Infotech 100
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Energy 400
Climate Psychosis | Other Ways of Knowing Climate Change
“The Conquest of Energy” / José Chávez Morado / Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
We began last year breaking down our coverage of education settlement energy codes and standards into the tranches listed below:
Energy 200: Codes and standards for building premise energy systems. (Electrical, heating and cooling of the building envelope)
Energy 300: Codes and standards that support the energy systems required for information and communication technology
Energy 400: Codes and standards for energy systems between campus buildings. (District energy systems including interdependence with electrical and water supply)
ASHRAE Proposal for a District Cooling Standard
A different “flavor of money” runs through each of these domains and this condition is reflected in best practice discovery and promulgation. Energy 200 is less informed by tax-free (bonded) money than Energy 400 titles.
Some titles cover safety and sustainability in both interior and exterior energy domains so we simply list them below:
ASME A13.1 – 20XX, Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems | Consultation closes 6/20/2023
ASME Boiler Pressure Vessel Code
ASME BPVC Codes & Standards Errata and Notices
ASHRAE International 90.1 — Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
2018 International Green Construction Code® Powered by Standard 189.1-2017
NFPA 855 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems
IEEE Electrical energy technical literature
ASTM Energy & Utilities Overview
Underwriters Laboratories Energy and Utilities
There are other ad hoc and open-source consortia that occupy at least a niche in this domain. All of the fifty United States and the Washington DC-based US Federal Government throw off public consultations routinely and, of course, a great deal of faculty interest lies in research funding.
Please join our daily colloquia using the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
ICYMI – here is our 50th anniversary lecture from Professor Helen Thompson on the 1970s energy crises and what we can learn from it, with some great questions from our audience! https://t.co/9XUqc3fx5f pic.twitter.com/zHvqY8HYL1
— Clare College (@ClareCollege) March 9, 2023
More
United States Department of Energy
International Energy Agency World Energy Outlook 2022
International Standardization Organization
Energy and heat transfer engineering in general
Economics of Energy, Volume: 4.9 Article: 48 , James L. Sweeney, Stanford University
Helmholtz and the Conservation of Energy, By Kenneth L. Caneva, MIT Press
NRG Provides Strategic Update and Announces New Capital Allocation Framework at 2023 Investor Day
From our video archive:
Ask me why pic.twitter.com/zQIpuI7vCh
— Grace Stanke (@Grace_Stanke) August 23, 2023
Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code
“Mechanic and Steam Pump” | Lewis W. Hine (1921)
The heating and cooling requirements of K-12 schools, college and university educational, medical research and healthcare delivery campuses are a large market for boiler pressure vessel manufacturers, installers, maintenance personnel and inspectors. The demand for building new, and upgrading existing boilers — either single building boilers, regional boilers or central district energy boilers — presents a large market for professional engineering firms also. A large research university, for example, will have dozens, if not well over 100 boilers that heat and cool square footage in all climates throughout the year. The same boilers provide heating and cooling for data centers, laundry operations, kitchen steam tables in hospitals and dormitories.
The safety rules for these large, complex and frankly, fearsome systems, have been developed by many generations of mechanical engineering professionals in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC). From the BPVC scope statement:
“…The International Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code establishes rules of safety — relating only to pressure integrity — governing the design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels, and nuclear power plant components during construction. The objective of the rules is to provide a margin for deterioration in service. Advancements in design and material and the evidence of experience are constantly being added…”
Many state and local governments incorporate the BPVC by reference into public safety regulations and have established boiler safety agencies. Boiler explosions are fairly common, as a simple internet search on the term “school boiler explosion” will reveal. We linked one such incident at the bottom of this page.
University of Michigan Central Heating Plant
The 2023 Edition of the BPVC is the current edition; though the document is divided into many sections that change quickly.
