Spring/Summer 2010
A SUPPLEMENT TO PENTON PUBLICATIONS
THE MAGAZINE OF THE AIR-CONDITIONING, HEATING, AND REFRIGERATION INSTITUTE
Energy Saving
Technologies
Power the Residential
& Commercial Markets
BRIGHTER
DAYS AHEAD?
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 1
VRF SYSTEMS:
A DUCTLESS
ALTERNATIVE
AHRI EXPANDS
GLOBAL
STANDARD AND
CERTIFICATION
REACH
VFDS: ENERGY
SAVINGS
AND MORE
4/19/10 10:25 AM
005CSTMARIFC.indd 1
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tableofcontents
A resource for HVACR contractors and
technicians, AHRI Trends is published
in May and September prior to the
annual cooling and heating seasons.
Visit us online at www.AHRInet.org and
www.AHRIdirectory.org.
The Air-Conditioning, Heating,
and Refrigeration Institute
2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: 703/524-8800
Fax: 703/528-3816
e-Mail: trends@ahrinet.org
www.AHRInet.org
coverstory
8
Brighter Days Ahead?
Leadership
Ray Hoglund
Chairman
Stephen R. Yurek
President & CEO
Acknowledgements
AHRI Communications Staff
Francis Dietz, Courtney Nogas
and Erinn Dumas
AHRI Technical Advisors
(for this issue)
Karim Amrane, Dave Calabrese
and Henry Hwong
features
14
20
22
VRF Systems: A Ductless Alternative
AHRI Expands Global Standard
and Certification Reach
VFDs: Energy Savings and More
Publishing Office
1300 E. 9th Street
Cleveland, OH 44114
216/696-7000 tel
216/696-1752 fax
www.penton.com
Joe Fristik
Group Publisher
Publisher
Editor-in-Chief
2
Chairman’s Message
4
Legislative Watch
24
The Final Word
Bob Mader
Editor-in-Chief
Advertising Index
Bethany Borger
Contributing Editor
Steve Palmison
Marketing
Shaun Kelly
Production Manager
Cavedweller Studio
Art Direction
www.AHRInet.org
Lisa Murton Beets
Energy Conservatory ........................ 5
Mitsubishi ....................................... 21
Rheem .......................................... IFC
Ritchie Engineering ........................ BC
Trane .............................................IBC
|
Account Manager
AHRI............................................... 19
American Standard ......................... 11
Arkema............................................. 6
Bradford White Corporation ............ 17
Daikin AC ....................................... 13
Emerson… ....................................... 3
AHRItrends
Dan Ashenden
Mike Weil
departments
1
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 1
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chairman’smessage
Saving Energy
and Money
it is also possible that the numbers
herald a long-overdue uptick in the
economy. That would be the most
welcome news of all.
As you will read in these pages, the
welcome warm weather is not the
only good news: The statistics we
publicly release – those for furnaces,
water heaters, heat pumps, and
central air conditioners – show that
shipments of those products are up,
across the board, since November
2009. While federal tax credits and
state and utility rebates probably are
largely responsible for the increases,
AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
Ahhh, spring! The warmer air, the
chirping birds, the flowers and
leaves bursting forth to greet the
re-emergent sun – after the winter we
had, all those things are perhaps more
welcome this year than usual. Yes,
we sold more heating equipment last
winter than we might otherwise have,
and that’s always a good thing, but
I for one am happy to put away the
down jacket, boots, and snow shovels
for awhile.
And, speaking of federal tax credits, AHRI staff have been busy on
Capitol Hill and in the agencies,
working to ensure continuation and/
or enhancement of current tax credits
and establishment of new incentives,
particularly for commercial products.
You can read all about those efforts
in the Legislative Watch section that
begins on page 4.
Two product areas we’re highlighting in this issue – variable frequency
drives and variable refrigerant flow
– are cutting edge energy efficient
technologies. I think you will enjoy
reading about how, whether you
A SUPPLEME
NT TO PENTON
are a contractor, specifier, building
engineer, or architect, these – and the
other fine products manufactured by
our members – products can help you
design and install systems that save
energy and money and help ensure
good environmental stewardship.
This magazine is for you. We are
committed to providing you information that you can use in your
everyday jobs. Please let us know how
we’re doing, and thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Ray Hoglund
AHRI Chairman
PUBLICATIONS
THE MAG
AZINE OF
THE AIR-CON
DITI
Spring/Su
mmer 201
0
ONING, HEA
TING, AND
REFRIGERA
TION
INSTITUTE
ver
EnergycoS
vailng
once it’sa
fin
Technolo
gies
Powe
r the Res
idential
& Comme
rcial Mark
ets
BRIGHER
DAYS AHEAD?
