General HVAC Recommendations

DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT HVAC SYSTEMS

Thank you for your interest in energy efficiency! Energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) equipment reduces operational costs and environmental impacts. Our recommended guidelines
for HVAC equipment, intended for use in both retrofit and new construction applications, are based on
those from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency’s (CEE) and International Energy Conservation Code
(IECC) 2015. CEE is a nonprofit public-benefits corporation that develops initiatives to promote the
manufacture and purchase of energy-efficient products and services. IECC 2015 is one of the most
progressive energy codes published to date.

Through your electric utility’s energy efficiency programs, CLEAResult helps building owners, architects
and engineers evaluate the benefits of energy efficiency. Building owners are encouraged to assess and
address their energy use through a variety of program-related services, including energy performance
benchmarking, energy master planning, technical assistance and even public relations support. This
document offers objective, third-party recommendations on best practices in the areas of energy usage
and energy efficiency. These services are provided free of charge through your electric utility and are not
intended to substitute for the services of paid professionals.

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General HVAC Recommendations January 2018

HVAC Equipment Efficiencies

HVAC equipment consumes 40-60 percent of a building’s energy use, according to the Department of
Energy, meaning that significant savings can be realized through implementing energy-efficient
measures. The following air conditioner and heat pump minimum recommendations from CEE are the
most efficient yet cost effective recommendations published by a third-party non-profit group to date.
Your bottom-line savings is important, so higher efficiency equipment should be evaluated on a life
cycle cost basis to see if the first cost is justified by the energy savings over the expected life of the
equipment.
Keep in mind that if you’re looking to upgrade, you should consider HVAC equipment that meets or
exceeds the minimum efficiencies outlined below. To compare efficiency upgrade costs, we
recommend soliciting add-alternate bids for the different efficiency options.

RECOMMENDED AIR CONDITIONER AND HEAT PUMP EFFICIENCIES

Equipment Type Size Category Full Load Efficiency Part Load/Seasonal
≤ 5.42 tons 12.5 EER 15.0 SEER
Air Conditioner > 5.42 tons and ≤ 11.25 tons 12.2 EER 14.0 IEER
(air cooled) > 11.25 tons and ≤ 20 tons 12.0 EER 13.2 IEER
> 20 tons 10.8 EER 12.3 IEER
≤ 5.42 tons 12.5 EER 15.0 SEER
Heat Pump > 5.42 tons and ≤ 11.25 tons 11.3 EER 12.1 IEER
(air cooled) > 11.25 tons and ≤ 20 tons 10.9 EER 11.7 IEER
> 20 tons 10.3 EER 10.7 IEER
Source: Consortium for Energy Efficiency Tier II Recommendations

“PATH A” AND “PATH B” CHILLERS

In large chiller plants, some chillers may be designed to operate primarily at part-load. These chillers
have high part-load efficiencies and follow compliance “Path B” in an energy code. Typical chillers are
designed for full load efficiency and follow code compliance “Path A”. Please note that a chiller must
satisfy minimum requirements for both full load efficiency and Integrated Part Load Efficiency (IPLV) for
either Path A or Path B in order to conform to a particular building code.

In the following tables, we recommend the chiller efficiencies championed by International Energy
Conservation Code (IECC) 2015, which is one of the most progressive energy codes published to date.
Please reference IECC 2015 for minimum efficiency recommendations for other types of HVAC
equipment.

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General HVAC Recommendations January 2018

RECOMMENDED MINIMUM AIR-COOLED CHILLER EFFICIENCIES

Path A Path B
Full Load Full Load
Equipment Type Size Category IPLV IPLV
Efficiency Efficiency
(EER) (EER)
(EER) (EER)
Air Cooled with < 150 tons 10.1 12.7 9.7 15.8
Condenser ≥ 150 tons 10.1 14.0 9.7 16.1
Source: International Energy Conservation Code 2015

RECOMMENDED MINIMUM WATER-COOLED CHILLER EFFICIENCIES

Path A Path B
Full Load Full Load
Equipment Type Size Category IPLV IPLV
Efficiency Efficiency
(kW/ton) (kW/ton)
(kW/ton) (kW/ton)
< 150 tons 0.610 0.550 0.695 0.440

≥ 150 tons and <

0.610 0.550 0.635 0.440
300 tons
Water Cooled, ≥ 300 tons and <
0.560 0.520 0.595 0.390
Centrifugal 400 tons
≥ 400 tons and <
0.560 0.500 0.585 0.380
600 tons
≥ 600 tons 0.560 0.500 0.585 0.380

< 75 tons 0.75 0.60 0.78 0.50

≥ 75 tons and
0.72 0.56 0.75 0.49
< 50 tons
Water Cooled, Non- ≥ 150 tons and <
0.66 0.54 0.68 0.44
Centrifugal 300 tons
≥ 300 tons and <
0.61 0.52 0.625 0.41
600 tons
≥ 600 tons 0.56 0.5 0.59 0.38
Source: International Energy Conservation Code 2015

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General HVAC Recommendations January 2018

Recommended System Features

The following system features are proven to enhance energy efficiency in most HVAC systems. We
recommend that these features be incorporated into the mechanical system design. Please note that
while chillers and air-cooled air conditioners and heat pumps qualify for simple deemed savings in most
energy efficiency program jurisdictions, many of the following features only qualify for incentives in a
retrofit scenario where measurement and verification has been performed to quantify energy savings.

PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS/SETBACK CONTROLS

Setback controls adjust space setpoint temperature and reduce or eliminate ventilation during
unoccupied periods. Controls should consist of optimum start controls that will allow for conditioning to
begin prior to scheduled occupancy time, such that the setpoint temperature will be met at the time of
occupancy.