ASME Codes & Standards Electronic Tools
ASME Proposals Available For Public Review
ASME Section IV: Rules for the Construction of Heating Boilers (2019)
Public consultation on changes to the standard for controls and safety devices for automatically fired boilers closes September 25th.
This is a fairly stable domain at the moment. We direct you elsewhere to emergent topics:
Ghost kitchens gaining steam on college campuses
College: the Next Big Frontier for Ghost Kitchens
Illinois Admin. Code tit. 77, § 890.1220 – Hot Water Supply and Distribution
Design Considerations for Hot Water Plumbing
FREE ACCESS: 2019 ASME Boiler and Pressure Code (Section VI)
Two characteristics of the ASME standards development process are noteworthy:
- Only the proposed changes to the BPVC are published. The context surrounding a given change may be lost or not seen unless access to previous version is available. Knowledgeable experts who contribute to the development of the BPVC usually have a previous version, however. Newcomers to the process may not.
- The BPVC has several breakout committees; owing to its longer history in the US standards system and the gathering pace of complexity in this technology.
We unpack the ASME bibliography primarily during our Mechanical, Plumbing and Energy colloquia; and also during our coverage of large central laundry and food preparation (Kitchens 100) colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting, open to everyone.
Issue: [12-33] [15-4] [15-161] [16-77] [18-4] [19-157]
Category: District Energy, Energy, Mechanical, Kitchens, Hot Water
Contact: Eric Albert, Richard Robben, Larry Spielvogel
More:
Standards Michigan BPVC Archive
Big Ten & Friends Energy Conference 2023
Standards Michigan Workspace (Requires access credentials from [email protected]).
School Boiler Maintenance Programs: How Safe Are The Children?
Boiler Explodes at Indiana High School
Engineers at @virginia_tech are boosting heat transfer by prompting bubbles to jump from a heated plate during boiling, potentially increasing power plant efficiency with microstructures: https://t.co/W1gLvhn15q pic.twitter.com/45PNRAEmpB
— ASME.org (@ASMEdotorg) January 30, 2024
Hayward Street Geothermal Cooling $20M
Leinweber Computer and Information Science
Business & Finance: We Make Blue Go
Geothermal cooling plants have far fewer moving parts and thus pay for themselves by combining immediate energy savings, revenue from excess energy or services, government incentives, and long-term operational efficiency. “Classical” payback period depends on factors like the plant’s scale and available incentives through DTE Energy.
1. Energy Cost Savings
- Reduced Operating Costs: Geothermal systems use the relatively constant temperature of the earth to provide heating and cooling, which can be much more energy-efficient than traditional HVAC systems. This efficiency leads to lower utility bills for the facility, resulting in significant cost savings over time.
- Lower Maintenance Costs: Geothermal systems generally have fewer moving parts than conventional systems, leading to lower maintenance and repair costs.
2. Revenue Generation
- Selling Excess Energy: In some cases, geothermal plants can produce more energy than needed for cooling. This excess energy can be sold back to the grid or used for other purposes, providing an additional revenue stream.
- Leasing and Service Agreements: Some facilities enter into agreements with nearby buildings or industries to provide geothermal cooling services, generating income.
3. Government Incentives and Subsidies
- Tax Credits and Rebates: Many governments offer financial incentives, such as tax credits, grants, and rebates, for the installation and operation of geothermal systems. These incentives can significantly reduce the upfront costs and improve the payback period.
- Renewable Energy Certificates(RECs): In some regions, geothermal plants can earn RECs for generating renewable energy. These certificates can be sold to other companies to offset their carbon emissions, generating additional income.
4. Environmental and Social Benefits
- Carbon Credits: By reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional systems, geothermal plants can earn carbon credits, which can be sold or traded in carbon markets.
- Sustainability Branding: Businesses that use geothermal cooling can market themselves as environmentally friendly, potentially attracting more customers or tenants, which indirectly supports the plant’s financial viability.
