NATIONAL REPORT—There was a time when energy efficiency was not a high priority when shopping for new PTACs. Today, with energy prices where they are, that has all changed. An educated buyer now considers not only unit size and heating and cooling capability, but also a model’s energy efficiency rating (EER). “EER is a calculation that measures how much cooling you get for a watt of electricity,” says Jane Deming, manager, marketing services for Friedrich Air Conditioning, San Antonio, Texas. “The higher the EER, the better. The benefits to the hotel owner are in controlling energy consumption costs.” Mel Harris, PTAC...

NORTHVALE, N.J.—AERCO, a design leader in high-efficiency boilers and hot water heaters, introduces the AERCO Modulex line of condensing boilers. Available in six different sizes, the light commercial boilers offer superior turndown to maximize seasonal efficiency. They also bring a high level of operating reliability to installations that require from 300,000 to 1 million BTUs/hr. capacities. The AERCO Modulex line continues the company’s tradition of developing fully modulating, condensing, high-efficiency solutions. With modulating capabilities from 6:1 to 23:1 (depending on the unit), the line offers performance advantages such as whisper-quiet operation of <50 dBa, as well as low...

UPPER LAKE, CALIF.—Standing outside the entrance of the 17-room Tallman Hotel and the adjacent Blue Wing Saloon & Café in Upper Lake, Calif., one would never guess that a state-of-the-art geothermal system heats and cools the historic property—or that a solar energy system supplements it with added power. The hotel maintains its 1890s look and the innovative technology is hidden underground and on the roof of the restaurant. Originally built in the late 19th century and then rebuilt again in 1895 after it had been destroyed by fire, the hotel sat empty and unused from 1962 to 2003. In the...

NATIONAL REPORT—To maintain the energy efficiency of PTACs and to extend their life, it is important to implement a preventive maintenance program. “The internal filter should be cleaned once a month and once a year the entire unit should be removed from the wall so that the coils can be cleaned,” says Mel Harris, PTAC business development manager for LG Electronics Inc., Englewood, N.J. “The compressor will have to work harder if the PTAC is dirty. A dirty unit will also use more energy.” Be sure to purchase a PTAC that can be easily cleaned. The filter should be easily...

NATIONAL REPORT—Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor (moisture) suspended in air. It is measured as Percent Relative Humidity (%RH) or the percentage of water vapor that can possibly be contained in air, at its present temperature. Air at 0%RH is completely dry and free of moisture; air at 100%RH contains all the moisture it can possibly hold at its present temperature and will be exhibited as condensation, fog or rain. The amount or volume of water vapor that can be contained in air varies with air temperature. Air at 50°F and 60%RH contains less moisture in suspension than...

RED DEER, ALBERTA—The 88-room Comfort Inn & Suites Red Deer in Alberta, Canada, would have a pretty hefty heating bill given its northern location. “Would” is the key word here. It does not have high energy costs thanks to a roof-based solar heating system. The system employs equipment normally used as a ground-source heat pump, designed to exploit the stable ambient temperature of the earth to provide seasonal heating and cooling. The Comfort Inn design, however, does not have an underground loop of liquid-filled tubing for geothermal exchange; the heat pump is connected to 60 roof-based solar collectors and a...

DALLAS—The L Series packaged rooftop units from Lennox Industries, built to improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) through the Humiditrol dehumidification system, have recently been enhanced by the addition of new field-installed Ultraviolet (UVC) Germicidal Lamps. By installing UVC Germicidal Lamps, customers will be able to minimize mold growth, improve airflow, maintain coil efficiency and minimize future expenses by saving on labor and chemical costs when cleaning coils. Customers can choose field-installed UVC Lamp Kits for the L Series three- to 30-ton rooftop units. Available voltages include: 230/3/60, 460/3/60 and 575/3/60. “The L Series packaged rooftop unit IAQ...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Hotel owners and operators just beginning to consider green practices should investigate the Habitat Suites Hotel, one of the lodging industry’s leading advocates of sustainable business practices. The 96-suite hotel has reduced its operating expenses by 18 percent as a result of it comprehensive environmental program. The property has come a long way since it first opened its doors in May 1985. The hotel was not designed or built with ecological considerations in mind. In 1991, it became a charter member of the Green Hotels Assn., making its commitment to sustainable management official. Fifteen years later, evidence...

NATIONAL REPORT—By now, everybody is aware of the soaring price of automobile gasoline and natural gas used in homes and hotels. Natural gas prices rise because more gas is drawn from surplus storage than is put in storage by suppliers; this is known more commonly as the supply and demand theory. On the east and west coasts of the United States, the cost of natural gas rose to about $1.70 per therm during peak use periods last winter. The heart of the country saw increases in the range of $1.40 per therm during peak demand periods. This represents...

BURBANK, CALIF.—A new Packaged Terminal Air Conditioning (PTAC) ultraviolet-C (UVC) Kit that provides energy savings, mold and IAQ control, and reduced maintenance is now available from Steril-Aire Inc. Each kit contains one UVC Emitter and power supply, plus all necessary hardware components to retrofit a PTAC coil or other room unit with UVC. Applications include hotel and motel rooms, apartments and condos, dormitories, patient rooms and classrooms. Designed for fast and easy snap-in installation, the space-saving kit uses a 24-inch Emitter tube that fits all types of PTAC coils. Installed opposite the coil, the high output UVC energy...