SPX Technologies plans to “significantly expand” its electric heating business by purchasing ASPEQ Heating Group for $418 million.

The Charlotte-based company has entered into an agreement to purchase ASPEQ with Industrial Growth Partners, a San Francisco-based private equity firm, SPX said in a press release Monday.

This is SPX Technologies' 13th and largest acquisition since 2018, said Gene Lowe, CEO of SPX Technologies, in a statement.

ASPEQ, based in St. Louis, offers industrial and commercial brands such as INDEECO, Heatrex and AccuTherm. ASPEQ's annual revenue is about $120 million, according to SPX.

Subject to regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter, in early July.

About SPX Technologies

SPX Technologies, a provider of products and technologies in the areas of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, detection and measurement technology, employs more than 3,300 people in 15 countries.

Last month, SPX Technologies acquired Canada-based TAMCO for $125 million to expand its HVAC operations. TAMCO makes motorized and non-motorized dampers that control airflow in thermal applications such as data centers and healthcare facilities, according to SPX.

Last August, SPX Technologies was created from the corporate restructuring of the SPX Corp. group of companies.

In 2020, SPX moved its headquarters to 6325 Ardrey Kell Road in South Charlotte.

Charlotte-based manufacturer to be sold for nearly $4 billion. What this means for local operations

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San Francisco industrial design team Mike&Maaike is teaming up with a heating and cooling technology startup to revolutionize HVAC systems with a product called “Quilt.”

Quilt is a unique HVAC system that focuses on functionality and simplicity, with a refreshing design that promises to change the conventional perception of HVAC systems around the world.

By striking a balance between technology, efficiency and aesthetics, the partnership aims to redefine the norms within the industry.

One of Quilt's key features is its use of energy-saving ductless heat pump technology. Popular in European and Asian markets, this technology signals a global shift towards more environmentally friendly choices within the industry.

The Quilt differs from conventional mini-split units in that it offers the possibility of individual design that adapts to different home aesthetics.

Introducing Quilt: Aesthetic, Efficient HVAC System

Available with a white oak veneer front panel or in pristine white, Quilt is designed to suit a wide range of visual preferences.

In addition to its visual appeal, other features of the quilt include ribbed details, low noise levels and a compact size, making it ideal for small spaces.

The device features a smart Quilt Dial thermostat that can be wall mounted or used freestanding. The Quilt Dial allows remote control via a dedicated app and offers scheduling, energy saving modes and energy monitoring features.

Finally, Quilt features an outdoor condensing unit with a sleek matte black finish that operates at a moderate noise level. Quilt earned the title of Energy Star Most Efficient System and its impressive energy efficiency ratings are evidenced by its SEER2:25 rating and heating efficiency factor of 2 out of 11.

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San Francisco-based startup Quilt is making waves in the HVAC industry with aesthetically pleasing and energy-efficient designs. These designs are the brainchild of industrial designers Mike&Maaike, who have previously been associated with tech giants such as Google, Coalesse and Steelcase.

Quilt doesn't just offer attractive HVAC systems. The company redefines energy efficiency and significantly reduces the carbon footprint and operating costs. By combining style and sustainability, Quilt sets a new standard in the HVAC industry.

Quilt's rapid success suggests it may have a lasting impact on the HVAC market, paving the way for living spaces equipped with stylized HVAC systems that blend seamlessly into our interior design while ensuring our comfort.

Quilt's alliance with renowned industrial designers, a strategic location and a strong focus on design and efficiency reflect the increasing expectations for future HVAC systems.

The unique Quilt HVAC system offers a wide variable BTU range and uses ductless heat pump technology for better efficiency. Despite its high performance, it operates quietly and offers zone control for temperature adjustment, providing ultimate comfort. In addition, it has a modern design that fits well with trendy interiors and features a comprehensive remote control for greater convenience. In particular, its energy-saving features reduce both carbon emissions and electricity bills, making it a cost-effective solution.