VRF SYSTEMS:
A DUCTLESS
ALTERNATIVE
AHRI EXPANDS
GLOBAL
STANDARD AND
CERTIFICATION
REACH
VFDS: ENERGY
SAVINGS
AND MORE
2
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 2
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005CSTMAR3.indd 1
4/16/2010 8:35:56 AM
legislativewatch
Engaging
Lawmakers
on Climate Change, Energy Issues
AHRI Legislative,
Regulatory Agendas Full
When AHRI was formed in 2008,
one of the stated reasons for the
merger was an increased presence
on Capitol Hill and in government
agencies. As we begin our third year,
AHRI’s advocacy efforts have begun
to bear significant fruit. The tax
credits that were put in place early
last year for the purchase of highly
efficient equipment have been successful enough that Congress is looking not only at extending them, but
adding incentives for additional types
of equipment in both the residential
and commercial sectors. In October
2009, AHRI reached a sweeping
agreement with efficiency advocates
on regional efficiency standards for
several products. In addition, Congress finally appears poised to provide
incentives for the change out of less
efficient, CFC-based chillers.
Regional Standards Agreement
and Energy Legislation
In October 2009, AHRI and its
members signed an agreement with
leading energy and environmental
advocacy organizations that would
create, for the first time, regional
standards (see Figure 1) for certain
residential heating and cooling
products. This dramatic change from
existing law balances the desire for
HVAC technologies more suited to
differing climates with the industry’s
need to maintain a level of marketplace uniformity. If enacted into law,
this agreement would also give states
the option of using higher product efficiency levels when enacting
their building codes, recognizing
the importance of allowing the next
generation of new homes to be more
energy efficient. The American Coun-
AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
Figure 1
4
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 4
4/19/10 10:26 AM
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005CSTMAR5.indd 1
ENERGY
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DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS TO MEASURE BUILDING PERFORMANCE
4/16/2010 8:37:16 AM
legislativewatch
cil for an Energy Efficient Economy
(ACEEE), one of the agreement’s
signatories, projects that it has the
potential to save the nation $13
billion between 2013 and 2030. The
agreement was included in S. 3059,
“the “Energy Efficiency Enhancement
Act of 2010,” along with other energy
provisions relevant for the industry.
AHRI President and CEO Stephen
Yurek testified before a hearing of the
Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee in March in favor of S.
3059 and other bills of interest to the
association (see sidebar).
)
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Need R-22?Wehaveit—andtheEPAallocationrightstosupplyit.
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AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
When it comes to refrigerants,
Arkema has everything you need.
Forane® is a registered trademark of Arkema Inc.
©2010, Arkema Inc. All rights reserved
CFC Chiller
Replacement Initiative
S. 1639, the Expanding Industrial
Energy Efficiency Incentives Act of
2009, includes a provision which
would provide a tax credit for the
replacement of operational chillers
using CFC refrigerant installed after
1980 and before 1993.
Introduced by Sens. Jeff
Bingaman (D-NM) and
Olympia Snowe (R-ME),
this bill would provide
a tax credit of $150/ton
based on the tonnage of the
CFC unit being replaced,
provided that the system
replacing it meets the
applicable standards found
in ASHRAE 90.1-2010.
In addition, the bill would
help expedite the removal
from service of many old,
less efficient chillers which
still use ozone depleting
refrigerant. If enacted, this
bill would help to dramatically improve the energy
efficiency of many existing
commercial buildings while
also removing environmentally harmful refrigerants
from service.
Climate Change
Legislation
The need for AHRI and
its member companies
to begin a transition to
refrigerants that not only
do not deplete the ozone
layer but also have a less
significant potential to
contribute to climate
change, is very much alive.
To that end, AHRI has
been supportive of efforts
by the United States to have
HFCs regulated under the
Montreal Protocol. In fact,
AHRI staff attended the
most recent Meeting of the
Parties in Egypt, where they
6
005CSTMAR6.indd 1
4/19/10 1:49:19 PM
Yurek Testifies Before Senate Committee
On March 10, 2010, AHRI President and CEO Stephen
Yurek testified before the Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee in support of S. 2908, the Water
Heater Rating Improvement Act of 2009, and S. 3059, the
National Energy Efficiency Enhancement Act of 2010.
S. 2908 contains the consensus agreement on
regional efficiency standards and building codes.