DEMAND CONTROL VENTILATION

Demand control ventilation (DCV) allows for accurate building ventilation through feedback from carbon
dioxide (CO2) sensors. Outside air is expensive to condition, especially in hot, humid climates. DCV
offers a potential to save significant energy in areas where occupancy is highly variable or irregular such
as meeting rooms, studios, theaters, and educational facilities. CO2 controls should allow for both a
reduction of outside air flow when occupancy is low and an increase in outside air flow beyond minimum
set points when occupancy is high.

ECONOMIZER CONTROLS
All units supplying fresh outdoor air should be equipped with enthalpy-based economizing for “free”
cooling. Such controls monitor both indoor and outdoor air temperature and humidity, and switch the
system into “economizer” mode when two conditions are met: 1) outdoor air enthalpy falls below indoor
air enthalpy and 2) the zone is in cooling mode. In economizer mode, the system draws sufficient outdoor
air to offset the cooling load.

ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEMS

Energy recovery systems transfer heat between conditioned air exiting the building and incoming outdoor
air. Energy recovery systems include heat pipes, air-to-air heat exchangers, and heat wheels. Heat
wheels are sometimes treated with desiccants, which transfer humidity and are especially useful in hot,
humid climates when attempting to condition latent air. Depending on climate, Energy Recovery
Ventilators (ERV) are recommended in ventilation systems with a high percentage of outside air. ERV
should only be considered on ventilation systems with more than 70 percent of their designed supply air
consisting of outside air.

UNDERFLOOR VENTILATION
Ventilation systems that deliver conditioned air from overhead require much mixing of air within a space
before occupants can reap the comfort benefits. Underfloor ventilation can save energy by delivering
conditioned air where it is needed. Consider employing underfloor ventilation in large rooms and spaces
with high ceilings.

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General HVAC Recommendations January 2018

VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES

Variable frequency drives (VFDs or VSDs) modulate the speed of motor rotation. Install VFDs on any
motor larger than 1 horsepower in the following situations:
 Supply fans in variable-air-volume air handling units.
 Pumps that operate under variable load in the primary loop of a chiller system.
 Cooling tower fans—control VFDs on cooling tower fans such that all coupled cooling towers ramp
up and down as one large cooling tower.

PART-LOAD CHILLERS
In very large chiller plants, some chillers may be designed to operate primarily at part-load in order to
increase the efficiency of the entire chiller plant at less-than-peak times. Such high-efficiency part-load
chillers may decrease the overall annual energy use of the building. Such chillers often utilize multiple
stage compressors, variable frequency drives, and/or magnetic frictionless bearings to attain superior
part-load efficiency.

DUCTLESS MINI-SPLIT
“Mini-Splits” consist of small condensers and ductless fan coil units. These are particularly popular in
small areas with unusual or constant loads that do not need fresh outdoor “make-up” air. Many data
server closets and large electrical rooms in new buildings are equipped with these low-tonnage systems.

Unusual System Types

WATER-SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
Water is generally a more efficient heat sink than air. Because of this property, HVAC condensers may
be water-cooled instead of air-cooled. Water-cooled air conditioners and heat pumps use a building
water-loop. This loop has its own set of pumps. In a typical water-source heat pump system, the water
loop goes through a cooling tower. In a geothermal heat pump system, the water loop goes through
ground wells or submerged heat exchangers to reject system heat. Because of the thermal properties of
water, these systems can be highly efficient. These systems require a custom measurement and
verification approach to energy savings within most energy efficiency incentive programs.

VARIABLE REFRIGERANT SYSTEMS (VRF, VRV, MULTISPLIT)

HVAC systems with variable-flow refrigerant compressors are relatively new to the US market compared
to other technologies, but have been gaining popularity domestically and abroad. These systems may be
called “Multi-Splits”, Variable Refrigerant Volume, or Variable Refrigerant Flow systems, and are a close
cousin to the ductless “Mini-Splits” mentioned in the previous section. Unlike a typical air conditioner or
heat pump system, one condenser connects by refrigerant lines to multiple indoor fan coil units. These
systems are capable of providing simultaneous heating and cooling to different zones within a building.
Keep in mind that Variable Refrigerant systems typically need supplemental conventional HVAC units to
provide fresh “make-up” air. These systems require a custom measurement and verification approach to
energy savings within most energy efficiency incentive programs.

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General HVAC Recommendations January 2018

Example HVAC Specifications

NEW CONSTRUCTION AND RETROFITS

A. The HVAC system shall be commissioned after construction has completed. The commissioning agent
shall ensure all equipment is operating as designed in a properly functioning system.
B. All cooling equipment shall meet any applicable building and energy codes and shall comply with the
efficiencies recommended in this document.
C. Retrofit designs shall be based on new load calculations for the entire facility as it currently functions.

CONTROLS
A. HVAC controls will incorporate setback temperatures during unoccupied periods. The controls must
determine occupancy through either occupancy sensors or time clocks.
a. Occupied Mode: the cooling setpoint shall be 74⁰F (adjustable), and the heating setpoint shall
be 68⁰F (adjustable).
b. Unoccupied Mode: the cooling setpoint shall be 79⁰F (adjustable), and the heating setpoint
shall be 63⁰F (adjustable).
B. When the outside air temperature drops below 74⁰F (adjustable) and the HVAC system is in cooling
mode, the HVAC system shall go into economizer mode—the outside air dampers will open 100%,
and the cooling coils will be set to off.
C. Large rooms with highly varying occupancy shall employ demand control ventilation (DCV) system to
monitor CO2 concentration within the space and outside.
a. CO2 setpoint shall be 500parts per million (PPM, adjustable) higher than outdoor CO2 levels.
b. CO2 levels shall not be allowed to exceed 1,000 PPM.

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