The Quilt system is characterized by its customizable exterior, stylish details and integration with smart home devices.

Quilt's aesthetic and efficient HVAC approach

Moreover, its quality, intuitive interface and diverse range make it a popular choice among homeowners. The affordable homeware store offers it as an ideal combination of design and technology.

The Quilt system impresses with its quiet operation and compact dimensions, making it perfect for small spaces. It features an efficient exhaust fan, zone heating for targeted heat distribution and a digital thermostat for precise temperature control. Its sleek design also fits seamlessly with the room's decor.

The Quilt Dial is another innovative feature of the Quilt system. This smart thermostat gives users control over settings, scheduling, energy savings, and efficiency monitoring through an app – redefining the way people manage their home environment.

The Quilt system's outdoor unit features a stylish matte black design and operates quietly. It also boasts remarkable energy efficiency, self-cleaning and automatic scheduling, among other features. The system ensures fresh indoor air quality and supports integration into smart home systems. Combined with a comprehensive warranty and exceptional customer service, the Quilt system is a valuable investment.

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A new device called Quilt, developed by a San Francisco design team and tech startup, is changing the way heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are integrated into interior design. This innovative product stands out because it combines functionality with aesthetics, helping homeowners improve energy efficiency while maintaining a comfortable home atmosphere. It comes in handy with the new Inflation Reduction Act that was just passed.

The Quilt integrates seamlessly with smart home technologies for a unified, user-friendly experience. It cleverly hides its technical prowess behind a sleek design, making it an essential addition to any home not only for its heating and cooling functions, but also for its aesthetic appeal.

The Quilt's cooling and heating capacities range from 2,000 – 19,700 and 2,500 – 20,500 BTU/h, respectively. The unobtrusive design, reminiscent of elegant built-in cabinets, allows for a graceful transition to an energy-efficient, ductless heat pump system. With the Quilt, users can enjoy maximum comfort, energy efficiency and style in one package.

Quilt meets individual climate needs as it has a wide BTU range, providing flexibility depending on the season or geographic location. This eco-friendly product optimizes indoor comfort while reducing the carbon footprint.

Although the quilt has a compact design at 38 inches wide and 7-7/8 inches high, its performance is impressive and installation is straightforward.

Integrating stylish HVAC systems with smart home technology

Its robust construction, sleek black finish and advanced technology make it the ideal choice for both home and commercial use.

A special feature of the Quilt is its Dial, a smart thermostat with an OLED touchscreen that allows users to control the room temperature. The Dial is customizable and has sensors that detect brightness and temperature to optimize energy consumption. It can be controlled remotely via a mobile app.

Like the Nest Thermostat, the Quilt Dial offers on/off control, scheduling, and efficiency monitoring. This smart thermostat can also learn user routines for optimal comfort and energy-saving adjustments. Its ability to sync with weather forecasts to anticipate changes in indoor temperature underscores its commitment to comfort and energy efficiency.

Quilt's exterior component, the heat pump condensing unit, is just as visually appealing as its interior counterpart with its matte black design. Not only is it quiet at 55 decibels, but it has also received recognition for its efficiency with the Energy Star Most Efficient seal, a SEER2:25 rating, and a Tier 2 rating from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency. The Quilt proves its commitment to quality and optimized energy efficiency, making it a great addition to any home or business.

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Autonomous building technology startup BrainBox AI today announced the closing of a CA$12 million (about $8.59 million) convertible note round, which it plans to use to expand in North America (particularly its home market of Canada) and international markets such as the UK, Ireland and Australia. The cash infusion comes as businesses not impacted by lockdowns seek to stave off the economic impact of the pandemic. BrainBox's AI platform enables autonomous operation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in buildings, reportedly reducing overall energy costs by up to 25% and increasing employee comfort by 60%.