Yurek issued a plea to the Committee to pass the bill,
because “Absent firm direction from Congress, the
Department of Energy is continuing its rulemaking on
the next iteration of efficiency standards for residential
central air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces.”
Yurek explained that the building code provisions are
especially important because “DOE currently does not
have the statutory authority to promulgate them.”
S. 3059 requires the Department of Energy to conduct a rulemaking to consider the revision of its
residential water heater test procedure. Updating the test procedure, Yurek said, “will ensure accurate
efficiency ratings for these products and will enable true energy savings.”
Energy Conservatory
met with U.S. and other delegations as well as representatives from
non-governmental organizations,
to discuss the issue. AHRI supports
efforts by the United States to engage
in negotiations to include HFCs
in the Montreal Protocol provided
that it results in a phase down rather
than a phase out; that sufficient
time, research funding, and financial
incentives are provided to ensure an
orderly transition to new refrigerants;
and that regulations are designed to
minimize market disruption and do
not hamper the ability of manufacturers to develop and transition to
low GWP refrigerants.
Former AHRI Chairman Keith Coursin
(far left), joins ACEEE Executive
Director Steven Nadel and ASE
President Kateri Callahan in signing a
historic standards consensus agreement
AHRItrends
|
www.AHRInet.org
7
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 7
4/19/10 10:26 AM
AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
coverstory
Brighter
Days
Ahead?
As the classic number from the musical
Bye, Bye Birdie goes, “Gray skies are gonna
clear up, put on a happy face!” If you work in the
HVACR and water heating industry, you might just
want to dust off that smiley face and
look toward brighter days ahead.
8
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 8
4/19/10 10:26 AM
incentives for the purchase of highly
efficient residential furnaces, boilers, water heaters, heat pumps and
central air conditioners. And the
ink was barely dry on the President’s
signature on the bill when Congress
began working with AHRI and other
groups to increase and expand the
incentives and add a commercial
component, as well.
Congress Considers
Further Incentives
r
That has changed to a significant
degree. Last year, Congress enacted,
as part of the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act, sweeping
Gold Star includes a comprehensive energy audit and determines
rebate levels based on energy savings
achieved through efficiency measures, up to $8,000 or 50 percent
of total project cost. Rebates would
flow through contractors, once again
avoiding upfront consumer cost.
www.AHRInet.org
higher minimum efficiency levels,
while providing scant incentives for
consumers to purchase the higher
efficiency products.
|
F
or years, AHRI has been working with Congress, the states
and nongovernmental organizations to accelerate the replacement
of the nation’s installed base of heating, cooling, commercial refrigeration and for water heater products.
But until recently, the government
seemed content to mandate ever
AHRItrends
Legislation currently pending in
Congress, dubbed “Home Star”
and “Building Star,” would provide
additional incentives for consumers
to replace less efficient HVAC
and water heating equipment
with more efficient models. The
Home Star proposal would offer
homeowners enhanced incentives to
purchase highly efficient central air
conditioners, furnaces, water heaters,
heat pumps and boilers. It appears
this program would supplant the
current federal tax credits for these
products. The program would use
two tiers; Silver Star and Gold Star,
to entice homeowners (see Figure
2). Silver Star, which is prescriptivebased, would give consumers rebates
of up to $3,000 or 50 percent of the
project cost ($1,000 per measure) for
insulation, duct sealing, windows,
furnaces (92 AFUE Gas- 86 AFUE
Oil), boilers (90 AFUE Gas- 86
AFUE Oil), A/C or Heat-Pump – 16
SEER /13 EER (same as current tax
credits) and water heaters (storage
– 0.67/0.80 EF/90 TE; tankless
– 0.82 EF; electric – 2.0 EF).
9
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 9
4/19/10 10:27 AM
The Building Star proposal would
provide rebates and tax incentives for
energy retrofits in commercial and
multi-family residential buildings.
Like the prescriptive pathway of the
Home Star proposal, Building Star
would award rebates to building owners who implement specific energy
saving measures, including energy
servicing and operations training.
The Building Star proposal would
also expand tax incentives for performance-based energy savings. Rebates
included in the bill would total $6 billion, in order to stimulate $18 to $24
billion in total investment, resulting in
more than 150,000 new jobs.
Helping the HVACR Industry?” If
AHRI’s statistics tell the real story,
the answer to that question is a
very welcome “yes.” While official
government figures are not yet available, there is ample evidence that
incentives available from last year’s
$787 billion stimulus bill –both in
the form of federal tax credits and
state-administered rebates – are
indeed spurring homeowners and
small business owners to upgrade
their heating, cooling and water heating equipment. It is, of course, our
fondest hope that the tax credits and
rebates are beginning to kick in just
as the economy is beginning to pick
up, creating a more robust market for
these high efficiency products than
existed before.
