Potential energy savings of 20-30 percent
With energy costs so high, it’s worth considering a Variable Refrigerant Flow system for heating and cooling multi-unit buildings.
A VRF heat pump system can heat or cool units, with each unit free to pick its own setting. Won’t that make tenants happy?
Some other plusses: energy efficiency, little or no ductwork, and easy control in person or via Internet.
We can help; at Premier HVAC Services we know VRF and how to make it work for you.
First, a quick lesson in history and lingo: VRF is the same essential system as VRV, Variable Refrigerant Volume, the term used by industry giant Dalkin when it pioneered its system in 1982.
And the system is not new, except to the United States. It has been popular overseas for years; one reason is its adaptability to older structures. Its popularity in the United States is growing as more building owners see the advantages.
VRF users report their systems are as much as 30 percent more efficient than traditional heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. This is because they heat or cool only as units demand rather than the entire building. In addition to inverter technology, they also offer zoning, speed modulation and heat-recovery.
One outside HVAC structure handles the varying needs of multiple units.
“The use of this evolved technology makes these systems a good option for certain kinds of commercial construction projects that require high levels of flexibility when it comes to occupant comfort or for retrofit projects,” said Darrell Peil, an authority on building mechanical systems
Their energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 15 to 20 is excellent and can help a building’s application for LEED status, Peil wrote in an article for the National Insulation Association.
This kind of system doesn’t require a machine room – the condensing unit can be placed outside – so it can be especially valuable for buildings that lack air conditioning, he said.
“VRF/VRV systems are generally best suited to buildings with diverse, multiple zones requiring individual control, such as office buildings, hospitals, schools, or hotels,” Peil wrote.
VRF/VRV does present challenges – insulation, for one. Because the individual units require extra piping, they will require expertly installed insulation.
Want to know more about VRF or VRV? At Premier HVAC Services we can maintain and install these systems and explain how they function best. Our company’s 15 employees handle a full range of commercial and residential HVAC needs in New York City and Long Island.
