ASHRAE Journal - September 2012 - 4

1791 Tullie Circle NE Atlanta, GA 30329-2305 Phone: 404-636-8400 Fax: 404-321-5478 | www.ashrae.org

COMMENTARY
Learning HVAC&R
Maybe you learned everything you need to know in college. I certainly didn’t. The reality is that most of us learn as we go, mostly by doing. This works well but what we’re hearing from members is that there is a need for more fundamental, practical basic information. Their points are that new people are entering the industry every day. Others are changing jobs within the industry. And the technology is more challenging. Of course, others just want to learn. This is why we are starting a new column in this month’s Journal. Called Engineer’s Notebook, the column will cover common misconceptions, basic elements that people might not remember well or correctly, common mistakes, HVAC&R fundamentals, how to do things and more. THIS MONTH’S column covers classifying duct leakage, and the implications of incorrect classification. Other columns in the pipeline include myths about Legionella, filter resistance, how to size PV for future operation and how to solve problems with controls. We’re working with TCs to help develop future columns and have asked TC chairs to recommend topics and authors. The response has been good, but we need more. If you have ideas, please let us know. A good column will help people learn what they don’t know or what they should or want to know. All columns will be two pages or less, and reviewed by TC members. ENGINEER’S NOTEBOOK joins a group of columns that have been added over the last few years. Examples in this issue include Emerging Technologies, Refrigeration Applications and Business and Management. Probably the best known is Joe Lstiburek’s Building Sciences column, which will return in October. One purpose of columns is to provide information in a shorter format. Another is

Publisher W. Stephen Comstock EDITORIAL
Editor Fred Turner fturner@ashrae.org Managing Editor Sarah Foster sfoster@ashrae.org Associate Editor Rebecca Matyasovski rmatyasovski@ashrae.org Associate Editor Christopher Weems cweems@ashrae.org Associate Editor Jeri Eader jeader@ashrae.org Editorial Assistant Chad Bedwell cbedwell@ashrae.org

Fall Conferences

PUBLISHING SERVICES

Publishing Services Manager David Soltis Production Jayne Jackson Tracy Becker

ADVERTISING

Associate Publisher, ASHRAE Media Advertising Greg Martin gmartin@ashrae.org Advertising Production Coordinator Vanessa Johnson vjohnson@ashrae.org

CIRCULATION

Circulation Specialist David Soltis dsoltis@ashrae.org

ASHRAE is best known for its standards, publications and technical programs at the winter and annual conferences. But it also sponsors and manages a growing number of highly regarded conferences on specific topics. Three are planned this fall and deserve special mention. These include: • The Energy Modeling Conference on Oct. 1 – 3 in Atlanta. This conference will include hands-on applications-type presentations. Of special interest is an interactive session with modeling software developers presenting common modeling scenarios and how their software works. • The ASHRAE/NIST Refrigerant Conference on Oct. 29 – 30 in Gaithersburg, Md. You’ll learn the latest on alternative refrigerants and what will work best when phasing out high GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants. • The 7th International Cold Climate HVAC Conference on Nov. 12 – 14 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. More than 60 peer-reviewed technical papers will be presented. Many will deal with strategies that achieve good indoor environmental quality (IEQ) with a minimum use of resources and energy. To learn more about these conferences and others being planned, visit http:// tinyurl.com/cbdlo8g.

ASHRAE OFFICERS
President Thomas E. Watson, P .E.

President-Elect William P Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P . .E. Treasurer Thomas H. Phoenix, P .E. Vice Presidents Constantinos A. Balaras, Ph.D., P .E. Daniel C. Pettway Timothy G. Wentz, P .E. Thomas E. Werkema Secretary & Executive Vice President Jeff H. Littleton

POLICY GROUP

2012 – 13 Chair Publications Committee Francis A. Mills Washington Office washdc@ashrae.org
Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

it allows the Journal to cover more topics in each issue. The addition of columns doesn’t replace the peer-reviewed technical features, which are at the heart of each edition. This month’s features cover selecting air-distribution products and layouts for comfort, use of chilled beams in the conversion of a 1920s warehouse into a modern office and lab building, and long-term commercial heat pump performance. We also have case studies on three award-winning projects. We hope you enjoy this issue. We always appreciate feedback.

ASHRAE Journal - September 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - September 2012