Phasechange-A View Into Reducing HVAC Equipment Capacities and Maintenance Costs

The use of phase change materials is picking up interest across America as a strategy to reduce energy costs that is in line with a lighting retrofit and utilization of a building automation controls system.  With its nearest competitors about three years away from the gains enjoyed today by the North Carolina-based Phase Change Energy Solutions, this team is poised for a banner year in 2014.  As we rely more and more on our Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems to maintain building comfort, using Phase Change's BioPCM product is a logical step to reduce HVAC utilization and maintenance of those mechanical systems.

Depending on the internal loads, orientation and controls strategy, BioPCM can significantly reduce cooling.  For example, a zone with BioPCM properly designed into it might have a 35% reduction in peak cooling load and a 26% reduction of peak heating load. An engineer could actually downsize equipment accordingly and still meet American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guidelines.  By "right sizing" HVAC design based on the calculated loads with BioPCM, not only will a building owner save on energy operating costs, but also on the initial HVAC capital costs.

According to the ASHRAE owning and operating costs database, the average building HVAC maintenance cost is $0.50 per square foot. Considering that the average building spends $0.46 on HVAC energy per square foot annually, the cost of HVAC maintenance is on par with the cost of HVAC energy usage itself. BioPCM reduces HVAC run-time.  This reduced HVAC system run time will not eliminate HVAC maintenance costs, but can reduce them significantly.  As an initial estimate, it can be assumed that the reduction in HVAC maintenance costs will be directly proportional to the reduction of HVAC system run-time.  For example, if a 68,000 square foot office building has an annual HVAC maintenance cost of $34,000 ($0.50/Square foot/Year) and BioPCM reduced HVAC run-time by an average of 23%, then the use of BioPCM would reduce annual HVAC maintenance costs by an estimated  $7,800.   

It is pretty clear that BioPCM reduces both peak cooling and heating design loads as well as reduces HVAC system run time. The reduction of peak design loads provides opportunity for designers to reduce capacities or in some cases entirely remove cooling and or heating systems. Reduced HVAC system run time reduces maintenance and extends system lifetime.

Want to try this in your building?  To find out more about how GET, LLC through, our metal building partner MCR Guam Inc.-and licensed Phase Change Energy Solutions partner, can help you get this thermal mass product give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information. By the way-get up to 19 LEED Points with Phase Change BioPCM in your next project.

Phase Change Energy Solutions-National Retrofit Rollout Begins

In San Diego, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Guam a big rollout is underway.  Phase Change Energy Solutions has kicked off their six locale rollout of the innovative thermal mass product in commercial buildings.

What are Phase Change Materials (PCM) you ask?

Phase change materials do just what their name implies-change "phases" (for example, liquid to solid or solid to liquid) between set temperatures. A October 2009 Metal Construction News article describes it best as during the process of liquefying and solidifying within a set temperature range, PCMs absorb, store and release large amounts of energy. The report notes that these natural properties of latent heat energy help maintain a product's or structure's temperature and buffer it from temperature swings. PCMs recharge as ambient (outdoor) temperatures fluctuate, making them ideal for many everyday applications.

There is no question that available in a variety of forms, bio-based PCMs have myriad applications in the construction industry, with the most popular uses being an aid to insulation, and in flooring and ceiling tiles. They also can be used in bridges and sidewalks to prevent icy surfaces from forming.

Four years ago ,the industry magazine pointed out that PCMs are effective in residential and commercial new construction and remodels. The material works by absorbing and releasing energy(heat) based on the outside temperature to regulate the inside temperature of a structure. During the day it absorbs heat (cools), and at night it releases heat (heats). This makes a structure's energy cycle more efficient-intelligently capturing and releasing otherwise wasted energy.

Today, the way forward is much simpler.

1.You provide us Energy Bills for at least 12 months of service to your facility.

2.We make a site visit to inspect actual mechanical equipment and take installation measurements.

3.We will present proposal for Guaranteed Energy Savings and free labor and materials.

4.We will also install Measurement and Verification Data (M&V) Loggers for a test period, (typically 15 days) to establish energy use-then we review the data with you.

5.We install the bioPCM and run for 15 days to show energy savings.

6.If documented savings not as good as promised, product remains free. If energy saving is met, then you pay for product based upon a 5 year ROI.

Want to try this in your building and save money now?  

To find out more about how GET, LLC through, our metal building partner MCR Guam Inc.-and licensed Phase Change Energy Solutions partner, can help you be a part of this important roll out, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information. 

By the way-get up to 19 LEED Points with Phase Change bioPCM in your next project.