5. Long-Term Investment
- Long Lifespan: Geothermal systems typically have a long lifespan (20-50 years), allowing for a long-term return on investment. While the initial capital costs are high, the system’s durability and low operating costs contribute to a favorable payback over time.
- Resilience Against Energy Price Volatility: Geothermal systems provide protection against fluctuating energy prices, offering stable and predictable costs, which is financially beneficial over the long term.
6. Financing Models
- Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): Some geothermal plants are financed through PPAs, where a third party finances the installation and the facility pays for the energy produced, typically at a lower rate than conventional energy sources.
- Energy Service Companies (ESCOs): These companies can finance, install, and maintain geothermal systems, with the facility paying for the service over time, usually based on the energy savings achieved.
7. Scalability and Integration
- Integration with Other Renewable Systems: Geothermal cooling can be part of a broader renewable energy strategy, integrating with solar or wind power to further enhance efficiency and reduce costs, improving the overall financial outlook.
Earth Energy Systems
Geothermal systems cool buildings by leveraging the stable temperatures found beneath the Earth’s surface. A geothermal heat pump system consists of a ground loop, heat exchanger, and distribution system.
In cooling mode, the system extracts heat from the building and transfers it to the ground. The ground loop, typically composed of pipes buried horizontally or vertically, circulates a fluid that absorbs heat from the building’s interior. The fluid, warmed by this process, is then pumped through the ground loop where the Earth’s cooler temperatures absorb the heat, effectively dissipating it into the ground.
The cooled fluid returns to the heat pump, which distributes the now-cooler air throughout the building via the distribution system, such as ductwork. This process is highly efficient because the ground maintains a relatively constant temperature year-round, allowing the geothermal system to operate with less energy compared to traditional air-source cooling methods.
At the moment, though the technology has been made practical since Prince Piero Ginori Conti’s discovery in 1904, and has since tracked well in local building codes and environmental regulations, the bibliography for earth energy systems is nascent and relatively thin. One trade association is emerging from the gathering pace of applications and case studies: Closed-Loop/Geothermal Heat Pump Systems Design and Installation Standards
We maintain the IGSHPA catalog on the standing agenda of our Energy, Mechanical and Air Conditioning colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Partial Bibliography:
Handbook of Best Practices for Geothermal Drilling
Best Practices for Designing Geothermal Systems
Geothermal Direct Use Engineering and Design Guidebook
International Standards
ISO 13612-1:2014 – Heating and cooling systems in buildings — Method for calculation of the system performance and system design for heat pump systems — Part 1: Design and dimensioning.
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- This standard covers the design and performance calculation of geothermal heat pump systems.
ISO 14823:2017 – Intelligent transport systems — Graphic data dictionary.
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- While not specific to geothermal, this standard includes data relevant to various systems, including geothermal energy systems.
ISO 52000-1:2017 – Energy performance of buildings — Overarching EPB assessment — Part 1: General framework and procedures.
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- This standard provides a general framework for assessing the energy performance of buildings, which includes geothermal systems.
IEC 61753-111-7:2014 – Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components – Performance standard – Part 111-7: Sealed closures for category S – Subterranean environments.
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- Relevant for the installation of geothermal systems that include fiber optic components in subterranean environments.
North American Standards
CSA C448: Design and installation of earth energy systems.
ANSI/CSA C448 Series-16 – Design and Installation of Earth Energy Systems.
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- This standard covers the design and installation of geothermal heat pump systems in the United States, providing guidelines on installation practices, materials, and system performance.
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.
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- This standard sets the minimum energy efficiency requirements for the design and construction of buildings, including the installation of geothermal systems.
IGSHPA Standards – International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) Standards.
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- The IGSHPA develops standards for the design and installation of geothermal heat pump systems, with a focus on closed-loop systems.
NFPA 54 – National Fuel Gas Code.
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- Although primarily focused on fuel gas systems, this standard may intersect with geothermal systems when they involve hybrid solutions that include gas heating.