BrainBox, founded in 2017 by CEO Sean Neely and CTO Jean-Simon Venne, uses a combination of machine learning and cloud computing to optimize commercial HVAC control systems. The company first installs its system-agnostic, sensor-free solution to identify and catalog a building's operating behavior and energy flow by collecting data from internal and external sources, including hundreds of thousands of real-time data points such as temperature, sun/cloud position, fan speed, duct pressure, heater status, humidity, and occupant density. After six to eight weeks of data collection, BrainBox's AI engine can identify patterns to isolate each zone's habits and tendencies, as well as aggregate equations for each zone to create an overall profile.

After creating this profile, BrainBox's engine makes informed predictions about future power usage and sends feedback to the HVAC controller every five minutes to make adjustments. Neely claims that most customers see a 20-40% reduction in carbon footprint within the first few months of deployment.

AI for HVAC optimization isn't exactly new. Augury, a startup that develops sensors that plug into machines and record data that is then analyzed in the cloud, works with service companies to diagnose and optimize systems like industrial HVAC systems. GE Digital's Predix and startup Petasense offer similar Wi-Fi-enabled, cloud- and AI-driven monitoring sensors. Carbon Relay offers a product that uses sensor data to make predictions about data center cooling usage. And Google recently launched a feature on Nest-brand thermostats designed to detect HVAC problems.

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However, BrainBox says it is working with a number of notable partners and institutions to refine its platform, including the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Institute for Data Valorization, Montreal's École de Technologie Supérieure and McGill University. In the short term, the company hopes to develop an algorithm that maps all of a building's HVAC control points while meeting government and industry standards.

Another plus point for BrainBox is its market momentum. In the 11 months since the company launched in May 2019, its platform has been installed on over 4.5 million square meters of commercial space in 15 cities on three continents. Locations include airports, hotels, residential buildings, nursing homes and grocery stores. Installations are active in over 40 buildings, some of which are over one million square meters in size.

“The autonomous nature of our technology makes it truly scalable, and because we reduce energy consumption in buildings by over 20%, we are positioned to have a really positive impact on greenhouse gas emissions from the real estate sector, one of the largest emitters globally,” Sam Ramadori, BrainBox's chief business development officer, told VentureBeat via email. “It's very exciting for the entire BrainBox AI team to be building a global company that can make a real difference on climate change.”

Montreal-based BrainBox currently employs 50 people and expects to hire over 100 people by year-end. This latest round of funding, led by Esplanade Ventures with participation from Desjardins Capital, brings the company a total of over 19 million Canadian dollars (approximately $13.6 million).

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* If the drained (blow-off) water is reused instead of coming from the water supply, an additional 420,000 gallons of water could be saved by using pulse technology.

Water treatment with momentum and EPA/USGBC goals
Pulsed power physical water treatment has transformed the way evaporative cooling systems are treated. Pulsed power uses pulsed electric fields (a technology developed by the food industry for pasteurization) to control scale, biological growth and corrosion. This completely chemical-free approach to water treatment eliminates all of the environmental and health and safety issues associated with water treatment chemicals. With pulsed systems, there are no pumps to break and no chemical tanks to run dry. Additionally, they are more forgiving of operational disruptions and generally allow cooling towers to operate at higher concentration cycles (hence less blowdown and less water usage) than with traditional chemical treatment. Independent studies show that not only is the method effective for cooling towers, but the performance of pulsed systems is superior to traditional chemical treatment in terms of biological control and water usage. By eliminating the problems associated with chemical water treatment, water-cooled condensers' benefits make them an environmentally friendly, energy efficient and economical choice that is consistent with the goals of the EPA and USGBC initiatives.

