What are Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) and why do they matter? NZEB guru Tim Wentz shares his ideas at a meeting of building technology experts. Meeting sponsored by ITT (Now Xylem) RCW.

Tim Wentz is a registered professional engineer, a LEED Accredited Professional and a member of the faculty of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Construction Management program. He received MCAA’s 2009 Distinguished Service Award and is an ASHRAE fellow.

Danfoss VLT Drives has introduced a new line of Vertical Bypass Panel Assemblies for Danfoss VLT® HVAC Drives in HVAC applications, when and where customers prefer bypass controls and maximum flexibility to meet strict installation constraints.

“Vertical Bypass Panel Assemblies are constructed of the same high quality components and design to deliver the same high performance as our traditional panels, but with a sleek vertical layout and smaller footprint that requires half the horizontal width of traditional panels,” says Steve Gmeinder, Product Manager.

Vertical Bypass Panel Assemblies feature a UL Type 1 / NEMA 1 design, and are UL/CUL 508 listed and seismically certified. Inherent phase loss / imbalance and brown-out protection prevents product damage and downtime in adverse power quality installations. They are available in non-bypass or 3 contactor bypass configurations, and provide 24 VDC control power for all but the largest sizes.

“The engine driving the Danfoss panel dependability is a 24 VDC switch mode power supply that greatly improves performance and dependability beyond traditional CPT power designs. The panel power supply on P2, P3 and P4 frame sizes provides steady and dependable control power, even when the input voltage drops up to 30 percent, virtually eliminating contactor malfunction due to brown-out conditions or phase loss.  On P5 frame sizes, a voltage sensing relay provides similar protection,” explains Gmeinder.

Danfoss drives provide superior performance due to the robust DC link reactor that is standard in every VLT HVAC Drive. This device offers comparable harmonic performance to AC input reactors without detrimental input voltage reductions, and without the extra heat that would typically be removed by additional fans or other devices.

Options available with Vertical Bypass Panel Assemblies include 208V – 240V through 60 HP, and 460V and 600V through 125HP.  Additional options to satisfy specific application needs include:

• Fused disconnect or circuit breaker disconnect
• Electronic or electromechanical bypass
• 100,000 Amps Short Circuit Current Rating (100KA SCCR)
• Embedded fieldbus communication protocols
• Various fieldbus and I/O option cards

This from a new release from Pike Research:

"Because commercial buildings consume roughly 23% of all electricity globally, the automation systems that ensure efficient performance are a critical part of energy management.  Until the mid-1990s, modern building automation consisted of little more than individual systems with simple control panels for switches, timers, and alarms.  Today, the market for commercial building automation systems is in the midst of revolutionary change in terms of technology and utility.  In the last several years, the focus has shifted from an individual system view to a more holistic view so that the “building system” can be defined to include virtually any device or data source within the building.  The amount of data created by automation systems can be overwhelming, but real competitive and economic value exists in using the data to monitor performance and uncover trends.  According to a new report from Pike Research, the market for commercial building automation systems will double over the next decade, increasing from $72.5 billion in 2011 to $146.4 billion by 2021."

The complete release is here: http://www.pikeresearch.com/newsroom/global-revenues-for-commercial-building-automation-systems-will-reach-146-billion-by-2021

Timing the announcement with the AHR show this week in Chicago, Danfoss has introduced the VLT® HVAC Basic Drive - a small, full-featured variable speed drive that promises reliable, low-cost HVAC performance for basic fan and pump operations.

“In some fan and pump operations advanced drive features are unnecessary and, because they are superfluous, simply add to overall costs.  The VLT HVAC Basic Drive is an ideal solution that strikes the optimum balance between price and variable speed drive performance in these straightforward HVAC installations,” says Ed Smith, a company representative.

VLT HVAC Basic Drives minimize wear on HVAC equipment and maximize system up-time, while reducing HVAC system operating costs up to 15%. 