EPA Standards for Geothermal Energy (40 CFR Part 144) – Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program.
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- This standard regulates the injection of fluids into underground wells, relevant for geothermal systems that involve deep wells for heat exchange.
UL 1995 – Heating and Cooling Equipment.
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- This standard applies to the safety of heating and cooling equipment, including geothermal heat pumps.
“Neptune’s Horses” 1919 | Walter Crane
Bernoulli’s Principle pic.twitter.com/EwXrssQBtw
— NERD (نَرْد) (@NERD2040) October 2, 2024
Marina & Boatyard Electrical Safety
Rowing at the 2024 Summer Olympics
“The Biglin Brothers Racing| Thomas Eakins (1872)
Rowing competition in the 2024 Olympics inspires a revisit of NFPA 303: Fire Protection Standard for Marinas and Boatyards. Apart from athletic competition, many colleges, universities and trade schools with academic programs are responsible for safety of facilities located on fresh and saltwater shorelines. Other nations refer to best practice discovered and applied in the United States. Keep in mind that, unlike other nations, the standard of care for electrical safety in the United States is driven primarily by the fire safety community. This happens because public safety leadership falls upon the local Fire Marshall who has a budget that is widely understand and generally supported.
From the NFPA 303 scope statement:
This standard applies to the construction and operation of marinas, boatyards, yacht clubs, boat condominiums, docking facilities associated with residential condominiums, multiple-docking facilities at multiple-family residences, and all associated piers, docks, and floats.
This standard also applies to support facilities and structures used for construction, repair, storage, hauling and launching, or fueling of vessels if fire on a pier would pose an immediate threat to these facilities, or if a fire at a referenced facility would pose an immediate threat to a docking facility.
This standard applies to marinas and facilities servicing small recreational and commercial craft, yachts, and other craft of not more than 300 gross tons.
This standard is not intended to apply to a private, noncommercial docking facility constructed or occupied for the use of the owners or residents of the associated single-family dwelling.
No requirement in this standard is to be construed as reducing applicable building, fire, and electrical codes.
The standard of care for facilities owned by educational institutions is not appreciably different from the standard of care for any other Owner except some consideration should be given to the age and training of most of the occupants — students, of course — who are a generally transient population. Some research projects undertaken on university-owned facilities are also subject to the local adaptions of NFPA 303. The current version of NFPA 303 is linked below:
Boathouse Row / Philadelphia
The 2021 Edition is the current edition and the next edition will be the 2025 revision. Click on the link below to read what new ideas were running through the current edition; mostly electrical that are intended to correlate with National Electrical Code Article 555 and recent electrical safety research*:
NFPA 303 Public Input Report for the 2021 Edition
Public input closing date for the 2025 Edition is June 1, 2023.
You may submit comment directly to NFPA on this and/or any other NFPA consensus product by CLICKING HERE. You will need to set up a (free) account. NFPA 303 document is also on the standing agenda of our 4 times monthly collaboration with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee. See our CALENDAR for the next online colloquium; open to everyone.
Michigan Technological University
Issue: [16-133]
Category: Electrical, #SmartCampus, Facility Asset Management
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey
LEARN MORE:
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (Article 555)
Examining the Risk of Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) As a Function of Water Conductivity
Summer Salads
Readings:
Coop: A Family, a Farm, and the Pursuit of One Good Egg (Michael Perry)
The Land Remembers (Ben Logan)
State of Wisconsin: Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Midwesterners: bring salad to the Labor Day BBQ
The salad: pic.twitter.com/WHNTelL51e
— Midwest vs. Everybody (@midwestern_ope) September 1, 2024
Coffee Taste Test
“The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it
which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea
cannot be expected to reproduce.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes (“The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table”, 1857)
The Decline of Men on Campus
Dartmouth University Facilities Operations & Management | Utility Systems
IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee
Investment Office: Endowment Reports | $7.9B Total, $2.1B Facilities
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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