Jim Crockett

Renewable energy certificates: The missing piece to solve the puzzle of clean electricity

There’s an inherent problem with committing to using more electricity from “clean” sources.

A Quick Rundown on ASHRAE 90.1

The first thing to keep in mind about ASHRAE 90.1 is that it is not exclusively an HVAC guideline. A joint standard by ASHRAE, the Illuminating Engineering Society and the American National Standards Institute, it is broken into 12 chapters: Purpose; scope; administration/enforcement; definitions; building envelope; HVAC; service water heating; power; lighting; other equipment (principly motors); energy cost budget method; and normative references. The purpose of the standard, according to Sachin Anand, P.E., LEED AP, a project manager and mechanical team leader for CCJM Engineers, Ltd., Chicago, is to provide minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design of buildings except low-rise residential buildings. Anand regularly conducts seminars on how to comply with the standard and recently participated in a webcast on the subject. The standard's goal, he said, is the implementation of efficient systems that minimize system losses, maximize equipment efficiencies and utilize free heating and cooling. A pair of compliance paths are acceptable: the simplified/prescriptive path and the energy cost budget method.

OSHA has a Short Fuse on Arc Flash

This year at National Manufacturing Week—in Chicago last week—one thing that stood out immediately was a commitment to addressing the subject of arc flash. In truth, it might have been the big red banner or the theme-park style video-motion ride that likely drew the attention of attendees to the show’s Arc-Flash Pavilion. Exhibitors at the pavilion were plentiful and eager to discuss their various roles in the process. According to Steve Kovach, with fuse manufacturer Cooper Bussmann, the big push for greater arc-flash awareness has to do with the tone being set by OSHA, which recently adopted NFPA 70E as the standard on the matter.