ASHRAE Journal - May 2013 - 4

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

COMMENTARY

Publisher W. Stephen Comstock
EDITORIAL

Editor
Fred Turner
fturner@ashrae.org

Comparing Performance

Managing Editor
Sarah Foster
sfoster@ashrae.org

Are dedicated outdoor air systems plus active chilled beams superior to variable air
volume reheat? ASHRAE’s Golden Gate Chapter decided to put these claims to the test
with Design Development level designs for an ofﬁce building currently
in design.
Engineers from one ﬁrm designed the ACB+DOAS system, another
designed a VAVR system and a third designed a combination of the two
systems. A fourth ﬁrm simulated each design using ENERGYPlus, and
a major mechanical contractor provided a detailed construction cost
estimate for each design.
Fred Turner
I won’t share all the details here, but this is an article you will want
to read. It’s also a great example of an ASHRAE chapter using member synergy. The
article is based on a presentation sponsored by the Golden Gate Chapter at the Paciﬁc
Gas and Electric (PG&E) Energy Center.
“Very often when chilled beams are being considered, the design ﬁrm does an internal
life-cycle cost analysis,” says Jeff Stein, P.E., one of the authors. “Some ﬁrms’ internal
analyses have strongly favored chilled beams while other ﬁrms’ analyses have strongly
opposed chilled beams. The Golden Gate Chapter decided to do a public analysis with
ﬁrms from both sides participating that was as fair, detailed, and accurate as possible.”

Associate Editor
Rebecca Matyasovski
rmatyasovski@ashrae.org
Associate Editor
Christopher Weems
cweems@ashrae.org
Associate Editor
Jeri Eader
jeader@ashrae.org
Editorial Assistant
Tani Palefski
tpalefski@ashrae.org

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 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

STANDARD 90.1 continually improves through addenda. Some 29 addenda are in
some process of review now, and the 2013 version of Standard 90.1 will incorporate
between 90 and 123.
One proposed addendum that could have broad impact is Addendum bm. The authors
of an article in this edition say bm would establish the Performance Rating Method
(Appendix G) as a new method of compliance while maintaining its traditional use in
gauging the efﬁciency of buildings that exceed code.
It also would set a common baseline building for 2013 that would stay the same for
future versions of the standard.
Essentially, say the authors, the addendum would allow a single energy model to be
used to demonstrate minimum code compliance, green code compliance, establish a
LEED rating, and determine eligibility for federal tax and utility incentives.
THIS EDITION also features two ASHRAE Technology Award case studies on
education. One describes an academic building at City College of San Francisco. It uses
a central atrium that functions as the building’s “lungs” to enable natural ventilation.
The other case study covers a multiuse six-story building at Portland (Ore.) State
University. It uses an existing groundwater well that delivers enough 56°F (12.8°C) water
to provide cooling except during the warmest periods of the year. The groundwater is
restored to the aquifer though a new injection well.
We also have an excellent column by Joe Lstiburek, Ph.D., P.Eng., Fellow ASHRAE.
He explains how Chicago could have been saved from Mrs. O’Leary’s cow.
Others columns describe the use of natural ventilation to control infections, direct
and indirect refrigeration, ﬁltration for critical environments, data center cooling and
wireless sensors for monitoring and control.
We hope you enjoy this edition, and have a great month.
ASHRAE Journal reviews current HVAC&R technology of broad interest through publication
of applications-oriented articles. Content ranges from back-to-basics features to reviews of
emerging technologies.

ASHRAE Journal - May 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - May 2013