The company says that the VLT HVAC Basic Drive is the most compact drive in its class and with its specifications to reduce panel space requirements. Numerous built-in features reduce, and in some applications may even eliminate, the need for additional external equipment such as gateways, PI controllers and PLCs.  An Automatic Energy Optimizer function reduces energy consumption by up to 15%, while “sleep mode” functionality can help further reduce operating costs and extend drive life.  Bypass frequencies minimize operating noise, vibration and resonance issues.

VLT HVAC Basic Drives also feature a “start up wizard” that makes drive set-up fast and simple, and easy tool access further aids fast and effective commissioning and operation.  A robust single-piece enclosure provides reliable, maintenance-free operation in ambient temperatures up to 50 degrees C, with no external cooling required.  A unique cooling concept provides problem-free performance, even in harsh environments, without forced air flowing over the electronics.

An electrician explains the basic operation of an ABB VFD.

Drives are coupled with motor systems for one of two basic reasons: 1.) affinity laws promise greater energy efficiency when full speed operation isn’t required, or 2.) something about the process demands variable operation and control. Sometimes the needs are combined and the drive, or drives, become very important elements in a machine, building, water or factory system. This article will focus on energy efficiency.

Since the drive came into view as a green technology -- a tool to lower consumption and costs associated with energy -- the economics of drives have improved. For example, since 2001, the base costs of a drive, purchased, installed and operating, are flat or slightly down, while the electricity price paid by businesses is up.

As long as these two numbers move in the directions that they have been moving, more businesses will become drive owners, whether the people in them know what a drive is or not. It would seem to be a matter of necessity.

However, as competition increases, project budgets tighten, and economic trends remain volatile, small differences in energy performance matter. More importantly, service advantages among drive suppliers can be the difference between a selecting a smart, green system to start with, or regressing to full throttle operation in the interest of stretching limited construction funds. Drives are not ubiquitous, yet. In the U.S., 84% of motors are not yet drive controlled and in the E.U., 76% of motors are not drive controlled.

To try to understand why, we asked energy consultants to explain the challenges that they face specifying drives. The top two reasons: effort to predict energy ROI, and complex or custom application work.

Interestingly, those same energy consultants tell us that they struggle to prove energy payback concretely. While it is common practice among consultants to rely on drive suppliers to offer pre-sale predictions of energy performance and payback, it is rare that an installed drive is proven, through audit or performance testing, to be delivering on its economic promise.

More than 50% of consultants say that they have no idea if their projects payback and another 20% say that the payback estimate is proxy for compliance (but it shouldn’t be.)

So we think that 2012 will be the year of the audit. Watch as suppliers visit job-sites, parametric data, calculators and kW meters in hand, to show why drives are, and will be, crucial to reducing energy consumption, costs, and to lowering carbon footprint. And watch as consultants begin to demand that such services are included by, even required of, accepted suppliers in winning contracts.

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*We interviewed more than 190 mechanical and HVAC consultants and users of DASH Energy ROI Software in North America for this data.

Highlights from their answers:

• "Drives are a must have in all HVAC projects. The real issue is that customers become familiar with one brand or product."
• "HVAC systems all have them. The issue is who, not what."
• "The market seems to believe in them now. When we're convinced of short payback we don't resist."
• "We know we need them. We listen to the market for brand preference."

Data to follow in subsequent posts.

Nextreme Thermal Solutions has developed two new energy harvesting subsystems for the plumbing and HVAC industries. The subsystems are the latest additions to Nextreme's Thermobility(TM) energy harvesting platform that uses thin-film thermoelectric technology to convert available thermal energy into electric power for a variety of autonomous self-powered applications.

Thermobility uses differences in temperature to enable power anywhere there is an adequate heat source. The advanced technology eliminates the need to use traditional wired power sources or replaceable batteries. When paired with wireless transmitters, the Thermobility solution can provide electric power for years of maintenance-free operation, thus expanding the possibilities for new wireless sensor applications in plumbing, HVAC, industrial control, transportation, automotive and building management. Thermobility is the ideal power source for wireless transmission applications.

Nextreme is actively applying Thermobility energy harvesting in the development of plumbing subsystems. Water in plumbing fixtures provides an excellent source of thermal energy for a variety of "green plumbing" applications. Thermal energy from water supply lines under a sink and during flush valve operations can be converted to electricity as a source of power for LED status indicators, hands-free faucets, soap dispenser solenoids, and wireless transmitters for data acquisition applications. Harvested power can help reduce the size of batteries or eliminate them entirely depending on the application.

