The article that I chose to review was titled “Chilled Beam Ceiling Systems Promise Energy & Maintenance Savings” and it was written by Alla Katsnelson for a facility maintenance publication. I chose the review this article because we were able to see the chilled beam system in multiple places we visited on our trip and, since I am currently working in the HVAC business, they are something that Is very interesting to me.
The article starts off by stating that chilled beams have been used in the European markets for over a decade but they are just starting to show up in the United States. This was the first question I had about chilled beams when I encountered them because I had never seen this system in a U.S. building. It says that chilled beams can provide energy savings, reduce mechanical noise and improve indoor air quality. All of which are very important factors that are considered by building owners, developers, corporations and facility management professionals.
The chilled beams can be installed during new construction, renovation or during a building retrofit. There are two main types of chilled beam systems: passive and active. The passive chilled beam is simply a casing with a cooling coil inside of it. The water circulated through the coil is kept at a temperature between 59 and 63 degrees Fahrenheit and as the air in the room passes by this coil the heat is absorbed by the coil and then air is in turn cooled off. This resulting cool air is less buoyant than the surrounding warmer air and it is turn flows back down in the space which causes a gentle air circulation throughout the space where the beams are present. The active chilled beam requires a direct air supply in to the beam that is generally supplied by the buildings primary air handling unit. In this system warm air is passed over the cooling coils and then supplied to the space through air diffusers. The main advantage of this system is the humidity control that is achieved through the use of an air handling unit.
According to Alla, chilled beam technology has proven itself to be more energy efficient than conventional HVAC systems and it reduces cost and material required through the elimination of a significant amount of the ductwork system. In addition, the chilled beam systems use warmer water than conventional water cooled HVAC systems and this adds to the energy savings. Neither passive nor active chilled beam systems have moving parts so they typically have long usage times and low maintenance costs. They can be incorporated in most open ceiling layouts or hidden inside of a perforated ceiling system. The only concern or challenge involved with the use of chilled beam systems is the precise humidity control required to avoid condensation. This is especially true in buildings that utilize a large amount of natural ventilation or have to switch back in to an “occupied” mode at the beginning of each work day or after a weekend in which the space was unoccupied. However, this challenge does not have to deter buildings from using chilled beam systems since there are simple ways to achieve humidity control without the use of a large central HVAC system.
The facts all point to chilled beams being a great option to incorporate in to buildings and I am very surprised and somewhat angered that more buildings in the U.S. are not using these systems. From a sustainability standpoint the chilled beam systems are much more sustainable that conventional HVAC systems. They require less material to make, have a longer useful life, are more energy efficient and can allow buildings to use a smaller primary air system which will use less energy to run. In my mind it is a no brainer that we should be using these systems in the states and I plan on doing some research when I return from the trip to figure out why this isn’t the case.
Our trip has come to an end and I will be jumping on a plane in the morning to head back home. I have had an amazing time on the trip and I am very happy that I decided to come on it. I made some great new friends and feel like I am going back home with a great new perspective on international development and how they are approaching and handling the sustainability equation. Overall it seems like New Zealand and Australia are ahead of us in the incorporation of sustainability in their homes and the general acceptance of sustainable practices. However, I do believe that the U.S. commercial market is well situated with the LEED system and we seem to have a bigger push to make our existing buildings operate more efficiently. Hopefully the push to become more sustainable in the commercial market will cause our citizens to try making their homes and daily lives more sustainable but I am not very optimistic about this happening in the near future. Regardless of what happens with our market I know that this trip has opened my eyes up more to sustainability issues and I plan on trying my best to incorporate sustainability in to my personal and professional life in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment