Hi Who was Egypt searching for in 2014?

Hi Who was Egypt searching for in 2014?

As every year, Google announced its trending searches in different countries for the year 2014. So what interested Egyptians most in the past year?

“Ramadan Series”, “Boshret Kheir” and “Supreme Elections Committee” search queries topped the 2014 trending list, enforcing the notion that entertainment and politics still reign over the minds of Egyptians. 

Here is the list of the top ten trending queries in 2014:
1. Ramadan TV Shows 2014 – Entertainment 
2. Boshret Kheir – Political / Entertainment
3. Supreme Elections Committee – Politics
4. Halawet Rouh Movie - Entertainment
5. Wold Cup 2014 - Sports
6. Safinaz – Entertainment / Dance
7. iPhone 6 - Technology
8. Al Beheira incident – Road Safety
9. Khaled Saleh’s passing away - Entertainment
10. Students’ results – Education

Egypt’s Trending People in 20141. Safinaz – Belly Dancer
2. Khaled Saleh - Actor
3. El Sisi - President
4. Hussien El Emam - Actor
5. Marwa Hussien - Actress
6. Mohamed Salah – Football Player
7. Mohamed Hosny Mubarak – Former President
8. Sabah – Lebanese Singer
9. Bassem Youssef – Entertainer / Moderator
10. Ahmed Helmy - Actor

Egypt’s Trending Events in 20141. Egyptian Presidential Elections - Political
2. World Cup 2014 - Sports
3. Ramadan 2014 - Religious
4.نتائج الطلاب - Education
5. El Behera Accident - Road Safety
6. Robin Williams Death – Funeral 
7. Minimum wage – Finance / Economy
8. Fuel Smart Cards – Finance / Economy
9. Mobarak trial – Political / Judiciary
10. Suez Canal Axis – Logistics 

Hi Direct approach: improving wind turbine drivetrain reliability.

Hi Direct approach: improving wind turbine drivetrain reliability.

Offshore wind turbines have been plagued by reliability issues that have driven up costs and damaged confidence in the technology. But could a new generation of drivetrain technologies change this?

For nearly a year, people gazing across Scotland’s Firth of Forth have been able to catch sight of an impressive feat of engineering: the world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine. The 7MW monster — the first of its kind — has blade tips that tower 196m above sea level, sweeping an area twice the size of the London Eye.

The majestic structure is part of a bigger plan to make use of the UK’s offshore wind capabilities. The total offshore generating capacity in UK waters provides around eight terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity each year, enough to power around two million homes. Industry estimates suggest that by 2020, offshore wind will supply between eight to 10 per cent of the UK’s electricity annually.

One way to overcome reliability issues is to take the direct-drive route. That is what Alstom has beenm attempting with its 6MW Haliade WTG wind turbine.

The technology is giving the UK a chance to conquer a growing global market. Offshore construction costs are high, but fairly predictable. Without the same size constraints, wind turbines at sea provide economies of scale. They also produce far more energy than their land-based equivalent, with offshore turbines reaching 3–8MW of capacity. These energy gains, however, come at a cost when it comes to maintenance.

A wind turbine’s drivetrain provides the biggest headache for engineers. ‘They are a classic issue in the wind industry,’ said Daniel Castel, offshore platform director at Alstom. ‘Lots of effort has been made to improve the reliability of the gearboxes but the truth is that there are still some issues that prevent the achievement of a lifetime solution. This is especially critical for offshore where the operating expense is so high.’

’Haliade WTG is a direct-drive solution featuring our pure torque layout that allows for sharp control of the loads that go through the power train. 

Daniel Castel, Alstom.

To avoid excessive damage, Ricardo has come up with a solution dubbed MultiLife, which involves rotating the fixed inner components so that wear take place throughout the full circumference of the bearing rather than just on a small section.

Historically, gearboxes have suffered from failures in both the planet bearings and the high-speed shaft bearings. The high-speed shaft bearings, which undergo huge forces, can often be replaced on site, but any planet bearing failure requires removal of the gearbox from the turbine for repair elsewhere. The downtime this creates means that close to 25 per cent of a wind farm’s maintenance costs are linked to gearbox failures.