When the stimulus bill was being
considered by Congress last year,
many (including AHRI) felt that
some of the qualifying efficiency
levels – particularly for some types
of water heaters, oil furnaces, and
central air conditioners – were too
high to provide an adequate incentive
for consumers to purchase them.
However, although we continue to
believe that slightly lower qualifying
levels would have spurred even more
replacements, we are happy to admit
when we are wrong – especially when
the industry benefits!
From November 2009 through January 2010, the latest month for which
figures are available, shipments have
increased – in some cases substan-
Both the Building Star and Home Star
proposals have the support of a broad
base of industry, energy efficiency
groups, trade associations (including
AHRI) and membership societies.
Do These Programs
Work?
In our Fall 2009 issue, we asked the
question, “Are Stimulus Funds Really
Current IRS Section
25 (C) Credits
Home Star
Silver Star
Home Star
Gold Star
Building Star
30%, up to $1,500
Up to $4,000, or 50%
of project cost
Up to $8,000, or 50%
of project cost
Up to 50% of
project cost
Tax Credit
Point of Sale Rebate
Contractor
Administered Rebate
Contractor
Administered Rebate
Eligible Products:
Eligible Products
Eligible Products
Eligible Products
A/Cs
A/Cs
A/Cs
A/Cs
Furnaces
Furnaces
Furnaces
Furnaces
Water Heaters
Water Heaters
Water Heaters
Water Heaters
Boilers
Boilers
Boilers
Boilers
Additional nonHVACR Products
Additional nonHVACR Products
Additional nonHVACR Products
Additional nonHVACR Products
AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
Figure 2
10
005CSTMAR10.indd 1
4/19/10 1:41:47 PM
A reliable new system from American Standard makes
everything in your customers’ homes a lot more comfortable.
When you sell your customers an American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning system, you’re giving them a lot for their
money. And a little. With their new system, they’ll get the durability of one of America’s most highly ranked brands for
reliability. They’ll also get impressive efficiency that lets them use less energy every month. It’s a powerful combination that
doesn’t take a lot of power. Your independent American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning distributor can tell you more.
© 2009 American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning
005CSTMAR11.indd 1
All rights reserved
4/19/2010 9:14:32 AM
tially – for central air conditioners,
heat pumps, gas and electric water
heaters, and gas furnaces. While
AHRI tracks data on shipments of
heating, cooling and water heating
products with specific efficiency levels, those data are not made available
to the public.
Gas and Electric
Water Heaters
Reversing a downward trend, combined shipments of gas and electric
water heaters, as shown in Figure
3, increased 10.6 percent, from
1,864,929 during the three-month
period of November 2008 through
January 2009, to 2,062,420 during
the three-month period at the end of
2009 and beginning of 2010.
Figure 3
Water Heaters (Gas and Electric)
2,100,000
2,062,420
2,050,000
2,000,000
1,950,000
1,900,000
1,864,929
1,850,000
1,800,000
1,750,000
Nov. 08 - Jan. 09
Furnaces
Figure 4
700,000
Gas and Oil Furnaces
AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
Combined shipments of gas and
oil furnaces, as shown in Figure 4,
increased 24.3 percent, from 526,835
during the three-month period of
November 2008 through January
2009, to 654,944 during the threemonth period at the end of 2009
and beginning of 2010. This also
represents a significant reversal of a
long downward trend in shipments
of these products.
Central Air
Conditioners and
Heat Pumps
As indicated by Figure 5, combined
shipments of residential central air
conditioners and air-source heat
pumps increased 34.8 percent, from
694,602 during the three-month
period of November 2008 through
January 2009, to 936,200 during the
same period at the end of 2009 and
beginning of 2010. This reverses a
long downward trend in shipments
of these products.
Nov. 09 - Jan. 10
600,000
654,944
526,835
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
Nov. 08 - Jan. 09
Nov. 09 - Jan. 10
A/C - Heat Pumps
Figure 5
1,000,000
936,200
900,000
800,000
700,000
694,602
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
Nov. 08 - Jan. 09
Nov. 09 - Jan. 10
12
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 12
4/19/10 10:27 AM
FLEXIBILITY IS EVERYTHING.
