Energy Efficient Commercial Air Conditioning and Heating Systems

Comfortrol is a leading Commercial HVAC Contractor that designs and installs energy efficient Cooling and Heating systems for any size building projects. Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems account for 40-60% of the energy used in commercial buildings in the United States. Consequently, almost any business or government agency has the potential to realize significant savings by improving its control of HVAC operations, and improving the efficiency of its systems. Comfortrol’s expertise can assist you in the following areas:

There are many important factors to consider when installing or replacing a new system. Working within your budget, our knowledgeable team will address the following factors to ensure both comfort and operational efficiencies:

• Equipment Upgrades: Compare the efficiencies of a typical 7.5-ton rooftop unit from the 1990s with a current high-efficiency rooftop unit. Based on EER, the high-efficiency unit is over 47% more efficient than the old unit, resulting in over $1,500 savings in annual electric costs. High-efficiency equipment may also qualify for energy rebates.
• “Right Size” HVAC systems to ensure efficient operation: Greatly oversized equipment operates less efficiently and costs more than properly sized equipment. Oversized cooling systems may not dehumidify the air properly, resulting in cool but “clammy” spaces.
• Proper Commissioning: “I truly believe 75% of install contractors do not properly commission the system after completed.” – Mike Kimmet, President of Comfortrol, Inc.

While it is very important to have efficient equipment, controlling it correctly may be even more crucial. Commissioning a newly installed HVAC system involves the systematic process of testing the systems under all aspects of operation, revealing and correcting problems, and ensuring that everything works as intended.

Problems can arise due to the design of the HVAC system, either for its intended or current use, or because equipment and controls are improperly connected or installed.

Retro commissioning (also known as re-commissioning) is the application of the commissioning process to facilities that are already in operation, usually in response to operational problems in a facility, such as:

• System Performance
• Occupant Comfort
• Changes to the Facility

Improvements can be seen in energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction, safety, comfort and even equipment life spans. It comes as no surprise that a great deal of cash can also be saved by RCx.

From programmable thermostats, to full scale building automation systems, controls determine how HVAC systems operate to meet your goals of comfort, safety, and efficient operation. Based on your budget, your goals, and the size of your facility, Comfortrol can implement a solution that will provide the following benefits:

• Program a setback schedule for unoccupied hours / zones
• Take advantage of lower utility rates during off-peak periods
• Wireless control, allowing you to change the settings for your facility anytime, from anywhere
• Receive customized alerts, based on your system’s performance

Optimal performance of a building’s HVAC systems is critical to their energy-efficient operation, and can only be ensured through a planned preventive maintenance program that is tailored to your building’s systems, use, and design. For more information see:

• NREL – Saving Money in Commercial Buildings
• Planned Preventive Maintenance Programs

When building, remodeling / repurposing, or planning an addition, all aspects of the building should be considered simultaneously in order to incorporate as many features as possible that reduce heating and cooling loads. Communication between all members of the design team throughout the design process is essential to achieving optimal whole building design.

It is long overdue that zoning should be recognized by the HVAC industry and energy regulators as a simple solution to save energy. No one would think of only having one light switch for their entire office, but we do this with heating and cooling when we only have one thermostat.”
– Dick Foster, President of ZoneFirst Corp.

Whether you have a new building, or one that is already in operation, we can assist you with zone control that offers the following benefits:

• Provides room by room comfort control
• Reduces equipment run time
• Eliminates hot/cold rooms
• Allows you to heat or cool only the areas you want, when you want
• Saves energy and reduces utility bills

Economizer systems take advantage of favorable weather conditions to reduce mechanical cooling by introducing cool outdoor air into a building. Depending on your facility’s use, the “free cooling” provided by a properly working economizer can result in a significant energy cost savings, as well as reduced wear and tear on your air conditioning equipment. A government study found that installing air side economizers can reduce data center cooling costs by up to 50%, without compromising IT system reliability.