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Best Practice Guide |
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Food and Beverage Growers and Processors |
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Central HVAC SystemReducing LoadsSometimes the easiest way to increase heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) capacity is to focus on everything but HVAC equipment. Many factors contribute to temperatures within a building, including the building envelope, lighting, and process equipment. Improving energy efficiency of such non-HVAC equipment often reduces heating or cooling loads, meaning that the HVAC system does not need to run as hard or as long to maintain the correct temperature. Replacing an old T12 fluorescent lighting system with T5s, for example, reduces heating loads significantly while simultaneously cutting energy use and improving visual acuity. Consider your entire energy action plan, and analyze the affect each measure has on HVAC operations. Schedule energy efficiency measures that have a significant impact first, then reassess whether or not adding HVAC capacity is warranted. Should installation of new equipment still be necessary, you will be able to right-size equipment, generally saving on the cost of equipment purchase and installation as well as future costs related to running the new HVAC equipment
Business ExamplesMission Foods sought to reduce space-cooling loads at its new RanchoCucamonga facility as part of the measures adopted to improve the energy efficiency of the HVAC system.
Resources Roos, C. Overview: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. Northwest Food Processors Association webpage, Building and Facility Efficiency. Energy Star. Building Upgrade Manual. Chapter 4, Fan System Upgrades, and Chapter 5, Heating and Cooling System Upgrades. North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. |