-ODULARDESIGNs(EATPUMPORHEATRECOVERYsPHASEPOWER6
OR6s7IDERANGEOFCAPACITIESTO4ONSs4OTALPIPINGLENGTH
EXTENDEDTOFTs-AXIMUMPIPINGLENGTHEXTENDEDTOFT
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&ORMOREINFORMATIONVISITWWWDAIKINACCOM
HEAT PUMP
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Pictures are for advertising purposes only.
005CSTMAR13.indd 1
4/16/2010 8:34:00 AM
featurestory
VRF
Systems:
A Ductless A
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) HVAC systems are being
specified for more buildings in the United States.
By Lisa Murton Beets
Many styles of air handlers
are available
AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
V
RF (variable refrigerant flow)
technology was introduced
in Japan more than two
decades ago. While many VRF
systems are installed in Asia, Europe,
and South America, it wasn’t until
around eight years ago that they
started to be aggressively marketed
in the United States.
VRF systems are an
outgrowth of “multi-split”
systems used in residential
applications. Ductless VRF
systems allow numerous
indoor air handlers to be
connected to one outdoor
condensing unit to provide
heating, cooling, or both
heating and cooling simul-
taneously in situations where heat
is needed in one part of a building,
while cooling is needed in another.
The refrigerant, R-410A, runs through
piping (two- or three-pipe configurations), with flow varying based on
need. Today’s inverter technology
varies the speed of the compressor so
the system does not have to cycle on
and off. A sophisticated control lies at
the heart of the system.
VRF applications can range from
large homes to small and large commercial installations. Even though
it’s a relatively newer approach in
the United States, one manufacturer
estimates that the segment has been
growing at about 30 to 40 percent
each year for the past few years.
14
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 14
4/19/10 10:27 AM
Outdoor
Unit
Refrigerant
Piping
BC
Controller
Two-Pipes
Indoor Units
ms:
s Alternative
Heating Area
Cooling Area
Numerous indoor air handlers can be connected to one outdoor condensing
unit to provide heating, cooling, or both, simultaneously.
The standard does not apply to the
testing and rating of individual
assemblies for separate use. It also
does not cover ductless mini-splits
(one-to-one split systems), which are
covered by AHRI Standard 210/240.
www.AHRInet.org
AHRI recently approved a new
testing and rating standard, AHRI
Standard 1230, Performance Rating
of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF)
Multi-Split Air-Conditioning and
Heat Pump Equipment. The standard,
which is available online. applies
to matched variable refrigerant
flow multi-split air conditioners
and multi-split heat pumps using
distributed refrigerant technology
with cooling and heating capacities
for outdoor units from 12,000 Btu/h
[3508 W] to 300,000 Btu/h [90,000
W] and indoor units from 5,000
Btu/h [1,000W] to 60,000 Btu/h
[20,000 W].
Each indoor unit is designed to
condition a single zone. This includes
variable refrigerant flow multi-split
systems consisting of the following
matched components: a) an outdoor
unit with single or multiple compressors or variable capacity compressor
or with a variable speed drive; b)
indoor unit(s) that have a coil, air
movement device intended for single
zone air distribution, and a temperature sensing control; and c) a zone
temperature control device.
|
VRF systems can save energy because
they work efficiently at part load.
While manufacturers have worked
with the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) to accurately represent the
energy efficiency of these systems, there
is currently no certification program.
AHRItrends
VRF systems offer quiet operation,
design flexibility, and modularity in
installation and can be adapted with
relative ease to the changing needs
of a building over time. Suitable
applications include office buildings,
schools, hospitals, hotels, condos,
apartment buildings, theaters,
historic buildings, workout facilities,
and more. Many styles of indoor
air handlers are available, including
wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted,
suspended, floor-standing, and concealed units.
15
005CSTMAR15.indd 1
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AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
Plans are underway to develop a
certification program for VRF equipment covered by AHRI Standard
1230 and to write a testing and rating standard for mini-splits.
This would enhance specifying engineer and contractor confidence in
the efficiency and operation of VRF
systems. Until a certification program
is in place, VRF system manufacturers do have proprietary energy
modeling software that can help
estimate energy savings and payback.
In general, estimates of first costs and
the energy savings will depend on the
building itself as well as the location.
room. Where mechanical ventilation
is required, however, a separate ventilation system is typically necessary.