‘Individual offshore turbines are now pushing well above 5MW capacity, so it is crucial to design and build in the highest standards of reliability from the outset,’ said Paul Jordan, Ricardo’s global head of clean energy and power generation. ‘We need to avoid the risk of high costs of failure and remedial replacement of major components such as gearboxes.’

Jordan’s team has been working on a gearbox and drivetrain design for the Samsung Heavy Industries 7MW offshore wind turbine being tested in Scotland. The mammoth structure is designed to gather energy in some of the world’s roughest oceans. It has a rotor diameter of 171.2m with a hub that stands around 110.6m above sea level. The rotor tip moves at 95m/sec, meaning the drivetrain has to handle torque of 6.9MNm.

‘The most challenging aspect was the six degree of freedom dynamic analysis of the full drivetrain,’ said Jordan. This analysis allowed the team to subject each piece of the gearbox to finite element (FE) analysis testing. ‘It was important for us to consider gravitational and assembly loads as well as those due to operation,’ added Ricardo’s chief engineer for the project, John Stanton.

The team’s simulation revealed wear on the inner bearing concentrated over a small arc of around 40˚. The team came up with a solution — dubbed MultiLife — which involves rotating the fixed inner components so that the wear would take place throughout the full circumference of the bearing. This, the team claims, extends the life of the bearing by up to five times and avoids the bearing damage reaching a critical condition.

But to achieve more gains in reliability, Ricardo claims new innovations are needed. ‘There are limits to the optimisation of drivetrains that can be achieved through intensive simulation,’ said Jordan. ‘However, there are further step-changes that can be achieved through the adoption of advanced technologies that we have developed from our experiences in other, more mature industrial sectors such as off-highway equipment, motorsport and 

road vehicles.’

Ricardo’s TorqLife technology is claimed to improve wind turbine architectures susceptible to damage from loads such as strong gusts or emergency stops.

One way to overcome the reliability issues is to take the direct-drive route. That’s what Alstom has been attempting with its 6MW wind turbine, dubbed Haliade WTG. ‘We do not have any gearbox in the drive train,’ said Castel. ‘It is a direct-drive solution featuring our pure torque layout that allows for sharp control of the loads that go through the power train.’ With no gearbox coupled to the generator, the turbine consists of fewer rotating parts, increasing reliability.

Ricardo has also developed a technology, named TorqLife, which it claims improves wind turbine drivetrain architectures susceptible to non-torque loads transmitted into the gearbox. The same potentially failure-inducing mechanism can also affect the generator for direct-drive architectures. This load can be created under certain operating conditions such as gusts or turbulent wind conditions and fault conditions such as grid loss and emergency stop.

TorqLife uses a dual-function coupling that avoids drivetrain overloads. It is based on an arrangement of hydraulic cylinders between the rotor shaft and gearbox, or direct-drive generator, which are able to isolate non-torque loads. Ricardo claims this innovation offers the prospect of enabling wind turbine drivetrains to survive in the harshest conditions for their full lifetime.

‘What makes our job really rewarding is that our endeavours will help ensure that a much greater proportion of renewable power is delivered to the grid, and at a much lower cost than would otherwise be the case,’ said Jordan. If the UK is to make the most of its offshore wind power potential, then technologies such as this will be vital to ensuring investors’ support for the industry. Addressing concerns over reliability could also help win over those who remain on the fence over renewable’

Hi Product brochure: Land Instruments' coal pile fire monitor — fixed thermal-imaging systems.

Hi Product brochure: Land Instruments' coal pile fire monitor — fixed thermal-imaging systems.

Coal pile fire monitor: fixed thermal-imaging systems brochure;

The storage of coal in large piles carries with it a risk of spontaneous combustion. Increased demand on coal reserves has led to alternative, more volatile, types of coal being used more frequently. There are many industry guidelines for safe storage of coal in piles, including recommendations for pile angles, compression and surface smoothing. Even strict adherence to these guidelines may, in some circumstances, not be enough. An early warning system to prevent the onset of fire remains the best and most reliable solution. In the case of large or remote storage areas, a continuous and fully automated monitoring system is the only option. A coal pile fire monitor located at a suitable viewing point can successfully provide an effective solution to these requirements.

