Walk into your offices and there’s a rush of cold air that greets you. Right? That is exactly how your building is bleeding money and energy. A software company, Optimum Energy, in Seattle has a software ready that helps curb energy spent by slowing down the motors that power the buildings’ heating and cooling systems.
Motors and pumps that circulate the cold water around the buildings are often an ignored aspect of the energy bill. The company’s software products have the potential to halve the heating and cooling bills.
A massive network of cold water is required in many buildings for temperature control. High-powered motors and pumps drive the water around the building. As a hot building cools down, then the motor shuts off. If a surge in temperature occurs, then the motor starts off again. But this can be even a rise by one degree!
Their software product, called OptimumLOOP, controls the HVAC systems on site to keep them running only at the capacity needed to keep buildings at comfortable temperatures, instead of their maximum capacity.
The company estimates that there are 110,000 buildings in the US that are eligible for its system and that figure is big enough to have a strong impact on energy savings and the environment. “If our stuff was implemented across the United States, you wouldn’t have to build another power plant for ten years,” according to a spokesman.
Motors and pumps that circulate the cold water around the buildings are often an ignored aspect of the energy bill. The company’s software products have the potential to halve the heating and cooling bills.
A massive network of cold water is required in many buildings for temperature control. High-powered motors and pumps drive the water around the building. As a hot building cools down, then the motor shuts off. If a surge in temperature occurs, then the motor starts off again. But this can be even a rise by one degree!
Their software product, called OptimumLOOP, controls the HVAC systems on site to keep them running only at the capacity needed to keep buildings at comfortable temperatures, instead of their maximum capacity.
The company estimates that there are 110,000 buildings in the US that are eligible for its system and that figure is big enough to have a strong impact on energy savings and the environment. “If our stuff was implemented across the United States, you wouldn’t have to build another power plant for ten years,” according to a spokesman.
The Empire State Building in New York is analyzing and retrofitting existing structures for environmental sustainability that will see its energy consumption reduced by 38 percent. As central elements of the $500 million upgrade program presently underway at New York City’s tallest building, the program is expected to reduce energy consumption by up to 38 percent. It will save $4.4 million in annual energy savings costs and repay its net extra cost in about three years.
Some 6500 windows will be refurbished into triple-glazed insulated modules, dramatically improving summer and winter efficiency while the insides will see upgraded lighting, lighting controls and lighting design; upgraded or overhauled furnaces, chillers, and air-handlers.
Commercial and residential buildings account for the majority of the total carbon footprint of cities around the world. Reducing existing building energy consumption and carbon footprint or retrofitting has a big potential in saving energy.
Every which way of saving energy is equal to making twice the amount available elsewhere. Any reason why such options should not be explored as aggressively as building new power plants?
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