Electronics are used to reduce the formation of limescale in piping systems caused by calcium or magnesium carbonate in the water. Electronic systems create a pulsed, time-dependent, induced electric field in a PVC pipe built directly into the cooling tower's recirculating water system. The electrical signal changes the way minerals precipitate in the water, completely avoiding hard limescale deposits by instead creating a non-stick mineral powder in the water. This powder is easily filterable and is mostly removed during normal blowdown, or it settles loosely in the cooling tower basin so it can be easily removed annually. Bacteria become incorporated into this mineral powder and therefore leave the system by blowdown, filtration, or settling. The encapsulated bacteria (some of which have had their membrane walls injured by electroporation, resulting in cell lysis) are unable to reproduce, resulting in an extremely low bacterial population. Water softening is not required (nor recommended) with this type of system treatment, and high concentration cycles are usually possible, resulting in significant water savings. This technology is based on the ability to eliminate biofilm (a slime layer with more than four times the insulating power of mineral deposits) using pulse power, and allows for energy savings of at least 5 percent compared to traditional chemical treatment processes.

Water-based cooling systems are typically treated with chemicals to prevent scale buildup, control biological activity, and prevent corrosion. In chemical water treatment, the chemicals or their toxic byproducts enter the environment through leaks, water runoff (blown-off), air emissions, spills, overspray, and drift. These chemical emissions are harmful to the environment. Chlorine or another biocide is often used in a cooling tower to control biological activity and reduce pathogens. Most of the chlorine supplied to the system is quickly released into the atmosphere as chlorine gas. Corrosion inhibitors such as zinc, silicates, molybdenates, and phosphates are released in drift from the tower and in overspray, and settle to the bottom with the blowdown and pass through the sewer system. Water softeners are often used to prevent scale buildup, and quantities of brine are discharged as part of the water softening process.

In a LEED-certified project with a relatively small cooling system (400 tons or 1,200 gpm, operating 12 hours per day, 5 days per week – 3,120 hours per year), it was demonstrated that the use of pulsed-rate water treatment avoided the discharge of 1,145,644 gallons of chemically contaminated water (20 ppm phosphates, 2 ppm zinc, and 1 ppm chlorine and disinfection byproducts) as blowdown and drift, 4 to 5 gallons of isothiazoline, and 749.1 gallons of industrial-strength chlorine bleach. Much larger cooling systems have been quantified in the same way in other LEED projects, with results understandably orders of magnitude higher.

With respect to the above project, when coupled with typical cooling tower characteristics as provided by the Cooling Technology Institute (CTI) in Houston, it can be calculated that 739.6 pounds or gallons of chlorine evaporate annually from this tower. Considering the hours of operation and the typical airflow from this tower, the chlorine concentration in the exiting air is 0.51 ppm. The level of chlorine release is significant: the OSHA short-term (15-minute) exposure limit is 1 ppm (3,000 µg/m3) and the OSHA TWA PEL (8-hour average) is 0.5 ppm (1,500 µg/m3).

As previously mentioned, this building's cooling tower system uses a 400 ton cooling tower system with an estimated circulation rate of 1,200 gpm. Using CTI's rules of thumb, it can be calculated that this system will evaporate 1,123,200 gallons of water annually, expel 22,464 gallons of water as drift, and blow down 1,123,200 gallons of water annually when chemically treated (at 2 concentration cycles) or 561,600 gallons of water when treated with pulsed power (at 3 concentration cycles). This gives a total annual water use of 2,268,864 gallons (at chemical treatment) or 1,707,264 gallons (at pulsed power). This analysis shows that using pulsed water treatment saves 561,100 gallons of water annually (that's how much less water is blown off), or approximately 50 percent of the total water blown off in chemical treatment (or 25 percent of the total water used in chemical treatment, minus the amount of water created by drift). While concentration cycles vary from project to project due to various factors (system size, loading, mineral content of the water, etc.), the water savings from pulsed technology over chemical treatment are typically 15 to 45 percent before taking into account the environmentally friendly and recyclable characteristics of the blowdown water discharged from a pulsed system, which can save significantly more water when reused.

