In Colombia, the NTC standard on energy management is already in operation and the RITE standard on energy saving and environmental care is under study, two guidelines that all constructions must follow to meet the current operating requirements.
by Camilo Botero*
Currently, a Commission has been formed in ACIEM (Colombian Association of Engineers) Valle Chapter constituted by a select group of 48 engineers from various engineering specialties, mainly mechanical, electromechanical, electrical, electronic, mechatronics and industrial, to promote the application of the NTC ISO 50001 standard in Cali and the Valle del Cauca region and later in Colombia, where we are already working decisively on this aspect.
That Commission incorporated the RITE Group (Technical Regulation of Thermal Installations in Buildings), also of ACIEM Valle, where after 1750 hours of ad honorem work it was finished and presented this regulation to four ministries that will undoubtedly be a motivator of energy saving and care for the environment.
Below is a brief description of each of the topics discussed:
1 - NTC ISO 50001 Colombian Technical Standard
Date of approval: June 15, 2011
Release Date: June 17, 2011
Standards models on which it was based
- DS2403 2001 of Denmark,
- 2003 SS627750 from Sweden,
- 2005 IS 393 of Ireland,
- US ANSI/MSE 2000,
- GB/T 23331 of 2009 from China,
- UNE 216301 2007 of Spain and the European UNE-EN 16001 Standard.
Focus of the standard
Energy management systems and requirements with guidance for their use.
Content of the standard
Based on energy efficiency as an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, plus the implementation of systems based on alternative energies and other alternatives for sustainable development, companies are mainly given guidance to implement energy management systems based on a characterization of the current system of consumption in equipment, systems, processes of the organization in relation to the production or services performed, starting from a baseline of consumption, the monitoring of the Energy Performance Indicators, the control of the variables that govern production and their relationship with energy consumption in order to achieve energy efficiency with respect to the baseline.
The standard defines the policies, action plans, procedures and processes to achieve the objectives; it also establishes the requirements of energy efficiency in the design, purchase or installation of equipment, knowledge of the legal and regulatory standards of energy in force and applicable to the organization, maintenance management based on energy efficiency and the application of the PhVA continuous improvement Deming cycle.
This applies to organizations of all types and sizes. Success in its implementation depends on the commitment of all levels of the organization and especially of senior management.
The standard can be used for both certification, registration and self-declaration of the organization's EMS (Energy Management System). The standards maintain the standards of the other ISO such as 9001, 14000; in the definition of the requirements, of the EMS (Ethical Management System), Responsibility of the management, Energy Policies, Planning, Implementation and operation; Documentation and its control, verification systems, audits and review by management.
The change of the organizational culture and the development of the EMS in all processes are the key strategy of the standard to achieve the goals of increasing productivity and reducing the environmental impact of the organization.
2- RITE
In the field of civil engineering and architecture for the design and construction of large buildings (not applicable to small housing models), the engineering of refrigeration and air conditioning becomes part of its points of analysis when carrying out projects of this nature and this is governed by the RITE, which "aims to establish the requirements of energy efficiency and safety that must be met by thermal installations intended to meet the demand for well-being and hygiene of people in buildings in a tropical climate, during their design and dimensioning, execution, maintenance and use, as well as determine the procedures that allow to prove their compliance".
Applicability of RITE
"The stationary installations of air conditioning and production of domestic hot water will be considered as thermal installations, intended to meet the demand for thermal comfort and hygiene of people who remain in offices, educational centers, hotels, theaters, restaurants, shopping centers, recreational centers and similar facilities."
"The RITE will be applied to thermal installations in new and existing buildings, in relation to their reform, maintenance, use and inspection, with the limitations that are determined therein."
"The RITE will not apply to thermal installations of industrial, agricultural, medical or other processes, in the part that is not intended to meet the demand for thermal well-being and hygiene of people."
Responsibility for the application: This falls on all the agencies that work with air conditioning and refrigeration systems, the sectors of supervision, auditing and auditing of the energy management system applied and that governs each construction in particular.
Contents of the RITE
- Part 1: establishes the general conditions of application of the RITE and the requirements of comfort and hygiene, energy efficiency, environmental protection and safety that thermal installations must meet.
- Part 2: contains the characterization of the technical requirements and their quantification and this is done through the establishment of levels or limit values, as well as procedures expressed in the form of verification methods or solutions sanctioned by practice whose use allows to prove their compliance.
It also refers to rules, which as it deems appropriate can take them mandatory or not; as only reference to NTC or international citing it in the case of being applied.
It also creates the technical documents which have procedures, specifications and technical guides for the correct design, calculation and construction of this type of buildings.
Benefits of RITE
This system brings benefits for both the customer and the environment:
- Rational use of energy.
- Care for the environment.
- Use and promotion of renewable energy sources.
- Benefits and consumer protection.
- Compliance with requirements.
- Respect for people's health.
RITE situation in Colombia
It is expected that in Colombia the regulation will govern with form is stipulated and not be used only in convenience of some. Likewise, it is expected that the client will demand compliance with the environmental standards stipulated in each project in order to enjoy its benefits.
ACIEM is the body that is carrying out the particularization and personalization of the regulation in Colombia. It is expected that the promotion of the ISO 50001 standard will apply rigorously to all entities involved in this engineering sector and that it will lead to a better quality of life for people, in order to prolong the existence of our planet.
The standard has currently been presented to four ministries of the Colombian nation: Mines and Energy, Environment, Commerce and Housing. We hope that the adoption of this regulation will take place as soon as possible.
ACAIRE (Colombian Association of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) will publish it as a Guide to Good Engineering Practices.
Regulations used for RITE Colombia
Rite Spanish, ASHRAE Standards, AHRI Standards, ICONTEC, UE, UNE, SAC and LEED.
Note: This article had the collaboration of Eng. David Cabra, student of my course of Energy Efficiency in Air Conditioning Systems of the Specialization in Energy Efficiency of the UAO of Cali Colombia.
* 
Camilo Botero is the current Secretary of the Federation of Ibero-American Associations of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration - FAIAR; he was president of ACAIRE and is president of Camilo Botero Ingenieros Consultores Ltda. He has worked as a teacher in several Colombian universities, guilds and currently in ACAIRE in diploma courses of air conditioning projects, energy efficiency in air conditioning and refrigeration, cogeneration and trigeneration, applied psychometrics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer and turbomachinery.