!!!THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIEWING!!!

Hi Application note: easing the audit trail with ISO-certified lubricants.

Hi Application note: easing the audit trail with ISO-certified lubricants.

‘Easing the audit trail with ISO-certified lubricants’

ISO 21469 is a globally recognised certification that provides credible, independent assurance that ROCOL products — supplied by ERIKS — are formulated, manufactured and supplied hygienically and safely. This is a vital step for manufacturers that need to conform with the audit requirements of major supermarkets, the European Food Safety Inspection Service and the British Retail Consortium. The certification also builds on the existing NSF H1 registration of ROCOL FOODLUBE products (safe for incidental contact with food).

!!!THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIEWING!!!

Hi Future Power Technology Magazine: Clean Energy Edition!.

Hi Future Power Technology Magazine: Clean Energy Edition!. 

April 2012!.

 Click Here Or Any Image To Download The Full Magazine Edition Or View & Save Below;

!!!THANK YOU FOR VIEWING & DOWNLOADING!!!

Hi Top Cities With the Worst Air in the United States.

Hi Top Cities With the Worst Air in the United States.

Dealing with poor air quality can be not only an annoyance, but hazardous to your health as well. Although there are places around the world that are much worse, there are still places in the United States that have poor air quality. Because of this, the residents suffer, dealing with the poor air quality sometimes every day of the year. Be aware of the cities that have the worst air quality, and learn how to best protect yourself if you reside in one of these cities.

Los Angeles:

There are close to eighteen million people living in and around the Los Angeles area. This includes Long Beach and Riverside. Because of these large number of people, industrial factories, cars, and shipping ports add a large amount of pollution. It doesn't help that there is not often weather changes such as high winds, rain or snow to clear everything out. Even though the air is heavily polluted, it is better than it had been in previous years. There have been efforts made to clean up the air, making it healthier for everyone in the area.

Phoenix:

With a smaller population, reaching about four million, the air is still heavily polluted. Although Arizona has been known for a long time as the perfect place for those with respiratory issues to come and relieve their lungs, the same cannot be said for the state's capital. Because of the way the city is situated, it makes it hard for the pollution to leave the area, causing it to settle. Those who already have problems with their lungs or heart should stay inside on bad air days and avoid exercising outside.

Hanford:

Although the population of Hanford, California is smaller than most cities that made the list for the greatest pollution, this town of 150 thousand people ranks in the top ten worst cities for pollution by ozone, year round pollution, and short term pollution. Those who live in this area should be aware of these potential dangers, and do what they can to protect themselves against the problem.

Bakersfield:

Bakersfield, California has ranked as the worst city as far as air quality goes many times, not necessarily because of the pollution, but because of the elements that are in the air. There is a lot of agriculture in this region, and when work is being done, fertilizer and pesticides used, and even dust is brought up into the air, creating a potentially harmful concoction to ingest.

Even if you don't live in one of these cities, you still have a potential of getting sick from pollutants in your area. To better protect yourself plan to carpool, stay inside on days with poor air quality, and ensure that the filter in your homes heating and air system is always in proper working order. The filter in your home is critical for many. It is the first line of defense in your home to create a safe environment against the pollution in the air. Take care of this to maintain your health in the best way possible.

!!!!AIR POLLUTION CALIFORNIA!!!

Hi Five Awesome Environmental Projects Undertaken By Large Cities!.

Hi Five Awesome Environmental Projects Undertaken By Large Cities!.

Environmental conservation is every nation's rallying call in the wake of its massive destruction around the world and the dire need to conserve it for ourselves and the future. Unless proper measures are undertaken to protect and conserve it, we shall only be around long enough to watch it perish and we after it.

Many, if not all the nations of the world, in this realization have come up with ingenious ways and projects to conserve the environment and keep it that way for a long time to come. We will look at least five of these projects carried out in major cities around the world.

Near Albany, NY, a company known as Ecovative Design came up with a low-cost innovative zero-waste, bio-based packing material that replaces foam packaging like urethane, Styrofoam and plastic thermoforms. The process takes place indoors, in darkness and doesn't require any human intervention.