In this project, the use of pulsed water treatment provides environmental benefits and water savings compared to traditional chemical water treatment. The amounts of chemicals that would be released annually during cooling tower operation using chemical treatment are:

1. 739.6 pounds of chlorine gas.
2. 4 to 5 gallons of isothiazoline by drift and blowdown.
3. 1,145,644 gallons of contaminated blowdown and drift water containing 20 ppm phosphate, 2 ppm zinc, and 1 ppm chlorine (including disinfection byproducts).

The reduction in total water use calculates to an annual water savings of approximately 25 percent (or 561,600 gallons) compared to a typical open system with conventional chemical treatment. An additional 561,600 gallons of water discharged (blow-off) annually using pulse flow technology is environmentally friendly and has been recycled or reused at various sites (toilet flushing, lawn watering, etc.), saving even more gallons that do not need to be used via the water source (make-up water). The total annual “holistic level” water savings for this project could be 50 percent or 1,123,200 gallons.

Using the previously mentioned standard (2 gallons of water are used to generate one KWH), the annual energy consumption for this project using pulsed current technology is 280,800 KWH less than chemical treatment (not including the energy savings from biofilm removal). Using pulsed current technology, energy consumption could be further reduced by reusing blowdown water instead of using new makeup water.

Make a decision
The significant environmental benefits of pulse power technology, along with the significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from using water-cooled systems, contribute significantly to achieving EPA and USGBC goals. If you must choose between air-cooled or water-cooled HVAC systems, carefully weigh your options and think about the pros and cons of each system type.

Jerry Ackerman, former Marketing Director of Clearwater Systems (now part of EVAPCO), is an independent marketing consultant and freelance writer for various construction companies. You can reach him at [email protected].

This article was first written in 2008 and is still relevant in 2018.

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NEW YORK — ABM announced that ABM Building & Energy Solutions, a business unit of ABM Facility Solutions Group, has acquired Airco Commercial Services Inc., a Northern California provider of HVAC services, energy solutions and building controls for commercial and industrial buildings. Airco Commercial Services is headquartered in Sacramento, California, with offices in Benicia, San Francisco and San Jose. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“The acquisition of Airco Commercial Services enables ABM to offer a comprehensive portfolio of HVAC, mechanical and energy efficiency solutions throughout Northern California,” said Scott Giacobbe, President of ABM Building & Energy Solutions. “With recent Title 24 changes, PACE financing options and a variety of state and energy efficiency incentives, we can now offer Northern California customers cost-effective energy efficiency solutions that reduce operating costs and improve indoor comfort.”

Shortly after opening in 1987, Airco Commercial Services became a Linc Service® franchisee to accelerate growth and market penetration. The Linc Service franchise is owned by ABM and is one of the largest commercial HVAC franchisors in North America. With 27 years of collaboration, seamless integration is expected as the companies share common standard operating procedures and management principles.

“We are very excited to introduce these best-in-class HVAC and energy efficiency services to our existing electrical, building services, janitorial, landscaping, security and parking customers throughout Northern California,” said Tracy Price, ABM's executive vice president and president of the ABM Facility Solutions Group. “Our strategy to offer our full portfolio of services in all major metropolitan areas in California is now complete. Many customers are looking for a single provider for all their building services. This is a real competitive advantage for ABM.”

“We wanted to continue the proud legacy that Airco Commercial Services established as a long-standing member of ABM's Linc Service Network for our employees and customers. My family and I wanted to ensure a smooth transition for our employees and uninterrupted delivery of best-in-class solutions to our customers, so ABM was the obvious choice,” said Charles Jones, outgoing President of Airco Commercial Services. “My personal passion is service and I am proud of what our employees have built over the last 25+ years. I am fully confident that they will continue to be successful with ABM.”

For more information, visit www.abm.com.

