ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 14

Water & Energy Use in Steam-Heated Buildings
By Ian Shapiro, P .E.

A

n anecdotal report of high energy savings at a multifamily building in Ithaca, N.Y., resulting from the replacement of an old steam boiler with a new hot

water (hydronic) boiler, led to a survey of similar completed projects in New York to assess if these high savings have been delivered elsewhere. Four projects were identified in which old steam boilers were replaced with new hydronic boilers. Savings were significant for all four, averaging 40.5% of total heating use (exceeding predicted average savings). By comparison, three projects were identified where old steam boilers were replaced with new steam boilers. Savings were poor, averaging only 0.6% of total heating use and falling far short of predicted average savings. Overall energy use was compared in a larger sample of buildings and found to be
14	 ASHRAE	Journal	

with steam, and was almost twice the national average for residential water consumption per person. This difference works out to be 58.2 gallons (220 L) per person per day in water use. The potential waste of water (for example, almost 6,000 gallons [22 712 L] per day in an apartment building with 100 occupants) points to the dramatic energy and water conservation potential in converting steam systems to hydronic heating systems.
Energy Use

24% higher in buildings heated with steam. An evaluation of water use in steamheated buildings was conducted. Fifty buildings were surveyed for which water use records were available. Water use in steam-heated buildings was found to be 79% higher than in buildings not heated
ashrae.org	

Steam heating systems, first developed well over 100 years ago, are still surprisingly widely used in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. For example, steam systems represent the majority of buildings participating About the Author
Ian Shapiro, P is president of Taitem Engineer.E., ing in Ithaca, N.Y.

	

May	 2010



ASHRAE Journal - May 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - May 2010

ASHRAE Journal - May 2010
Contents
Commentary
Industry News
Letters
Meetings and Shows
Feature Articles
Water & Energy Use in Steam-Heated Buildings
Energy-Saving Dorms
Learning by Doing
School and More
Geothermal for School
Commissioning
Building Sciences
Emerging Technologies
People
Special Section
InfoCenter
IAQ Applications
Feature Articles
Ammonia System Fix
Products
Special Products
Classified Advertising
Advertisers Index
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - i
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - ASHRAE Journal - May 2010
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Cover2
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 1
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 2
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Contents
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Commentary
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 5
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Industry News
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 7
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Letters
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 9
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 10
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 11
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Meetings and Shows
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 13
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Water & Energy Use in Steam-Heated Buildings
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 15
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 16
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 17
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 18
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 19
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Energy-Saving Dorms
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 21
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 22
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 23
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 24
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 25
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Learning by Doing
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 27
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 28
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 29
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 30
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 31
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 32
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 32a
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 32b
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 33
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - School and More
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 35
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 36
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 37
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 38
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 39
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Geothermal for School
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 41
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 42
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 43
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 44
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 45
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Commissioning
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 47
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 48
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 49
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Building Sciences
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 51
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 52
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 53
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 54
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 55
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 56
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 57
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Emerging Technologies
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 59
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 60
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 61
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 62
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 63
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - People
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 65
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - InfoCenter
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 67
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 68
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 69
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 70
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 71
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 72
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 73
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 74
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - IAQ Applications
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 76
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 77
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 78
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 79
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 80
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 81
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 82
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 83
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Ammonia System Fix
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 85
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 86
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 87
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Products
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 89
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Special Products
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 91
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 92
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 93
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Classified Advertising
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - 95
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Advertisers Index
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Cover3
ASHRAE Journal - May 2010 - Cover4
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