It mainly uses fungi which 'grow' on custom-shaped forms that are made from inedible crop waste like buckwheat husks. There is zero waste because all the raw material becomes part of the final product, and easily becomes compost after the intended use.

This product in essence replaces 196,000 cubic feet of foam plastic packaging parts, thereby saving 77 thousand gallons of petroleum annually, essentially because approximately 10% of petroleum used in America goes to the manufacture of plastics and foams.

In Tokyo Bay, an ambitious construction project is being developed to help in the conservation of the environment. The Shimizu Corporation has an ambitious project of constructing a pyramid that is three miles long, making its height 14 times higher than the Great Pyramid of Giza. There are smaller projects too that have just as big ambitions, the Vancouver Cigarette butt recycling program, looks to make Vancouver the most eco-friendly city by 2020.

The pyramid will be made up of 204 other smaller pyramids and will have at least 750,000 housing units for people in Tokyo. The carbon fibre material used to make the pyramid will be mainly light weight; the pyramid will be host to shopping centres, restaurants, research facilities and private homes. The residences and businesses will be powered by wind power, solar power and algae scum.

In the Maldives, an ambitious project funded both by the government and well-wishers has been started up to conserve corals. Seamarc, a consultancy company in marine matters has engineered an innovative technique where new corals are propagated on metal frames.

This is made possible through a process of transplantation using broken fragments of corals harvested from the natural reef. The coral fragments are then attached to the metal frames where they grow into new colonies.

Discernible difference can be viewed within 2 months of the initial 2-3 weeks that follow the transplant. Proceeds from each frame are used to fund local community initiatives and also towards research in Cocoa Island's marine conservation pro-grammes.

Another construction project in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi is building the 1st carbon-neutral city in a span of 10 years. The city will have all cars banned within city limits; only solar-powered vehicles would be allowed within the city.

80% of all the water in the city will be recycled and all human waste 'repurposed' and converted to energy for use. This city would move beyond the current dependency on oil and will be the world's first zero-waste, zero-carbon city, especially because the city will be built with recycled materials from ground up which will eschew carbon emissions.

In Europe, a recycling process for waste water to be used in hotels was developed by Marco Cremona, an engineer, mainly to be used in hotels. Its system, based on the innovative Membrane BioReactor (MBR), this is a waste water treatment process that is used together with reverse osmosis process (RO) that is well proven. With this process, 70-80% of the water brought in by the hotel will be conserved.

Hi Asbestos Dumping: Is It the New 'Environmental Terrorism?'

Hi Asbestos Dumping: Is It the New 'Environmental Terrorism?'

- "There is an increasing number of asbestos dumping, which is occurring in public places."

About Asbestos:

Asbestos can cause cancer years down the line, without the person ever knowing that it's there and even if they did, there's no current cure that healthcare professionals are able to practice on patients. Mesthelioma is the known type of cancer that is a result of exposure to asbestos. There are further health complications that asbestos can cause to a person's health such as, lung problems and general health problems. Mesthelioma doesn't appear until 30-50 years down the line so although it does cause cancer and death, the only saving grace is that people are not affected straight away.

Recent Asbestos Dumping Case:

There has recently been a case of asbestos dumping in Holland-on-Sea, Ipswich road, Colchester, where a whole heap of asbestos was dumped partly in bags, the other parts scattered near public toilets. This has been rightly dubbed 'Environmental Terrorism' by the local paper; exposure to asbestos can cause cancer, the fact that asbestos has been dumped in a very public place could have made an impact on people's health, but this will be unknown until years down the line when its more than likely too late to prosecute the perpetrators for causing other people to contract cancer. No justice really; if those responsible were caught, there's no real way of prosecuting them for causing people cancer as it's an unknown fact and will remain that way for many years.

Is the person(s) who committed this shocking crime understand the implications of asbestos exposure can do or completely unaware. If unaware, does that indicate a lack of knowledge that people posses when it comes to asbestos and the dangers of being exposed to it? On the other hand, if the person(s) does understand the health risks to humans that asbestos causes, does this mean they are just pure evil; putting a person(s) health at risk to an extent where it's likely to give them cancer and a premature death is absolutely and undeniably shocking and should receive many years behind bars for doing so?