Release date: 18.08.2014

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SAN FRANCISCO, 22 July 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Gradient, a company founded by thermal scientists to reimagine HVAC and create products that are good for the planet and great for cooling and heating homes, announces the development of its first product, a replacement for the window air conditioner. Gradient will replace the traditional window air conditioner with a more efficient, space-saving, and better-designed solution that keeps homes cool using advanced heat pump technology and a climate-friendly refrigerant. Customers can now sign up for the exclusive beta program at Gradientcomfort.com.

Air conditioning is essential to quality of life and work productivity, yet the basic design of window air conditioners hasn't changed in 50 years. All too often, the very same air conditioning systems that make life bearable in hot weather are also contributing to climate change; heating and cooling systems are responsible for 20% of global CO2 emissions.

“Gradient is on a mission to cool the world by redesigning every home to be more comfortable and healthier for the people who live there – without compromising the environment. We believe we can build a better home air conditioning solution while fighting climate change,” said Vince RomaniCEO of Gradient. “Air conditioning is one of the most important amenities to keep people comfortable and productive in a warming world, but too many people struggle with outdated window air conditioners that are clunky, noisy, heavy and inefficient. Gradient offers beautiful, intuitive design, a more efficient, sleek, quieter air conditioning experience and climate-friendly refrigerants. Building better air conditioning is one of the most effective ways to help people stay comfortable at home while reducing carbon emissions from HVAC systems.”

The Gradient is easy to install and doesn't block the view like a traditional window air conditioner. It offers the benefits of a professional heat pump system at a fraction of the cost. It can cool and heat all year round and is easy to operate via a mobile app.

Founded in 2017, Gradient has raised over $13 million in venture capital. Investors include Ajax Strategies, At One Ventures, Prime Coalition, Incite Ventures, Autodesk Foundation, Urban WeMagic Hour and leading Silicon Valley angels. The company has also received over $9 million in government grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, and the California Strategic Growth Council.

“Residential air conditioning is an underestimated aspect of the general climate change discussion, and we see a great opportunity for Gradient to shake up the residential air conditioning and ventilation space by developing a significantly improved, climate-friendly replacement for the traditional window air conditioner,” said Milo WernerPartner of Ajax Strategies. “Millions of Americans need air conditioning, but their options are limited to outdated window and floor units that block their view, make a lot of noise, and contribute to climate change. Current technology hasn't improved in decades. With more people working from home, there is a higher level of consumer interest in a quality home air conditioner that really works. Gradient has a great product and an outstanding team that is thinking creatively about meeting the needs of this market with a beautiful, intuitive, consumer-focused solution.”

Gradient emerged from Otherlab, a private research and development laboratory in San Francisco which has leveraged over $40 million in government grants to create hardtech companies in manufacturing, energy, and robotics. Founded by thermal scientists and engineers and backed by talent from giants like Tesla and Nest, the Gradient team is uniquely qualified to solve this problem.

The Gradient solution will be available for sale nationwide in spring 2022. In the meantime, you can learn more and sign up for Gradient's exclusive beta program at GradientComfort.com.

About Gradient

Gradient is rethinking HVAC. We build products that are good for the planet and keep your home comfortable, starting with a replacement for the window air conditioner. Gradient was founded by thermal scientists and engineers and backed by talent from giants like Tesla and Nest, all behind the mission to cool the world. Gradient aims to reduce carbon emissions from heating and cooling systems, which account for 20% of global emissions. With the support of Otherlab, Gradient has over $9 million in non-dilutive grants and $13 million in venture capital. For more information visit GradientComfort.com

Media contact for Gradient:

Rebecca SillimanWhipsmart PR
(510) 254-7615
315022@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Gradient

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Part 1 of a two-part article on the high performance characteristics of 350 Mission in San Francisco.

A very high level of sustainable design characterizes 350 Mission, a 30-story office tower on Mission Street in San Francisco. The building is LEED v2.2 certified LEED Platinum and also meets the 2011 California Green Building Code (CALGreen) and the San Francisco Green Building Code. To achieve this goal, the owner, Kilroy Realty Corp., and the design team explored a wide range of innovative, high-performance MEP solutions.

