The
use of more efficient air conditioning systems must continue to grow in our industry, this is already a requirement that every installation should meet.
By Alfredo Sotolongo*
The most economical energy to produce is the one that is saved!
For several years, in writing this column, I have concentrated on exposing the different equipment and systems that contribute to reducing energy consumption and at the same time, keeping the conditioned area comfortable both for the enjoyment of the occupants and to achieve greater productivity at work.
At the beginning of my professional life I was always worried to see how energy was wasted. I had very interesting experiences. I tell you that I was on a Caribbean island in July inspecting the air conditioning system of a five-star hotel and when I arrived at the nightclub around 2:00 in the afternoon the air temperature was at 68°F. At that time the disco was closed and an employee was cleaning the floor. I asked him since when was the air conditioner operating and he replied "since I arrived". Then I asked him, what time did you arrive? And he said, "Last January."
The waste of energy seemed to me an irresponsibility, because it not only represented an unnecessary cost for the owner but also a flight of foreign currency for the country that must import the fuel. Many times I had to put up with being laughed in my face when at 22 years of age I recommended applications to reduce energy consumption and maximize efficiency. He sought to explain that achieving these efficiencies required additional capital investment as well as the time it took to recover the investment. In those years, the late 60s and early 70s, it took more than five years to recoup the investment.
At the beginning of the 70s, we found ourselves with a severe energy crisis. In the United States, the consumption of gasoline and diesel fuels increased considerably while production in the country decreased, creating a dependence on imported fuel.
Suddenly, the oil-exporting Arab countries imposed an embargo and many countries found themselves with unexpected fuel shortages. There was an increase in prices that lasted almost the entire decade of the 70s. Under this situation, the governments of many countries had no choice but to take action on the matter. They saw the need to establish rules in which it was obligatory to apply values of minimum temperatures in summer and maximum in winter. As a result of these measures, not only was the concept of comfort lost, but in the case of offices and factories, the effectiveness of the occupants' work was affected.
Due to all these challenges and because of the standards forced by fuel shortages, our industry evolves and begins to develop products and systems to reduce consumption and improve efficiency. Most interestingly, investors who had previously scrapped energy-saving proposals began to pay attention and understand the benefits the new technology offers. The drastic increase in fuel costs coupled with the increased efficiency offered by new products, reduce the payback period of the additional investment from 2 to 3 years.
As is commonly said, their pocket has hurt. Many homeowners and investors are already asking their consulting engineers to design air conditioning systems using equipment and products with the highest possible efficiency that represent savings in electrical energy consumption. As this has been my passion during my almost 50 years of professional life, the policy of our company has always been to represent manufacturers who maintain our same culture in the development and application of the most efficient systems that exist in the world.
I would like to know your opinions regarding new technological advances in the HVAC industry.
If you need more information on any of the topics covered in this column, please contact me at the mail: [email protected]
* President of Protec, Inc., is certified as a professional engineer in Puerto Rico and the state of Florida; has more than 40 years of experience in the application and sale of systems and equipment for energy conservation. He is a member of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), AEE (Association of Energy Engineers), ASHRAE and was president of the Miami chapter of that association.