However, until years down the line, this cannot be proved or disproved, making dumping asbestos and being prosecuted for it, a complete grey area in the current justice system and to an extent understandable. People cannot be prosecuted for possibilities that something may happen, it must be factual and something must have occurred.

Asbestos Removal Regulations:

There are rules and regulations that have been put in place in order to help stop asbestos from causing unnecessary and painful deaths. However, these measures will not completely get rid of the asbestos fibres and with people now dumping asbestos where ever they like e.g. in public places, the problem may only get worse. Asbestos itself is not harmful if it isn't disturbed, but if it is accidentally or purposefully disturbed then this is when it becomes deadly and therefore, asbestos must be removed using correct methods, procedures and equipment.

There are strict laws when it comes to asbestos removal and this must be followed to the letter by any person or business whom is involved in the removal of asbestos. These laws were introduced in order to try minimise health risks due to the high proportion of buildings and materials contaminate by asbestos during removal.

How Easy is it to Disturb Asbestos?

Asbestos is extremely easy to disturb; a simple hole drilled into a wall that contains asbestos can be harmful for a person as the particles are tossed into the air and therefore, a chance of being breathed in by people in the vicinity.

Hi Innovating global Halal industries!!!

Hi Innovating global Halal industries!!!

As the $2 trillion Halal industry, which includes food, finance and much more, grows, many call for new ways to develop coherence and diversity.

“Demand is increasing and we now must focus on developing our products. I am not saying forget about being Halal, but we must start innovating,” says Saleh Abdullah Lootah, Managing Director of Islami Foods.

Speaking at the WIEF conference in Dubai, which ended on October 30, Lootah went on to stress the need to get rid of Halal complexes: “There are different norms and cultures across different regions, so it is difficult to apply one model of Halal-compliant business.”

This comes at a time when the Muslim world is looking at itself in hopes to develop the cross-border trade of Halal-certified goods. Media reports this week claim that a series of memoranda of understanding and agreements have been signed by Dubai Exports in partnership with Malaysia’s Halal HDC, and the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC).

Lootah goes on to talk about the need for the Halal industry to innovate the consumer experience. “The next step is to focus on innovating the Halal experience and, making it attractive to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.”

In his closing address, HE Hamad Buamim, President and CEO at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the co-organizers, said that the forum marked the “start of a new chapter of cooperation between Dubai and the world, as part of Dubai: Capital of Islamic Economy vision.”

“We must also harness technology, which is driving progress in the global economy, to ensure the future development of Halal industries,” he notes.

Overall, the rhetoric coming from leaders of the Halal industries was based around developing the right technologies to enhance and innovate the Halal products to globalize the industry.

The WIEF conference attracted more than 2,000 participants from all around the world. Organized in a collaboration between the WIEF Foundation, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Dubai Capital of Islamic Economy, the event was held at the Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre Dubai on October 28-30, 2014, with the arching theme ‘Innovative Partnerships for Economic Growth’, which seeks to position Dubai as a leader of global Halal industries.

Hi Climate Change! Seven Industry Challenges for 2014! & OIL!.

Hi Climate Change! Seven Industry Challenges for 2014! & OIL!.

After three years of rising confidence in prices and production, many in the industry have turned cautious. This is one of seven notable trends uncovered by DNV-GL's annual industry survey.

 Slowing economic growth in India and other emerging markets, coupled with a supply increase that is slowly outpacing demand, is expected to add to global price instability. 

Mergers will be more common as rising demands on capital force out smaller players. Shortages of skilled workers (watch below) will also contribute to a tough year. Not all is doom and gloom however; things are looking up for Brazil and Australia.

Hi Exclusive: The Iraqi Effect:

Discussions on Iraqi oil make the latest U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projections especially noteworthy. Surprisingly (watch), the EIA expects Iraq to maintain high production and export levels.

Northern production ceased in January, but southern production has been largely unaffected by the conflict. 

Unfortunately, long term effects on oil markets may be more dire. 

Iraq was expected to make up for declining production levels among the other OPEC countries, but increases in production are now in doubt. Unless Libya comes back on line, OPEC supply disruptions are expected to continue at levels approaching 2.7 million barrels/day.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT: The Availability and Price of Petroleum and Petroleum Products Produced in Countries Other Than Iran.