The mechanical and lighting systems incorporate numerous energy saving measures. As with all mechanical structures, the primary design criteria were occupant comfort, space, resource efficiency and cost. All occupied spaces must meet the thermal comfort criteria of ASHRAE Standard 55, which sets guidelines for temperature and air velocity under various installation conditions and recognizes the benefits of occupant control over their local thermal environment.

The high-performance HVAC solution is an underfloor air distribution (UFAD) strategy. The main reasons for this decision were lower operating energy consumption, improved indoor air quality (IAQ), individual comfort and controllability of the occupants, longer operating times of the air saver and flexibility in space use. The UFAD system, in conjunction with a high-efficiency chiller and an air saver, offers an excellent HVAC solution. In addition to air distribution, the UFAD plenum also provides power, voice and data distribution.

While other high-performance HVAC alternatives were considered, project leaders pointed to UFAD. Some system alternatives enabled even greater energy savings, such as chilled beams with a dedicated outside air system (DOAS). Another option investigated was an optimized overhead VAV system.

Ultimately, the comparative studies showed that the UFAD system achieved all project objectives, including the owner's vision for flexible office space, improved IAQ and energy savings. The system also achieved the required cooling capacity to offset the thermal loads on the building envelope.

The building's direct digital control (DDC) building management system is fully interoperable and controls both the base building's core and shell systems and tenant systems, including the underfloor fan boxes, chilled water temperature sensors, lighting system, carbon dioxide occupancy sensors and demand-controlled ventilation.

The HVAC system maximizes energy efficiency by delivering conditioned air directly to occupants at floor level, where it is then stratified and ducted above the occupancy zone (via a ceiling void or open ceiling) back to units on each floor.

With a floor distribution, the supply air can be warmer (60 to 62°F) than with a ceiling distribution (55°F) because only the area where people are present needs to be cooled, not the entire room up to the ceiling. The air temperature can increase closer to the ceiling as it leaves the occupied room. The reduced need to cool the supply air results in less energy demand from the chiller, which does not need to produce cooler chilled water.

In addition, UFAD is a low-pressure system. Since the air is not forced through a network of ducts and dampers, the system can achieve significant fan energy savings. The interior zone of each room is a large open air space. UFAD requires only peripheral fan-driven boxes in the external areas.

In terms of IAQ, the floor-mounted air supply and ceiling-mounted return take advantage of the natural tendency of air to rise when heated, pulling it through the occupants' breathing zone. This is the most effective ventilation distribution strategy according to ASHRAE Standard 62.1. Manually adjustable floor diffusers are also provided, allowing occupants to adjust the air volume and optimize their individual thermal comfort.

Other key energy saving measures include energy-saving LED lighting, daylight control, light occupancy sensors and a high-efficiency water heater. In addition to being used in the cooling tower, reclaimed rainwater is also used to flush toilets.

Photo Caption: 350 Mission is a LEED Platinum-certified, 30-story office tower on Mission Street in San Francisco, directly across from the new Transbay Transit Center in the rapidly developing South of Market district. • Completed in 2015, the $250 million project sits on a scant 19,000-square-foot site. The 420,000-square-foot building is a Type 1 concrete structure with a total height of approximately 420 feet. • The tower is clad in a high-performance, unitized curtain wall with alternating inward and outward leaning panels, giving the facade a “woven” appearance as light reflects off the surface. • The tower features a 50-foot-tall lobby that also functions as a free-flowing, open public space. The space utilizes a unique folding glass wall system that opens the lobby to the street while maintaining the interior climate with an energy-efficient radiant floor heating and cooling system. A real-time digital video screen displays art. • All of the building's prime office space has been pre-leased to Salesforce, a global cloud computing company.

Photo credit: © Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP | AJSNY, 2016. All rights reserved.

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