The heated or cooled air provided by
each air handler can be individually
controlled. The ability to provide
heating and cooling simultaneously
to different parts of a building may
be attractive, not only for energy
savings but for comfort reasons as
well. Consider, for example, that a
building with a lot of sun exposure
on one side in the morning might
require cooling, while the other side
of the building might need heat at
the same time; or in buildings such
as hospitals, hotels, or gyms where
different rooms need to be kept at
different temperatures throughout
Images courtesy of
Mitsubishi Electric Cooling
and Heating Solutions
For project teams seeking LEED
points, VRF systems may be able
to earn points in the Energy &
Atmosphere (EA), Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation and
Design categories. Because these
systems sometimes require a higher
refrigerant charge per ton of cooling,
however, teams might find it difficult
to qualify for LEED EA Credit #4.
Because VRF systems use piping,
rather than ducts, they eliminate
duct losses, which can add up to
further savings. The systems also
remove the costs and space issues
involved with installing ductwork,
and can save floor space by doing
away with the need for a mechanical
16
005CSTMAR16.indd 1
4/19/10 1:42:59 PM
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005CSTMAR17.indd 1
4/16/2010 8:16:19 AM
AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
the day. Because they can be easily
sub metered, property management
firms find them an attractive option
as well.
Manufacturers, contractors, and
facilities personnel all cite the ease of
controlling VRF systems as another
reason why they are growing in popularity. Certain VRF controllers with
web server functions can handle up
to 50 units. The systems offer singlepoint control and can be monitored
and controlled via desktop, laptop,
and over the Web.
Advancing Applications
“Design/build contractors like the
systems because they don’t have to
worry about subbing out the controls
work,” says one VRF system manufacturer. “And because the indoor sys-
tems sense the temperature of the air
and refrigerant going in and out of
the coil, the system knows how much
heat loss is occurring so it adjusts to
meet the heating and cooling needs.
This gives the engineer confidence
that the load will be taken care of, so
they can focus instead on trying to
optimize the entire system, not just
individual rooms.”
Installation contractors say that
because the systems are easy to
install, resulting in cost savings
from reduced labor. These types of
systems can also give smaller contractors a competitive edge because
they enable them to bid on bigger
buildings without having to add
overhead. And the ability to offer
customers an energy-efficient system
that might qualify for a utility rebate
has also been cited as a good selling
“VRF systems save energy
because they work efficiently
at part load.”
point, giving the contractor one
more “solution” to offer prospects
and customers.
The number of VRF systems installed
in the United States is expected to
continue to grow over the coming
years. Numerous established manufacturers offer state-of-the-art quality
product solutions with comprehensive training and support programs
for both engineers and contractors.
Companies that learn the systems
now will have an edge on their competitors moving forward. ♦
18
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 18
4/19/10 10:28 AM
Air-Conditioning, Heating,
and Refrigeration Institute
005CSTMAR19.indd 1
4/19/2010 1:15:02 PM
featurestory
AHRI Expands
Global Standard and
Certification Reach
D
uring recent visits to India
and the Middle East,
AHRI President and CEO
Stephen Yurek signed agreements
with organizations in those regions
that will strengthen and expand the
harmonization and use of AHRI’s
standards and certification programs.
The agreement grants for two years
the Indian parties’ non-exclusive,
irrevocable licenses to use both current
and future AHRI standards, in whole
or in part, for the development and
use of Indian Air-Conditioning, Heat-
AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
In February, Yurek signed a tripartite
agreement with the Indian Society
of Heating, Refrigerating, and AirConditioning Engineers (ISHRAE)
and the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Manufacturers Association
(RAMA) establishing the basis for
cooperation on the development and
harmonization of standards, and laying the groundwork for future cooperation on performance certification
programs. AHRI President
& CEO Stephen
Yurek meets with
SASO Governor
Nabil Ameen Molla.
ing, and Refrigeration Equipment
Testing and Rating Standards (IAS)
in India. The intent is that standards
developed, adopted, or modified
under this agreement will be adopted
by the Bureau of Indian Standards
and referenced by the Indian Bureau
of Energy Efficiency, both of which
will ensure widespread use of those
standards throughout India.
The agreement builds upon one
signed two years ago with ISHRAE
that began the standards, harmonization process between ISHRAE and
AHRI. Since the original agreement
was signed, 15 standards have been
harmonized, and an additional 25 are
in the harmonization process.
In March, Yurek signed cooperative
agreements with the Saudi Standards,
Metrology and Quality Association (SASO) and the United Arab
Emirates’ (UAE’s) Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority
(ESMA), aimed at further harmonizing global HVACR and water heating testing and
rating standards.
The agreement
calls for SASO
and ESMA to
adopt AHRI’s
standards as
Saudi and UAE
national standards, respectively
— in some cases
with regional
adaptations.