Hi HVAC Efficiency: 3 Part Series: Part 1: Innovations Offer Reductions In HVAC Energy Consumption But Are Often Ignored.

Hi HVAC Efficiency: 3 Part Series: Part 1: Innovations Offer Reductions In HVAC Energy Consumption But Are Often Ignored.

In recent years, the industry has devoted a great deal of effort to reducing the amount of energy used to operate buildings. During that time, a variety of innovative HVAC technologies and design strategies have been developed and proved in a wide range of projects. Those approaches, however, are often ignored when HVAC options are being weighed. That's unfortunate: Wider use of those HVAC strategies represents a substantial opportunity to cut energy consumption, since more than one third of the energy used in a building is for heating, cooling, and ventilation.

Those strategies are also crucial for projects aiming to achieve net-zero energy use. A net-zero energy (NZE) building is one where the total energy consumed over a period of one year, minus renewable energy generated on-site, is equal to or less than zero.

Designing a very efficient HVAC system, whether it's for a net-zero building or not, can be a significant task, and it is best accomplished through an integrated, holistic design approach. This approach requires the commitment and contribution of owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and other specialists. Building owners and facility managers play an integral part even beyond the design stage: Even the best-designed projects rely on the user's motivation to operate the building with a high level of energy efficiency — especially when striving for net-zero energy.

The appropriate selection of HVAC systems offers many opportunities to achieve great efficiency. But the first step in designing an efficient HVAC system, regardless of whether the project's goal is to achieve net-zero energy use, is to cut the demand for energy. This is accomplished by reducing building internal loads, by improving building envelope performance to reduce solar heat gains and conductive losses, and, at the same time, by maximizing the use of daylight.

Depending on the climate, cooling demand can be reduced by increasing building insulation and installing high-performance glass. Light-colored, reflective surfaces on roofs and walls and radiant barriers within ceilings are also important to avert solar radiation.

In recent years, there have been developments in dynamic building envelope technology that can alter performance in order to withstand peak periods. Smart glass or self-tinting products are controlled based on an electric signal. Phase-change materials can be installed in drywall in order to maintain surface temperatures during extended hot periods.

Internal electrical loads for lighting and power systems should also be reduced as much as possible to increase efficiency. About 39 percent of building energy use goes to lighting and office equipment. Reducing internal electrical loads also cuts the demand for cooling: For each kW consumed, a percentage of waste heat must be cooled.

PART 2: Consider These Passive Or 

Energy-Efficient Active HVAC Systems:

Once heat gain is reduced, passive HVAC systems or more energy-efficient active systems can be installed to satisfy occupant comfort.

Passive systems are effective in net-zero buildings because they allow the user to maintain comfort in a space without the need for energy. Common passive techniques include natural ventilation and the use of thermal mass.

Natural ventilation relies on outdoor air and appropriate high/low window placement to ventilate, bring in fresh air, and relieve hot air. Exposed thermal mass can often be provided in the form of concrete, water, or other materials to evenly regulate surface temperatures, even when exposed to heat. Exposed thermal mass is often used in conjunction with natural ventilation in order to pre-cool surfaces at night and store this coolth for daytime use.

Passive systems have two limitations: They can be slow to respond to changes in load, and they can have limited capacity. This makes the load-reduction strategies even more important. In mixed-mode buildings, passive systems are supplemented by active HVAC systems to operate during periods when outdoor temperatures are high or low.

Energy-Efficient Active Systems:

When it comes to active-system design strategies, it's important to remember that any measures that can help occupants maintain comfort without turning on building HVAC systems should be considered. Local personal workstation cooling systems or high-volume, low-velocity ceiling fans may allow facility staff to increase building temperature set-points while maintaining comfort. The premise of "adaptive comfort" is that people can accept a wider range of temperature if they have the means to make adaptive, local adjustments such as altering air velocity, modifying clothing levels, or changing the activity schedule.

For heating applications on small- to mid-sized commercial net-zero projects, electric heat pumps are often the preferred means for generating heat. The reason is that they can take advantage of electricity from on site renewable sources (e.g., from photovoltaics or wind turbines); that's why net-zero projects use natural gas heating systems less often than other types of projects. Other sources of heat, such as solar thermal collectors, are common ways to offset the electrical heating requirements.

