Recently, I investigated the use of a variable refrigerant flow system with ground loop condensing for a school HVAC renovation. For the building in question, the ground loop was estimated to cost $405,000, and the savings produced would be expected to show an 8-10 year payback in order to be considered. I used Mitsubishi equipment as... Continue Reading →
Elder High School HVAC and Lighting Upgrade
A few years ago, I helped a hundred year old local high school modernize. Elder High School is a well known Catholic west side boys school with a strong alumni base. The original building was built in 1922 and there were major additions in 1959 and 1963. The school enjoyed a lot of support from... Continue Reading →
What is the most energy efficient commercial HVAC system available?
If you do a google search with those search terms, you won't get any exact hits. The hits you get will be regarding residential systems, which are much simpler. For residential applications, only the efficiency of the equipment itself (condensing unit and matching indoor A coil) is considered, not system efficiency or the combined efficiency... Continue Reading →
Icing on a VRV condensing unit
The recent cold temperatures reminded me of a situation that I encountered a few winters ago. This is a VRV condensing unit in its first year of winter service. Can you guess what the problem is here? It isn't a malfunctioning de-icing cycle. The outside temps were around freezing when this happened, and it didn't... Continue Reading →