Print this page Energy StarŪ Strategies for Upgrading Existing Buildings
Jeffrey Havelin, P.E.
Course Outline
This (Twelve- hour) course will serve as an informative guide for developing a comprehensive energy management strategy and an integrated approach to upgrading existing buildings. The staged processes outlined in this course will provide the user with an enormous source of information on proven energy-efficient technologies that can produce energy savings of 35% or greater.
- Energy Star® upgrades offer superior returns at a lower risk than many other investments.
- Improvements in energy performance and employee comfort can increase productivity in your upgraded buildings; in fact, revenue generated from increased productivity can be 10 times as high as the energy cost savings received from performing upgrades.
- Each dollar invested in an energy-efficient upgrade can produce between $2 and $3 in increased asset value, which can make commercial properties more attractive to buyers and lenders.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.
Learning
Objective
This course will specifically review and provide an understanding of the methods, procedures, and the benefits for developing a comprehensive energy management strategy and an integrated approach to upgrading existing buildings, which include a review of the following topics:
- Internal rate of return (IRR);
- Hurdle rate;
- The TAB process;
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs);
- Occupancy sensors;
- “Green” lights;
- Low-emissivity (low-e) coatings;
- Night precooling -ventilation control strategy;
- Reducing air infiltration;
- Boiler efficiency;
- Daylight dimming systems;
- IESNA Lighting levels;
- Economizer cycle;
- Comparison of ASHRAE Standards 62-1989, 62-1981, and 62-1999;
- Equipment sleep modes;
- VCP rating / index;
- Color rendering index (CRI);
- Color temperature designations for fixtures;
- Rapid-start electronic ballasts;
- Instant-start electronic ballasts;
- Magnetic ballasts;
- Hybrid ballasts;
- Linear reactor circuit ballasts;
- Group relamping maintenance strategy;
- Variable-speed drives (VSDs) - VAV Variable Air Volume Systems;
- Pressure Reset on a installed a VSD fan system;
- Comparison of Synchronous belts, Cogged V-belts, and standard V-belts;
- Free Cooling (Water Side Economizer);
- Rightsizing pumps to accommodate lower maximum loads;
- ENERGY STAR labeled roof products;
- Building Integrated PV -BIPV technologies;
- Solar Windows (Chromogenic - Glazings);
- SEER values for High efficiency water-source heat pumps;
- Single-effect and double-effect absorption systems;
- Use of DEHP - Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate as an insulator; and
- Gas engine-driven chillers.
Intended
Audience
This course would be very informative for professional engineers and architects that are interested in Energy Star® or Green systems for buildings.
Course Content
This course is based on the publication Energy Star® Building Upgrade Manual, dated December 2004 published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The link to the course materials is as follows:
Energy StarŪ Building Upgrade Manual
Please
click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document
for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first
save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save
Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
References
See course content source for related references.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
