Category: HVAC
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Sustainability for CRE Buildings 101: What is Virtual Engineering for HVAC?
As more tenants return to the workplace, the emphasis on sustainability, indoor air quality, and healthy spaces has never been higher for commercial buildings. And the right technology can help commercial real estate owners and operators make sure they’re offering spaces tenants want to return to. For instance, state-of-the-art algorithms from Hank ensure maximum indoor…
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6 Ways to Manage HVAC Compliance Requirements
It’s not uncommon for property teams to lack visibility into what their tenants are doing. However, when it comes to tenant compliance, HVAC roles and responsibilities need to be clear. Because if commercial tenants fall short of HVAC obligations, it leaves property teams in a bind. And can cost you a lot of money. The…
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How Can Commercial Landlords Avoid HVAC Tenant Compliance Issues?
In commercial real estate, replacing HVAC systems can be costly—as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars across large portfolios. Problems arise when there is a misunderstanding between owners and tenants about where the responsibility lies for maintenance projects, especially when it comes to meeting regulatory standards. So, how can commercial landlords avoid costly HVAC…
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Energy Efficiency in Commercial Office Buildings: How to Build a Strategy that Maximizes ROI
On average, a commercial building HVAC system can account for 20% of overall operating and energy costs – and 50% of total energy usage for a commercial real estate (CRE) property. You might be spending more on monthly HVAC costs than you know. Energy efficiency in commercial office buildings can significantly impact your ROI and…
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3 Sustainability Mandates in Commercial Real Estate and How to Prepare
HVAC can account for 20% of overall commercial real estate operating and energy costs and 50% of total energy consumption for commercial offices. It’s no wonder the commercial real estate industry continues to focus attention on sustainability. Sustainability isn’t just good for the environment, it’s also great for the wallet. In fact, 40% of real…
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Two HVAC Capital Planning Tips for 2022 – Backed by Data
When’s the last time you took stock of your HVAC capital planning strategy? After all, your HVAC system is one of the biggest expenses in your annual maintenance budget. Routine checks and repairs add up. And if you own multiple commercial properties, the financial burden can escalate quickly into the tens or hundreds of thousands…
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Understand Your HVAC—Air Handling Units (AHU)
An air handling unit, or AHU, is HVAC equipment designed to regulate and circulate air throughout a space. Air handlers typically connect to a ductwork ventilation system. This system distributes conditioned air throughout a building and returns it back to the unit. The capacity of an air handler is commonly measured by the amount of air…
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Are You Still Using Banned Refrigerant in Your HVAC?
R-22 (Chlorodifluoromethane), also known as R22 Freon or HCFC-22 Freon, was a common refrigerant for HVAC systems. It is now a banned refrigerant that is illegal to import or manufacture. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) followed the tiered timeline laid out by the Montreal Protocol to phase out the importation and production of ozone-depleting substances.…
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Understand Your HVAC—Packaged Rooftop Unit (RTU)
A packaged rooftop unit, or RTU, is a type of HVAC system that contains all the components needed to provide conditioned air in one compact unit. You typically use packaged rooftop units in light and large commercial applications. They are very popular with retail and industrial properties. A packaged rooftop unit is usually a large…
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Understand Your HVAC—The Refrigeration Cycle
A refrigeration cycle has four major components: the compressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator. Refrigerant remains piped between these four components in the refrigerant loop. The refrigeration cycle of an HVAC system is a critical component governed by the principles of thermodynamics. To understand how it works, first we need to grasp four key concepts.…