Mechanical systems

Effective energy savings solutions for existing buildings: re-commissioning and retro-commissioning
 
Building commissioning has become common practice for many newly constructed buildings because of the value that this process holds to building owners. The commissioning process verifies that building systems are operating as intended, and as efficiently as possible when the building is turned over to the owner after construction completion. It also ensures that facility staff is sufficiently trained, and that equipment documentation is in order. But, what if a building has never been commissioned?

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How two different condos saved money through retrofits
 
With the global economy on the mend, energy prices are starting to increase. It pays to prepare condominiums for higher rates as the folks at 15 Kensington Road and Two Aberfoyle Crescent have done. While one building is over 35 years old and the other is less than ten, both have implemented ambitious energy efficiency retrofits that have dramatically cut their utility costs and quickly paid for themselves.

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Conservation provides better payback than solar
 
Would-be generators are re-examining the economic case for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations following some recent changes to Ontario’s Feed-in Tariff (FIT) and microFIT program. Notably, the solar industry and many renewable energy advocates are decrying the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) 20 per cent cut to the original contracted price for electricity generated from ground-mounted solar PV applications with a capacity no greater than 10 kilowatts (kW) even though the revised rate of 64.2 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) is still more than 16 times greater than the average market price of electricity in Ontario thus far in 2010, which stood at 3.97 cents/kWh in early August.

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Ventilation options in high-rise condos
 
Developers, architects, engineers and operators of high-rise residential condominiums have been rethinking the conventional building air management systems. The goal is to optimize building energy costs and improve occupant satisfaction with respect to noise and odour transmission between suites and between common hallways and suites.