AHRI President & CEO Stephen Yurek
shakes hands with ESMA Deputy Director
Mohamed Badri following the agreement
signing.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, and the UAE have begun to
place a new emphasis on energy efficiency and environmental protection.
With personal visits in November
2009 and February 2010, AHRI signaled in a very serious way its intent
to work closely with the governments
of those nations to use AHRI standards and performance certification
programs to help them meet with efficiency and environmental goals and
to further global harmonization of
standards and certification programs. Discussions are underway between
AHRI, SASO, and ESMA about
holding a series of workshops that
could lead to an agreement on
adoption of certification in the near
future. The ESMA – has invited
AHRI and other private parties,
including AHRI member companies
to apply to participate in ESMA
standards development and conformity assessment committees that
ultimately will develop Minimum
Energy Performance Standards
(MEPS) for the UAE.
20
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 20
4/19/10 10:28 AM
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©2010 Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, Inc.
005CSTMAR21.indd 1
Get the free app for your
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4/19/2010 8:47:31 AM
featurestory
VFDs: Energy
Savings and More
Variable frequency drives (VFDs) have come
down in size and cost and offer impressive
payback returns.
By Lisa Murton Beets
V
ariable frequency drives
(VFDs) can significantly
reduce the amount of
electrical energy required to run
compressors, fans, and pumps. The
technology has become advanced
enough that paybacks of 12 months
and sooner are now being experienced in the field.
Fifteen years ago, VFDs had a
reputation for being unreliable and
were very expensive. However, the
technology has evolved dramatically
and the price has dropped. “It’s gotten to the point that it doesn’t make
sense NOT to install them. This goes
for all commercial applications, and
ultimately will be true for residential installations as well,” says one
manufacturer.
AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
A VFD is essentially a sophisticated,
electronic “computer/building
controller” that varies the speed of an
AC motor by varying the frequency
to the motor. (A variable speed drive,
or VSD, can be applied to either AC
or DC motors; when applied to a
DC motor, a VSD varies the speed
by varying the voltage to the motor.)
A VFD matches airflow to actual
heating and cooling demand thereby
reducing motor speed when full-load
operation is not required. It has been
estimated that reducing the power
required by a fan motor that has been
running at 100 percent down to 50
percent can save 80 percent of the
energy consumed.
VFDs are designed to promote total system effectiveness; payback can range from months to
fewer than three years. (Photos courtesy of Danfoss Drives.)
This manufacturer estimates that at
least 90 percent of existing commercial buildings do not have VFDs,
representing tremendous opportunities for retrofit. At the same time,
approximately 35 to 45 percent of
new units are now shipping to the
field with VFDs already installed,
depending on the brand.
“The equipment can be ordered with
the drive already installed, or may be
field installed,” he says. Furthermore,
this manufacturer estimates that
about two-thirds of all drives sold in
the United States are sold in the field.
Earlier generation VFDs were larger
than today’s smaller packages. Current models are more efficient than
their earlier counterparts, which has
resulted in more compact designs.
Built-in harmonic noise conditioning
and plug-and-play capabilities make
them very easy to apply.
Installed VFDs can range in cost from
a few thousand dollars for a small,
five-hp motor, up to $50,000 or more
for custom engineered and larger versions. Paybacks, however, can range
from months to less than three years.
Drives can be applied to more than
one motor for additional cost savings.
Maintenance savings and longer
equipment life (due to reduced system wear and tear resulting from the
elimination of different devices that
22
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 22
4/19/10 10:28 AM
would otherwise be required
to hold back flow and volume)
also contribute to a positive
return on investment.
In addition to reducing energy
and preventing excess wear
and tear on a system, VFDs
can produce other cost savings
as well. For example, they can
eliminate the need for certain
sensors, switches, and other
components. A drive can alert
the maintenance team when a
filter is dirty, eliminating the
need to wire a separate sensor
to the system.