The HVAC industry can employ Thermobility wireless power generators in applications for sensing of temperature, humidity and airflow in HVAC systems. Wireless Thermobility sensor subsystems can harvest thermal energy from the hot or cold temperature differences found in air plenums, thus eliminating the need to provide wires to these devices. HVAC subsystems can store energy and provide on-demand power while reducing the total cost of ownership by eliminating the prohibitive cost of battery replacement.

Danfoss is kicking off their third annual "EnVisioneer of the Year" award competition and invites entries for consideration.

The competition recognizes U.S. end use customers, building owners and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that have introduced a new product, opened a new facility or invested in a building or system upgrade in the past 18 months using Danfoss products or solutions to realize significant energy and/or environmental savings.

A distinguished panel of judges representing different disciplines in the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry will review all applications and select the winner.

As part of their recognition, a donation will be made to Rebuilding Together in honor of the selected 2012 EnVisioneer of the Year. Rebuilding Together is the nation’s leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable home-ownership and revitalize communities. Their network of more than 200 affiliates provides extensive renovations and modifications to the homes of low-income Americans at no cost to the homeowners, making the homes safer, more accessible and more energy efficient.

The award will be presented in Chicago as part of AHR EXPO 2012.

Last year’s winner, MultiStack LLC, installed two MultiStack chillers at Valley High School, Las Vegas, Nevada.

By switching to the magnetic levitation-powered chillers and a central plant control system, the 45-year-old school reduced its energy consumption by 70 percent, from 1.5 kW/ton to .443 kW/ton.

For more information about the EnVisioneer of the Year competition and to submit an entry, please visit http://envisioneering.danfoss.com/About/EnVisioneering+Award.htm, or contact Lisa Tryson, director, corporate communications and public relations, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 410-513-1142.

Interested participants may enter the competition by submitting an application no later than January 12, 2012.

The European heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry is undergoing unprecedented change. The dynamics driving the change – technological innovation in building design and energy conservation – are altering the market and ultimately affecting equipment and applications.

Escalating energy prices across Europe are underlining the need to implement electric drives to minimize energy bills and achieve better efficiency. At the same time, efforts to minimize its carbon footprint will compel the HVAC sector to limit energy usage.

These trends highlight the importance of electric drives as an advanced and cost-effective energy-reduction solution to control HVAC components.

However, the cost of implementing electric drives for low-range HVAC applications is sometimes perceived as being too high. To encourage wider use, market participants will need to manufacture low-cost, off-the-shelf solutions for specific tasks.

“Several factors, including spiraling energy costs and mandatory compliance with energy-efficiency standards, together with a focus on air quality and its impact on human health, are boosting the European HVAC electric drives sector,” notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Ramasubramanian Natarajan. “Regional trends, such as infrastructural growth in Eastern Europe, are reinforcing market potential.”

“Convincing end-users to implement drives in their HVAC applications, especially during economic slowdowns, is a challenge for drives manufacturers,” adds Ramasubramanian.

Declining prices are another market growth obstacle. Intense competition is causing the prices of drives to drop, affecting the profit margins of manufacturers. This is being exacerbated by the entry of low-cost Asian competitors that have gained a significant proportion of the domestic customer base for European manufacturers over a short span of 4 to 5 years.

Penetration into regional markets in Eastern Europe is viewed as a strategic response to these challenges.

“Many drives manufacturers are shifting their manufacturing bases to Eastern Europe to reduce their production outlays and to cater to the increased automation needs of this region,” explains Ramasubramanian. “Moreover, the heavy investments being made in infrastructure, expansion of industrial and production bases and other discrete industries, of which HVAC drives are an integral part, are luring HVAC drives manufacturers to Eastern Europe.”

According to Frost & Sullivan research, the European  electric drive market serving the HVAC industry earned revenues of $275 million in 2010 and is estimated to reach $612 million in 2017.