Commercial HVAC Systems - What You Need To Know

For a comfortable, healthy and productive work environment, HVAC systems play a vital role. Commercial HVAC systems account for about 40% of the total energy consumed in buildings. Therefore, it is important that substantial measures should be taken to keep these systems efficient so as to minimize energy losses.

If you want to upgrade or make any changes to your HVAC system, you should consider the amount of load on the system. Efforts should be made to minimize the load on the system so that the system operates less frequently and newer system if installed has to work at the minimum level.  

A few tips to reduce the working load on the HVAC system:

• Try to reduce leakage by adding insulation and tighten the building shell.
• Use ENERGY STAR qualified windows.
• Use newer lighting system that is efficient and emits less heat into the conditioned space.
• Optimize solar gain depending on the climatic conditions.
• Make smart choice of office equipment and electronics. Use the ones that emit less heat.

Efficient Vs Inefficient systems

Efficiency plays a major role in every discipline of life. Efficient heating and cooling systems not only save energy bills but also contribute towards a green and sustainable future. You can save almost 20% on energy consumption if you replace your 10 year old air conditioner with a newer one. If you are installing a new air conditioning unit, consider the size of the unit that will be sufficient for the building or the area covered. A suitable capacity air conditioner would never overburden your energy consumption. Ask HVAC professionals to determine the right size by proper load calculation by means of referring available literature and manuals.

Heating and cooling needs vary, depending on the weather conditions. It may not be necessary to always use HVAC systems or air conditioners. You may also condition the air by means of evaporative coolers. These coolers utilize water to cool spaces and are much cheaper than air conditioners and consume relatively less energy during their operation.

Comparing Gas Furnaces Vs. Oil Furnaces

 

The decision between an oil furnace and a gas furnace is not always as easy as some people make belief. The availability of the needed fuel, the cost of purchasing and installing a furnace, the furnace's efficiency, as well as its maintenance/ repair costs, comprise some of the factors that come into play when making the decision to purchase a furnace. Gas and fuel prices differ, just as the efficiency and maintenance requirements for these two furnaces.

Fuel Availability

Oil supplies are limited to only a few places on the surface of the earth, and even these places have limited reservoirs. There are also few companies that refine crude oil. When choosing an oil furnace over a gas furnace, the furnace owner must consider his proximity to an oil depot/ dispenser because poor climatic conditions and long distances can hamper the fast acquisition of oil when needed. Gas, on the other hand, is readily available since it is piped directly into people's premises. Gas prices are lower than oil prices because it (gas) is in plenty supply as a renewable natural resource.

Furnace Efficiency

Research shows that gas furnaces have higher BTU than oil furnaces. Most oil furnaces have an efficiency of between 80% and 89% whereas gas furnaces have an efficiency of 90% to 99%, which translates to minimal energy wastage. Gas furnace users get to save money on their heating whereas oil furnace users have to dig deeper into their pockets.

Maintenance

Oil is messier than gas in that oil spills, and incomplete combustion can create more dirt and soot around and in the furnace than any gas leakage ever would. Oil furnaces must be properly cleaned, oiled and regularly unclogged so that soot and spills do not block the furnace system and cause a major breakdown. Gas furnaces, on the other hand, do not require such vigorous maintenance.

The choice of a furnace goes beyond personal preference. Building owners need to evaluate their building's heating needs in comparison with the furnace type they wish to buy, accessibility and price of the furnace's fuel, as well as maintenance requirements. A gas furnace is not necessarily better or worse than an oil furnace as each fuel-furnace's benefits depend on a person's financial status and premises' heating needs.

For all of Your Heating and Furnace Needs in Allen, TX Trust The Texas HVAC Experts!