ARTICLES
Come to terms with the key terms, and learn how to wrestle with the cumulative effect as each component tries to edge the overall system reliability downward.
March 29, 2013
In today’s world, so-called “high-performance, sustainable” facilities are a dime a dozen. But many of these buildings rely on overly complex mechanical systems to carry out their mission.
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Case In Point
A new zoning system enabled History Colorado to maintain the precise temperature to keep its treasures safe.
March 29, 2013
Established in 1879, just three years after Colorado became a state, the Colorado Historical Society had long served as the state’s memory keeper, occupying a number of buildings over the course of its 133-yr history.
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With Hurricane Sandy fresh in our minds, let’s examine the anatomy of a recent outage’s immediate HVAC consequences as a guide toward protecting equipment in the future.
March 29, 2013
October 29 was a Monday. It was also the day that Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New York City. Around 7 p.m., Con Edison shut power off in Lower Manhattan, and it would be sometime Saturday before lights would begin to flicker back on.
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October 19, 2012
Since data centers are atypical in several aspects, unique BMS approaches are required to optimize their control, monitoring, and operation. Learn why it is important to know the detailed pros and cons between commercial and industrial automation system hardware, software, and instrumentation as you consider the facility’s automation design and associated costs.
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August 1, 2012
In which the author lays out the path from earlier data center design to a more recently discovered airflow challenge. Read on for his insights on how to keep positive differential pressure from being a negative for your facility’s energy budget.
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August 1, 2012
Data center HVAC has come a long way since ’80s-era strategies and even since turn-of-the-century room parameters. Consider that evolution, and how options like economizers and evaporative cooling may be more appealing in light of wider environmental envelopes.
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June 4, 2012
Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline faced some extreme dehumidification requirements for its facility manufacturing denture-cleaning tablets. The strategy it selected not only reached target humidity levels but also allowed a 3º increase in chilled water temperature. Get the details on the system and savings that put smiles on the faces of this project team.
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April 27, 2012
Appropriately enough, a good variable airflow design accommodates and refines a number of design variables. Particle monitoring strategies, minimum supply air calculation, HVAC sequencing, and space pressurization are just a few stops on the way to spotless performance.
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March 23, 2012
New ideas, regulations, and equipment are making some designs outdated faster than ever. How to take in an ever-evolving landscape, take a deep breath, and provide a data center design to stay proud of? Learn about an integrated VAV approach, the only control point that really matters, and more.
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January 10, 2012
So Charles Dickens, Ferris Bueller, a chicken, and a pig walk into an HVAC article … and try to sort out proper use of outdoor air in data centers. As you might imagine, it’s not simple. But if you remember these three design absolutes and consider your client’s specific perspective, the resulting efficiencies might have you singing Wayne Newton at the prospect of repeat business.
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