Smarter Energy Management: Right-Sizing Heat Pumps
Right-size your heat pumps
When you're saving energy by moving heat rather than generating it, be careful to right-size the device for the space, given the efficiency of the heat pump.
Upgrades change HVAC needs
Making your facility more efficient might involve adding insulation, better windows, better airflow and more. When you have HVAC equipment that was best suited to the conditions of the facility before, you may find that after making those improvements, you only need 75% or 80% of the heating and cooling capacity of that original system.
Size systems based on targets
When you right-size a system, you ensure the device works just enough to keep the facility where you want it to be — not too much or too little. In other words, it stays within the target area of the device's operation.
Right-sizing prevents issues
If the designed system is too large for the facility (perhaps due to errant data used during calculations), it will result in a really powerful device for a smaller-than-necessary facility. You don't want the system to short-cycle, where it runs efficiently but shuts off more than you would like, reducing the life of the equipment. On the other hand, there would be a device that's too small and running all the time. That may work with some systems but not with heat pumps.
Lean on industry professionals
Facility managers should work with industry professionals to determine the best values for sizing the system and specify what the highs and lows of the facility might be in the extreme to ensure that the operating parameters fit those extremes.
Many contractors and service providers partner with us to deliver energy-efficiency products and expertise directly to you. Find a Trade Ally to help upgrade your equipment.
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