Part 1: What Do the Fundamentals of Hitting a Baseball Have to Do with Your Facility Operations?

Michael TrapaniEnergy ServicesLeave a Comment

With spring comes America’s favorite pastime: baseball. For many people, there’s nothing better than sitting in your favorite ballpark, watching your favorite team on a sunny day with a hot dog in one hand and an ice cold drink in the other. In honor of this tradition, we’re exploring how baseball and facility operations are related at a fundamental level.

Why Commission Your Building Systems?

Matt NormanEnergy ServicesLeave a Comment

Are your building systems performing at their highest level? How do you know? Have your utility bills continued to climb, and do you know why? In our experience, we’ve found that most building systems will drift away from peak performance over time and, perhaps more surprising, is that the peak performance of most building systems was never achieved.

The Water-Energy Nexus

Matt NormanEnergy ServicesLeave a Comment

We recently experienced some unusually cold weather in the Southeast that approached or even surpassed record lows.  These extreme temperatures created an environment that produced numerous issues with facilities of all types across our region.  Perhaps one of the most significant impacts felt by many was the impact to our water supply.

The Stack Effect

Matt NormanEnergy ServicesLeave a Comment

Have you ever walked into the lobby of a high rise during the winter to find it surprisingly cold? That’s the stack effect in play. When the air inside a building is warmer and less dense than the outdoor air, the warmer air rises to the top of the building. The top floors become positively pressurized while the bottom floors … Read More

Supply Air Temperature Reset Strategy

Matt NormanEnergy ServicesLeave a Comment

One of the most effective strategies to employ in any energy savings program is to provide only the necessary amount of cooling or heating to each space (or zone). One strategy that allows a building operator to “tailor” the capacity to the zone needs is to utilize a supply air temperature reset strategy.

Static Pressure Reset Strategy

Matt NormanEnergy ServicesLeave a Comment

Mimicking the changing temperatures outside, a facility’s HVAC system needs vary throughout the year, which could mean wasted energy if the system does not adjust. Variable air volume HVAC systems are one way to combat energy loss, but if you’re not employing a static pressure reset strategy, you may be missing a big opportunity to reduce energy levels even more.