Radiant systems, such as chilled or heated floors and ceilings, are effective for net-zero applications both in heating and cooling. These systems temper the environment without needing a fan to circulate air. Air-plus-water systems, such as active chilled beams, can also offset fan energy. A pump is required to circulate water; however, water is a much more efficient medium for transferring heat or cold than air.

For applications requiring large quantities of air, either due to ventilation or cooling demand, a means to offset fan energy should be considered.

The conventional method for doing this is to reduce supply air volume during temperate periods using a variable air volume (VAV) system. A VAV system uses a variable frequency drive in conjunction with the fan to modulate speed. Because fan power depends on airflow and static pressure, some systems look to save energy by reducing static pressure. An underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system can accomplish this goal by moving low-velocity air through a raised floor cavity to reduce the length of high-velocity air ducts. A UFAD system also supplies air at a higher temperature than VAV systems and often uses outside air to provide free cooling, leading to greater efficiency.

For larger applications, central plants employ water-cooled chillers with heat rejection from cooling towers. For this size of net-zero project, efficiency would be the driver for all mechanical components. There are opportunities, however, to use natural energy sources such as geothermal heating/cooling to modulate temperature in the HVAC fluids.

PART 3: Net-Zero Energy Buildings: Waste Heat Recovery And Renewable Energy:

Waste heat recovery and renewable energy are important strategies in net-zero energy buildings.

Because natural gas systems are less often used in net-zero buildings, there are fewer opportunities to recover energy from the heat-intensive processes. If natural gas is not used for heating, a project is unlikely to use fuel cells or micro-turbines, eliminating the ability to recover waste heat from those energy-generating systems.

On many projects, waste heat sources occur within the exhaust air streams or in condenser exhaust from heat pumps or chillers. Depending on the use of the incoming air and the quality of the outgoing air, heat can be transferred using air-to-air heat exchangers, air-handling-unit run-around coils, and thermal energy wheels. These systems either directly or indirectly transfer heat from one air stream to the next.

Another source of waste heat is the exhaust air from heat pumps or condenser water from chillers. If there is a simultaneous demand for heating (possibly in domestic hot water), this waste energy can be reused as a heat source.

Renewable Energy and Building Automation:

The steps outlined are important in another way for projects aiming to achieve net-zero energy use. Those projects decide which renewable power generation system (photovoltaic cells, building-integrated wind turbines, bio-fuel, or some other means) best matches the building demand and profile for the project type and region. Measures that reduce demand also help to reduce first cost of the generation system, and make it easier to deal with the source's intermittent power production. The protocol we've outlined makes it easier to size energy-generating systems at an appropriate and affordable capacity.

Building occupants also play an integral role in efforts to achieve energy efficiency, especially in net-zero buildings. If the user is unaware of the energy consumption in relation to the building energy generation, there is little chance of achieving a neutral energy balance (i.e., net-zero energy use) at the end of the measurement period. Building dashboards allow the user to monitor building energy consumption and to better understand when manual systems should be operated. For instance, the building dashboard may notify the user when outdoor air temperatures are acceptable for opening a window or inform the user when energy conservation may be needed on a cloudy day.

The design of a highly efficient HVAC system, especially for a net-zero project, is a complicated puzzle that requires all members of a project team to engage in the process. More than ever, there is reliance on all members to cooperate, motivate, and inspire their counterparts to achieve the common goal of energy neutrality. The reward is a net-zero building that can meet the needs of the present while having "zero" impact on the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Bruce McKinlay, PE, LEED AP, is a principal with Arup in Los Angeles and leads the firm's commercial property market in the Americas. He has collaborated on numerous sustainable projects where an integrated design approach has led to greater energy efficiency. He can be reached by email by clicking the following link here.

Jamey Lyzun, PE, LEED AP, is an associate at Arup and has 14 years of experience on projects. He has applied many of the techniques outlined in this article to assure that integrated strategies at the design phase can lead to low energy and sustainable outcomes during operation. He can be reached by email by clicking the following link here.