NBG HVAC Upgrades Improve Energy Efficiency
SANTA RITA, Guam (Oct. 14, 2016) -- Eleven U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) facilities will soon receive ENERGY STAR-certified Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) units with new high performance technology and high-energy efficient Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems, resulting in an annual savings of more than $1.38 million. Work is planned to begin in January or February 2017.
The ENERGY STAR program is designed to reduce energy waste and save money on utility bills. ENERGY STAR-certified light commercial HVAC equipment uses 7–10 percent less energy than standard equipment. By exceeding the ENERGY STAR minimum requirement, NBG will save $1.2 million in energy costs.
As a major global environmental issue – ozone depletion and the resulting global warming – many of the old HVAC units being replaced use an Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS) as their refrigerant. By phasing out these old refrigerants, NBG is reaffirming its commitment as a good steward of the environment.
Of the facilities receiving the new VRF HVACs, 11 are administrative offices encompassing 201,208 square feet. Forty-nine facilities will be receiving the new 3-ton VRF HVAC units (such as small unaccompanied housing), and the larger spaces up to 566,511 square feet will receive the 184-ton HVAC unit (such as the large industrial or communications facilities around NBG. The HVAC installation projects are expected to save more than 3.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually; the equivalent to 320 U.S. homes’ annual electrical consumption.
In 2015, NBG replaced 125 HVAC units for failures. To date, the installation has replaced more than 100 HVAC units for failures. These project retrofits will save more than $100,000 annually; the equivalent of 50 average-sized homes’ annual energy consumption costs. These savings come as a result of a new NBG policy installed last year to institute a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) 21 policy across naval installations – investing in higher HVAC SEER ratings for energy efficiency – the higher the SEER rating, the better the energy efficiency. The majority of the HVACs removed/replaced are SEER 13s compared to the newly installed SEER 21s – amounting to a 38 percent savings in energy intensity as compared to the old HVACs.
An added bonus of the new HVAC systems are the use of computerized HVAC controllers that operate the Direct Digital Control (DDC) system and an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to monitor systems remotely and alert maintenance personnel of malfunctions. The new systems also allow maintainers to monitor, control, alarm and diagnose the HVAC systems remotely, resulting in a reduced manpower requirement in the field for service calls.
smells out of the vents inside the house AND THE NEW AC UNITS ARE UNCOVERED AND THEREFORE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS - the roofs drip like crazy and keeps dumping the water on the units.
WHY WAS THAT CONTRACT NOT WRITTEN TO COVER THESE A/C UNITS AND SAVE THEM FROM
THE DESTRUCTION BY THE ELEMENTS?
NAFAC is responsible are they not? how many times do people blow water off the roofs and then attempt to paint?
why are there more and more anchors drilled into the roof instead of using already existing anchor holes?
Why is it not announced anymore how many times people are going to show up to get on the roof?
It appears that there is more water dripping off now than before the work started.
But his is the kicker - AND NOT ACCEPTABLE AT ALL - it is absolutely creepy when people show up unannounced on yr patio or go into maintenance rooms without any identification or ANY prior notification. It is common knowledge that the vetting process of personnel leaves something to be desired.
People should ALWAYS KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE ON THERE PREMISE.
IT IS NAFAC's RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM RESIDENTS OF WORK ON THEIR PREMISE OR
SHOW IDENTIFICATION.
It is also common knowledge that NAFAC has received numerous complaints about this practice and it is TIME THAT THEY STOP ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN>