Some 25 experts from the HVAC&R industry and the California market addressed growing concerns about the U.S. energy situation at the fifth Danfoss EnVisioneering Symposium, “Making Dollars and Sense of Energy Efficiency: A Focus on Conservation,” June 5, 2007, at the Westin Hotel in Long Beach, CA, USA.
One of the “big ideas” proposed was the concept of building performance metrics. That is, every commercial building should meet certain energy efficiency standards. If tied to federal or state legislation (or both), such standards would give building owners the incentive to implement improvements, resulting in higher energy efficiency across the building market. Those who don’t meet the standards would face the equivalent of a gas-guzzler tax, the group suggested.
“Without question, there is a growing need for a solid assessment of the economic payback of energy efficiency,” said John Galyen, host of the symposium and president, Danfoss Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning, North America. “One of the key questions the HVAC&R industry needs to ask is, Can total lifecycle costing help to significantly change buying practices in energy efficiency solutions?”
Buildings performance metrics was one of several key topics discussed at the symposium.
Other meeting highlights included:
Mark Bernstein, visiting professor, Future Fuels and Energy Initiative, Department of Political Science, University of Southern California, advanced the topic, “The Efficiency Reservoir: How Deep and How Reliable?” He suggested that the U.S. take immediate action to slow electricity demand or “juice it up with efficiency.”
“It’s going to take a sustained period of high energy prices and reliability problems (blackouts, for example) to really change people’s attitudes and behaviors about energy use and efficiency,” Bernstein said. He later added: “We need a long-term, sustained energy policy at the state and federal levels.”
Bruce Manning is director of facilities and operation for the Operating Engineers Trust Funds (OETF), Pasadena, CA, which develops and manages U.S. commercial real estate properties as investments in future pensions. He is a firm believer in energy benchmarking and can cite paybacks of five years or less on numerous projects managed by the OEFT.
“The Energy Star Portfolio Manager is one example of an accurate energy utilization benchmark,” said Manning, who also stressed the importance of proper equipment maintenance and energy rebates. “Energy rebates are ‘free’ money, which lowers ROI (Return on Investment) and gets projects moving. A reasonable ROI depends on long-term goals of ownership and current revenue generation.”
Manning added that emerging technology is a key to energy efficiency.
“Ultra-efficient, central chiller plants are now possible, thanks to new technology,” he said. “New technology has created a paradigm shift with regard to energy efficiency. As an industry, we need to investigate and trust new technology.”
Henry Lau, 2006-08 Emerging Technology program manager, Southern California Edison, noted that California is saving millions of dollars through energy efficiency programs. Like Manning, he is a strong proponent of emerging technology.
“The objectives of our program are to 1) provide new technologies to the energy efficiency programs so they can achieve their energy savings goal, and 2) create a balancing portfolio for the various market segments,” Lau said. “We select new technologies based on the following criteria: large energy savings, great demand reduction, large market potential and minimum market barriers.”
Kent Peterson, president-elect, ASHRAE, and vice president, principal and chief engineer, P2S Engineering, Long Beach, cited an Energy Information Administration study projecting a 71 percent increase in U.S. energy consumption between 2003 and 2030. Currently, buildings account for 40 percent of U.S. energy consumption, followed by industrial (32 percent) and transportation (28 percent).
“We’re (the HVAC&R industry) being forced to seek dramatic solutions in energy efficiency in the built environment,” Peterson said. “Energy efficiency should always be the elegant alternative to fuel consumption.”
The June 5 symposium was the fifth in a series of conferences that comprise the EnVisioneering Symposium series. The event was sponsored by Danfoss, a world leader in research, development and production of mechanical and electronic components for applications in refrigeration and air conditioning, heating and motion control. It was co-organized by Global Strategy Initiative, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm, and Godfrey, an integrated marketing communications agency in Lancaster, PA, USA.John Suzukida, president, Lanex Consulting, Shoreview, MN, served as moderator of a wrap-up session following the presentations.
The sixth symposium is scheduled for October 23, 2007, in Washington, D.C. Details will be announced soon. For more information about the Danfoss EnVisioneering Symposium Series, visit our Envisioneering website by going to the link below.