ASHRAE Journal- September 2008

C O M M E N TA RY Options for Sustainability It would be rare to have an issue of ASHRAE Journal that doesn’t have articles on some aspect of sustainability. After all, the Journal’s mission is to help improve the arts and sciences of HVAC&R. This usually involves using less energy, or reducing a building’s environmental impact in other ways. Each year we also dedicate the September edition to sustainable applications. It’s a chance to feature some new or less used options to achieve comfort and efﬁciency. Three of the articles feature options that use dedicated outdoor air. ONE OF THE options is active chilled beams. Fred Turner This technology is more common to Europe but is becoming popular in North America because of LEED®, energy concerns and the freedom provided by decoupled ventilation systems, says Darren Alexander, P.Eng., Member ASHRAE. “The industry as a whole is realizing that this technology exists and is an appropriate tool for dealing with challenging sensible loads and minimizing operating costs.” The technology, he says, is appropriate for ofﬁces, schools, labs and some computer rooms. It is not appropriate for spaces with high latent loads, where recirculated air is not permitted, or that have high ceilings. His article in this issue covers capacity and energy savings, suitability, duct design and static pressures, placement, control and maintenance. ANOTHER application from Europe is radiant ﬂoor cooling systems. These systems are much less common than heating, but can be applied everywhere ﬂoor heating is applied. Author Bjarne Olesen, Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE, says these systems are particularly efﬁcient for large spaces with large windows such as atria, airports and shopping malls. An advantage is ﬂoor cooling absorbs the sun’s radiation before it heats up the space. He says that designers need to consider comfort, cooling capacity, control and design. This includes occupant activity levels with warmer ﬂoors for seated occupants. He says higher activity levels allow for cooler ﬂoors if dew-point temperatures are considered. YOU CAN’T GET older or more sustainable than natural ventilation, and it’s easy to use, right? Well not exactly. Erin McConahey, P.E., Member ASHRAE, says the potential for natural ventilation for comfort conditioning usually relies on mixed mode approaches that use natural ventilation for most of the year, and mechanical cooling for peak periods. Her article, “Mixed Mode Ventilation: Finding the Right Mix,” presents an overview of applicable ASHRAE standards and suggests a methodology for early design decisions. But the heart of the article is the case studies and lessons learned from four major San Francisco-area buildings. This is an important article on an important topic. We hope we can update these case studies as more information becomes available. WE ALSO HAVE articles on sustainability in labs, integrated building design and project delivery, and the relationship of good acoustic design and sustainability. All cover topics that advance the arts and sciences of sustainable HVAC&R. All require good engineering and understanding of the technology. And that’s what makes ASHRAE and ASHRAE members important. A SHRAE ® Journal | 1791 Tullie Circle NE | Atlanta, GA 30329-2305 | Phone: 404-636-8400 | Fax: 404-321-5478 | A SHRAE Online: www.ashrae.org Publisher W. Stephen Comstock Editor Fred Turner | fturner@ashrae.org Managing Editor Sarah Foster | sfoster@ashrae.org Associate Editors Jamie Graebner | jgraebner@ashrae.org Rebecca Matyasovski | rmatyasovski@ashrae.org Christopher Weems | cweems@ashrae.org Copy Editor Jeri Eader | jeader@ashrae.org Publishing Services Manager David Soltis Production Jayne Jackson Tracy Becker Advertising Sales Manager Greg Martin | gmartin@ashrae.org Advertising Production Coordinator Vanessa Johnson | vjohnson@ashrae.org Circulation Specialist David Soltis | dsoltis@ashrae.org ASHRAE OFFICERS President William A. Harrison President-Elect Gordon V.R. Holness, P .E. Treasurer Lynn G. Bellenger, P .E. Vice Presidents Jim Fields Andrew Persily, Ph.D. Vincent Tse Thomas Watson, P .E. Secretary & Executive Vice President Jeff H. Littleton POLICY GROUP 2007 – 08 Chair Publications Committee Mark W. Fly, P .E. Washington Ofﬁce washdc@ashrae.org Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation September 2008 ASHRAE Journal 5 http://www.ashrae.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal- September 2008

ASHRAE Journal- September 2008 Section: Contents Contents Section: Commentary Options for Sustainability Section: Industry News The Silk Route for Energy Solar Thermal Is Unrealized Opportunity Industry Groups Sue City of Albuquerque Section: Letters Letters Section: Meetings and Shows Meetings and Shows Section: Feature Articles Article-Radiant Floor Cooling Systems Article-HVAC Design for Sustainable Lab Article-Mixed Mode Ventilation Article-Single- Design Considerations For Active Chilled Beams Article-Acoustic Design In Green Buildings Article-Teams, Contracts & BIM Section: Building Sciences Some Old Lessons Distilled Section: Washington Report Energy in Federal Buildings Section: Products HVAC&R Product Showplace Section: Emerging Technologies Toplighting & Lighting Controls For Commercial Buildings Section: Special Products Fans & Blowers Section: Classified Ads Classified Ads Section: Advertising Index Advertising Index

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