Windows are not simply a decorative aspect of building design. Choosing the right windows for a commercial building can dramatically impact on a building’s energy usage, heating, and cooling needs, whether it’s a school, religious building, hotel, retail mall, office space or restaurant. Here are some insights from our team of specialists in commercial HVAC in NJ.
Choosing the Correct Windows – What Are the Challenges? There are several aspects to consider when selecting new windows or replacement windows for a commercial building in New Jersey, including: Lighting The more windows you have and the larger they are, the easier it is to use natural daylight to light your building. This has been shown to be beneficial to occupant well-being, productivity, and health, as well as helping to significantly reduce lighting loads, maintenance, and energy expenses. Heating and Cooling Windows are a weak point when it comes to insulating a building properly, as they account for a high proportion of heat exchange between the inside of the building and the outdoor environment. This can increase summer heat gains and heat losses in winter, making heating and cooling your building more challenging and expensive. How to Manage These Challenges for Optimal Building Performance When selecting commercial window options for your building, it is important to consider thermal performance, especially regarding insulation. The manner in which the windows are constructed directly impacts how well they are insulated, with triple-pane windows offering the highest standard of insulation. The window’s U-value (heat transfer coefficient), R-value (thermal resistance) and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) are the main values to consider when sourcing high-performance windows. To meet your energy-efficiency goals, it is essential that windows meet the standards set out by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE Standard 90.1, which provide the minimum energy-efficient guidelines. If you want to achieve an even higher standard for energy efficiency, the ASHRAE Standard 189 and International Green Construction Code (IgCC) establish the baselines for sustainability goals. In addition, it is important to take measures to increase the performance of the building envelope itself in the event of remodeling or refurbishing an existing structure, as there is no point in installing costly, high-performance windows when the building itself is not designed with these goals in mind. A high-performance envelope includes different technologies and materials to increase air-tightness (preventing heating and cooling losses from leaks) and insulation (in walls, ceilings, and roof assemblies as well as around ventilation systems), and eliminating losses and energy wastage from the building as a whole. Finally, it is important to combine the installation of elements such as high-performance windows and insulation measures with a correctly-sized high-efficiency HVAC system. These systems are rated to ensure that energy usage is optimized for heating and cooling output to reduce energy wastage. State-of-the-art systems also come with additional smart technology and controls in the form of variable frequency drives (VFDs), automation (allowing for greater temperature control to reduce wastage), and zoning (providing heating and cooling only where it is needed). An experienced commercial HVAC contractor can not only design and correctly size an HVAC system complete with smart controls for your needs, but they can also install and insulate the ventilation system itself to ensure optimal performance. Expert Design, Installation, and Maintenance of Commercial HVAC Systems in NJ If you are looking for the right air conditioning or heating system for your commercial building, our commercial HVAC company in NJ is here to assist. At Tri-Tech Energy, we specialize in both heating and cooling systems as well as in the design and installation of custom, cutting-edge commercial HVAC systems, HVAC control systems, and commercial ductwork and commercial ventilation systems for a wide range of clients. Our mobile teams of experienced commercial HVAC contractors offer expert maintenance and repair services for commercial HVAC systems and heating systems, serving the entire New Jersey area and operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so our team is ready to help whenever you need it. For more information on our company or commercial ventilation systems services, please contact us today or visit our website at https://www.tritechenergy.com/ Original content is posted on https://www.tritechenergy.com/blog/windows-affecting-building-performance/
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A Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) is one that produces as much energy as it consumes, making it the ultimate sustainability goal for a commercial project. It’s a simple concept in theory, but a challenge that requires complete commitment in order to achieve, requiring expert collaboration and innovative solutions from the project’s conceptual phase through to completion, including working with a leading commercial HVAC company in NJ. Why Choose to Build an NZEB? Following this building philosophy takes a huge upfront investment, but it’s all about long-term goals. According to 2018 data gathered by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), buildings accounted for 40% of total energy consumption in the USA, around 40 quadrillion British thermal units (BTU). With rising energy costs and increasing scarcity of fossil fuels, an NZEB is a sensible option for reducing long-term costs while meeting building performance needs effectively. Developers and the public are also becoming not only increasingly aware of sustainability measures but also in favor thereof. This means that making this move will be a great way to attract commercial and residential tenants as well as provide organizations with a significant public relations boost to their brand. Key Principles Behind an NZEB According to the World Green Building Council, the guiding principles behind an NZEB include:
Measures include design strategies that reduce load, like sun control and shading devices, air barrier systems, insulation, high-efficiency HVAC and ventilation systems, and high-performance envelopes.
For example, energy can be generated from commercial solar systems, geothermal heat pumps, the use of biofuel, and wind turbines. In many cases, buildings are not able to meet their energy requirements through on-site measures, in which case off-site sources can be used. Excess energy can also be fed back into the grid to allow others access to renewable energy and to generate financial returns through SRECs and other governmental programs.
Additional sustainability measures can include water collection and conservation, recycling, and reduction of waste, for example. Net Zero Energy Buildings Are Already Here Thanks to innovations in building design, materials, renewable technology, and energy-efficient systems, NZEBs are becoming a reality around the world. Current examples include:
Our Commercial HVAC Contractors Can Help You Reach Your Sustainability Goals At Tri-Tech Energy, high-efficiency HVAC systems, commercial ductwork, and ventilation systems are our specialty. With over 30 years of experience in the HVAC industry, we are able to assist our commercial and industrial clients with all aspects of their building’s HVAC system, from repairs and maintenance to developing custom heating and cooling systems for re-fitted or new buildings. We also do commercial HVAC ductwork insulation for additional energy-efficiency. For more information on our company or services, please contact us today or visit our website at https://www.tritechenergy.com/ Original content is posted on https://www.tritechenergy.com/blog/net-zero-energy-building/ |
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