The building automation system is used to achieve an optimal level of control of occupant comfort while minimizing energy use. These control systems are the integrating component to fans, pumps, heating/cooling equipment, dampers, mixing boxes, and thermostats. Monitoring and optimizing temperature, pressure, humidity, and flow rates are key functions of modern building control systems.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/program/operations_maintenance.html

Building Operating Plan

The building operating plan defines the delivered conditions required by building management and occupants for the successful operation of a building. This document describes the installed building equipment, how it should operate, and the environmental building requirements it should meet.

Chiller

A chiller is a machine that removes heat from a liquid using a refrigerant in a vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration cycle. This liquid can then be circulated through a heat exchanger to cool air or equipment as required. Chillers are typically powered by electricity, steam or natural gas.

Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)

CFCs are substances used as refrigerants. They contain hydrocarbons, which cause depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

http://www.epa.gov/air/airpollutants.html

Climate Change

Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). Climate change may result from: natural factors, such as changes in the sun's intensity or slow changes in the Earth's orbit around the sun; natural processes within the climate system (e.g. changes in ocean circulation); human activities that change the atmosphere's composition (e.g. through burning fossil fuels) and the land surface (e.g. deforestation, reforestation, urbanization, desertification, etc.)

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basicinfo.html

Commissioning

A quality assurance process for enhancing the delivery of a project. The process focuses upon verifying and documenting that the facility and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the Owner's Project Requirements. This means testing all systems (HVAC, lighting controls, domestic hot water systems, etc.) to ensure they function as intended. Proper commissioning saves energy, reduces risk, and creates value for building operators.

http://www.bcxa.org/

Cooling

Cooling is the process of keeping a building at a comfortably cool temperature during hot times. It can be done naturally, through ventilation and shading or by using refrigerants in chillers to remove heat.

Efficiency

Efficiency is a comparison of the amount of energy used compared to the amount of output produced. In the built environment, this means using the least amount of energy (electricity, natural gas, etc.) to operate a facility appropriately. Steps that can help a building run efficiently include: ensuring there are no air leaks, using sensors or timers to ensure the building isn’t operating when vacant, and using energy-efficient equipment.

www.energystar.gov

Electricity

In the context of buildings, electricity is the flowing of electron-powered energy used to power machines and other devices. Traditional electricity is created in coal-fired plants. More sustainable, renewable electricity can be generated through solar panels, wind farms, and other means.

Emissions

The human activity-caused by release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (e.g., the release of carbon dioxide during fuel combustion).

Energy Performance

All buildings use energy in order to operate. Some buildings use energy efficiently, some buildings don’t. The measure used to evaluate a building’s energy efficiency is the ENERGY STAR program.

Energy Simulation Model/Energy Model

Energy modeling is a computer based tool that predicts the amount of energy that a building will consume. It is a helpful way to identify potentially inefficient systems and compare a building’s energy use to a baseline performance case.

http://www.nrel.gov/buildings/energy_analysis.html

http://www.Energy-10.com

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.  Its intent is to help buildings and consumers save money and reduce energy use through energy efficient products and practices. The EPA provides an innovative energy performance rating system which businesses have already used for more than 130,000 buildings across the country. The EPA also recognizes top performing buildings with the ENERGY STAR label.  Examples of available ENERGY STAR products include dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators, computers, and printers.

http://www.energystar.gov/

Fossil Fuel

A hydrocarbon deposit, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from living matter of a previous geologic time and used for fuel. The supply of these fuels is not renewable on a reasonable timeline. The burning of fossil fuels for energy also contributes to pollution and releases greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.

www1.eere.energy.gov/femp

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

A measure representing the potential of a substance to contribute to Global Warming. Refrigerants are rated based on their GWP and their ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential)

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere are often called greenhouse gases. Examples of greenhouse gases include methane, chlorofluorocarbons and carbon dioxide. They are released when fossil fuels are burned for energy and in other ways.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/index.html#ggo

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/program/greenhousegases.html

Heat Exchanger

A heat exchanger is a device built for efficient heat transfer from one medium to another. They are commonly used in space heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning.

Heating

There are many different types of standard heating systems. Central heating is often used in cold climates to heat private houses and public buildings. Those systems contain a boiler, furnace, or heat pump to heat water, steam, or air, all in a central location such as a furnace room in a home or a mechanical room in a large building.

Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are designed to work together to maintain occupant comfort. From residential to commercial settings, HVAC systems help to keep people comfortable and healthy by maintaining good indoor air quality and comfortable temperatures.

http://www.wbdg.org/resources/hvac.php?r=env_hvac_integration

Measurement and Verification Plan (M&V Plan)

A Measurement and Verification Plan (M&V) provides for the ongoing accountability of building electricity consumption. Creating and using a good M&V plan helps building management keep track of energy use and identify problems. M&V plans help identify systems which use energy, monitor electricity metering, track the success of energy-savings plans, and identify the party responsible for keeping up with the execution of the M&V plan.

http://www.evo-world.org

Monitoring

To know how a building is performing, it is necessary to monitor energy use. This is often done through metering of each energy system in a facility (electricity, natural gas, hot water, etc.). Monitoring of the building’s systems is also important to ensure that equipment is functioning correctly and safely, and to find and repair problems before they become hazards.

Montreal Protocol

The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty ratified in 1989 which requires the phase out of refrigerants that contribute to ozone depletion (with ODP above zero) by 2030. Refrigeration equipment lasts for decades, so decisions made currently will impact building compliance well into 2030.

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/index.html

Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)

A measure of the amount of degradation a chemical compound will have on the ozone layer. Refrigerants are rated based on their ODP and their GWP (Global Warming Potential)

Refrigerant

A refrigerant is a substance used in a heat cycle usually including, for enhanced efficiency, a reversible phase change from a gas to a liquid. Traditionally, fluorocarbons, especially chlorofluorocarbons were used as refrigerants, but they are being phased out because of their ozone depletion and global warming effects.

http://www.epa.gov/air/airpollutants.html

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is a resource that is replaced rapidly by natural processes. Examples include energy from the sun, wind, small (low-impact) hydropower, geothermal energy, and wave and tidal systems. Using renewable energy can reduce a building's carbon footprint. There are various renewable energy options for buildings - the most common of which are solar panels (also known as photovoltaic or PV panels). Buildings can also purchase renewable energy from offsite sources.

http://www.epa.gov/energy/renwenergy.html

http://www.eere.energy.gov/

Retro Commissioning (Existing Building Commissioni

Retro commissioning includes developing a building operation plan that identifies current operating requirements and needs, conducting tests to determine whether building systems are performing optimally in accordance with the plan, and making any necessary repairs or changes.

http://www.bcxa.org/

Submetering

Submetering or system-level metering is used to determine the proportion of energy use within a building attributable to specific end uses or subsystems (e.g., the ventilation system of an HVAC system). This energy use information can be used to support energy management and identify opportunities for additional energy saving improvements.

Ventilating

Ventilating is the process of "changing" or replacing air in any space to replenish oxygen, control temperature, and remove moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria, and carbon dioxide. Ventilation includes both the exchange of air to the outside as well as circulation of air within the building. It is one of the most important factors for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings.