While new technology advancements are helping
communities execute services faster and more efficiently, many local
governments are having trouble finding the funds to implement them.
According to Gartner Research, virtually all IT project investments
within local governments will undergo a value-for-money reassessment
beginning this year. Many will take advantage of the new economic
stimulus funds from the American Recovery & Reinvestment act. But
will the stimulus offer enough help?
This white paper addresses
how technology is now able to deliver meaningful ROI data and why a
well-planned implementation of technology initiatives will deliver the
strongest public value impact. The strategy is showcased in success
stories from two local governments who were able to serve their
constituents by making their communities more efficient, even when
financing looked impossible.
Water is used in a wide range of commercial
applications. Every day, businesses and facilities heat water to serve
the needs of their customers and patrons. While restaurants,
laundromats, hotels, and car washes all require very large amounts of
hot water to stay in business, nearly all companies rely on hot water
in one way or another. Each year, a significant portion of their
overhead is allotted to the fuel required to heat water, and everyday
that allotment becomes slightly larger. However, many do not realize
what they lose each year due to the negative by-products of heating
water such as lime scale buildup, which cause efficiency losses,
malfunctions, total equipment failure.
Adsorption chillers are a unique approach to
achieving air conditioning and process cooling. Adsorption chillers are
driven by hot water rather than from large amounts ofelectricity
like conventional air conditioners. Capturing and using waste heat
could be one of the largest conservation and green house gas reduction
opportunities. Heat recovery is an opportunity to recycle energy that
is typically wasted.
Not a lot has changed in the world of commercial
grease ducts in the past few decades. Same goes in the industrial
boiler realm. But recent code revisions and emerging attitudes toward
energy efficiency are making an impact on specifications.
With the rising cost of energy, the use of
variable frequency drives (VFDs) is growing at an increasing rate. By
optimizing the frequency of a three-phase alternating-current (AC)
induction motor's voltage supply, a VFD controls the motor's speed and
torque while providing energy savings. And, these energy savings can be
quite substantial - 20% or more - making VFDs a "green" solution as
well as a wise money-saving investment.
Steam load management is often neglected during
the design phase of a steam delivery system. As a result, in the case
of a boiler that serves steam-using equipment that cycles like an
autoclave or sterilizer, steam quality and quantity at start up may
suffer significantly. Understanding the significance of the events
inside and outside the boiler pressure vessel during a rapid steam load
demand period and choosing the correct design enhancements will reduce
the consequences of rapid depressurization.
A hybrid boiler plant is defined as a hydronic
heating plant combining condensing and noncondensing boilers. This
system is designed to take advantage of the best properties of both
boilers. Through the proper design and selection, 100% of the potential
energy savings can be realized with a possible installed cost savings
of one third to one half of the cost compared to an all condensing
plant.
Regularly changing filters may not be high on
your agenda. But when you look at how much intentionally or
unintentionally delaying filter maintenance is costing you in terms of
increased energy use, it suddenly becomes much more important.
It’s out there. The need to create more environmentally conscious, sustainable buildings isno longer a noble desire, but a dire necessity. Within this historical and industrial context, it hasnever been more important to precisely understand the progressive process of designing forsustainability and energy effi ciency.