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Most commercial buildings use water-cooled chillers for air
conditioning. These chillers may be energy-efficient, but they require large amounts
of water. For example, a 400-ton water-cooled chiller operating at 30 % load
year-round needs almost 1.9 million gallons of makeup water just to replace
losses from evaporation. Re-circulating hot and chilled water loops also need
lots of water, too.
As municipalities struggle with droughts and water costs continue
to rise, it's no surprise that HVAC systems have become targets for
corporate cost-cutters. But water meters are just the beginning. HVAC technicians can
reduce the cooling tower bleed rate, eliminate leaking makeup and bleed valves,
and identify and correct closed system leaks. They can also use a blend of soft
water, air handler condensate, or gray water for cooling tower makeup.
Is your company using any of these methods to reduce its HVAC water costs?
Source: Facilities
Engineering Journal
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Re: Cutting HVAC Costs
