Your commercial HVAC system will be around for the life of your building, and in most cases, you’ll find yourself focused on preventive maintenance rather than major refits. That being the case, it’s important to keep an eye on new regulations to make sure your equipment is up to date – upgrading can take time, and you don’t want to fall out of compliance!
New standards are coming fast, and pump efficiency is the new watchword for HVAC systems.
Pump Efficiency Takes Center Stage in New Federal Standards
The pump in your commercial HVAC system is one of the biggest energy consumers throughout the building. No surprise, then, that it also offers great opportunities for efficiency technology. With the right approach, building managers can capture major savings.
This January, the U.S. Department of Energy published the Final Energy Standard and Test Procedure for Pumps, starting the clock on compliance. All new clean water pumps produced in the U.S. need to meet the new standards by January, 2020.
From that point on, only the new pumps should be installed in HVAC systems. Experts have estimated 25% of current pumps will be eliminated because they will not meet the standard – a Pump Energy Index of 1.0 or less.
New Pump Standards are Set to Save You Millions of Dollars
By now, building managers in large New York City properties have gotten used to the challenge of updating their technology and processes to meet new standards. The Big Apple is the home to one of the most comprehensive and successful energy efficiency campaigns in the world.
This is a little tougher, though, as federal rules can have much higher penalties.
The good news? The positive impact might make up for any inconvenience:
- Total energy savings is expected to be about 1% compared to older pumps.
- Savings over a 30-year period will amount to 85 billion kilowatt hours.
- It will effectively curb emissions equivalent to 370,000 residences.
Don’t Wait Until 2020 to Consider a More Efficient Fresh Water Pump
What can individual property managers and owners expect? With an efficient clean water pump, you could achieve millions in savings over the lifetime of the system. That said, it’s important to take a systems approach and ensure the pump is the right kind for the job.
Here at Donnelly Mechanical, we can evaluate your system, advise you on component selection, and install or upgrade any element of your HVAC system to meet your needs. Our team is proud to be NYC’s top experts on commercial HVAC efficiency.
Want to find out more about the new standards? Just check out the official “final rule” on Energy Conservation Standards for Pumps at the Department of Energy.
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