AHRItrends
Almost every VFD manuVFDs match airflow to actual demand, thereby reducing motor speed when full-load operation is not required.
facturer has energy analysis
software to calculate payback. One
ing to the American Council for an
“Looking forward, we’re going to see
manufacturer says that “time and
Energy‐Efficient Economy.
variable speed ‘everything’”, says one
time again we’re seeing payback
industry veteran. “It just makes too
in less than one year. What other
Building Star would provide rebates
much sense.”
investment can perform to that
and tax incentives for a full range of
degree? Once the industry gets more
HVAC equipment, VFD/VSDs, and
This manufacturer also has seen
confident in installing this technolservices such as duct sealing and balmany mechanical contractors shy
ogy, the sky will be the limit in terms
ancing. The rebate and incentives are
away from VFD technology, which
of market penetration."
established in the legislation, rather
makes sense because they are electhan by agencies, so the program
tronics. “You’re asking people with
can
be
implemented
immediately.
mechanical backgrounds to embrace
Incentive Programs
Incentives for the adoption of VFDs
a new technology. This is a new
would vary depending on motor size.
discipline and a challenge, but movMany utilities offer incentives for
Demand would be fueled in the field, ing forward is the way to go. Getting
installing VFDs. In addition, buildby contractors explaining and offerthe proper training now will be a key
ing legislation, introduced March 4,
ing VFD technology to customers.
factor for future success.”
2010, would create further incentives
for building owners to install VFDs.
VFD manufacturers offer a range
Moving Beyond
of training programs, including
If approved, the legislation would
Barriers
classroom and online options.
create at least 150,000 jobs by
Classes cover the basics of VFDs and
promoting the installation of energyUntil now, there has been no
available solutions; basic startup,
efficient renovations in commercial
standard for VFDs and no certificainstallation, commissioning and trouand multi-family residential buildtion program for their performance.
bleshooting; how to diagnose, repair,
ings. It could save building owners
The AHRI VFD Product Section is
and rebuild systems; and more.
more than $3 billion on their energy
currently working on a standard that
bills annually by reducing enough
could be approved by November. It
VFDs are expected to play an imporpeak electricity demand to avoid the
will cover efficiency, harmonics, and
tant role as our nation moves forward
need for thirty-three 300‐megawatt
motor stress. After that, a certificawith its energy efficiency goals.
power plants. It could also reduce the
tion program is anticipated. Both
Prepare now and be ready for the
pollution that contributes to climate
the standard and the certification
opportunities as they unfold. ♦
change by 21 million metric tons,
program are expected to propel the
or the equivalent of nearly 4 million
use of VFDs even further throughout
auto emissions each year, accordthe industry.
|
www.AHRInet.org
23
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 23
4/19/10 10:29 AM
FinalWord
in place in 2009, or a combination of
both, the fact is, people are replacing
their older, less efficient equipment
with today’s highly efficient models.
This represents a win-win for our
nation and our industry: Lower
energy use, greater protection of the
environment, and more work for
those our member companies employ
in their factories across the land.
We are in an exciting time. Several
years ago, we made it a priority to
accelerate the replacement of the
installed base of residential and commercial heating, cooling, and water
heating equipment in this country.
As we approach mid-year 2010, it is
clear that we are making progress on
that goal. As you have read in these
pages, U.S. factory shipments of
water heaters, furnaces, heat pumps,
and central air conditioners all have
been steadily rising over the past several months. Whether this is a result
of increased confidence in the economy, of the tax credits that were put
At the same time, we have significantly increased our presence abroad,
most recently in India and the
Middle East, where governments,
associations, building owners, contractors, and specifiers are clamoring
for AHRI Certified® products. The
In China, the relationship we began
several years ago with the Chinese
government and with our sister associations moved significantly forward
last month, when the first AHRI
certification test on an AHRI certification program participant’s equipment
was conducted in a Chinese laboratory under contract and supervision
by AHRI. As we expand such testing,
both within China and perhaps into
other countries or regions across the
globe, demand for AHRI Certified®
equipment will grow, providing an
even more important sales tool for our
certification program participants.
Stay tuned. We look forward to a
very productive summer.
Sincerely,
Stephen Yurek
AHRI President and CEO
AHRItrends
|
Spring/Summer 2010
Now that we are finally past what
was for many a particularly difficult
year, it is a pleasure to look forward
to what this spring and summer will
bring for our industry.
Our members and staff are working
diligently with Congress to enact,
continue, and perhaps expand,
incentives for the purchase of highly
efficient residential, commercial,
and industrial heating, cooling,
and water heating equipment. We
are also working to ensure that our
consensus agreements on building
codes and regional standards for
residential furnaces, air conditioners,
and heat pumps; on development of
an updated residential water heater
test procedure; and on standards for
heat pump pool heaters, and commercial refrigeration equipment are
passed into law this year. Success in
that endeavor will provide regulatory
predictability for the makers of that
equipment for a long time.
agreements we signed in the past
couple of months are testament to
our commitment to collaborating for
the betterment of our industry and
its customers.
24
AHRI_SprSum10_v16.indd 24
4/19/10 10:29 AM
© 2010 Trane. All rights reserved.
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