Energy Arbitrage: Moving the Financial Levers of HVAC Technologies
George Karidis, P.E., LEED AP®, SmithGroupJJR
Rob Thompson, P.E., SmithGroupJJR
This presentation will explore economic opportunities in a laboratory's energy cost climate with combined cycle, peak-shifting, central heat pump, and multi-tier heat recovery technologies. Used individually or in combination, these options can profoundly improve a laboratory's life cycle cost outlook.
Presenters will introduce the concept of energy arbitrage as it applies to a laboratory's particular energy cost environment—the consumption and time-based demand charges for electric, gas, and any district energy services, including "sell-back" modes. They will then illustrate the key influence of energy escalation rates and other financial assumptions on life cycle cost projection and system choice. Case studies will illustrate the strategic use of gas turbine-based "trigeneration," central heat pumps, "persistent" heat recovery, and large-scale thermal storage. A summary will provide key take-away points for exploration in any laboratory's local cost climate.
The following facilities and strategies will serve as case study material:
Engineering Center at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.
- Strategies: Trigeneration, central heat pumps, and multi-tiered heat recovery.
Energy Systems Integration Facility at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado.
- Strategies: Evaporative cooling, water-based space cooling, and campus-based heat recovery.
Research and Development Center at First Automotive Works in Changchun, China.
- Strategy: Large-scale thermal storage and a lucrative peak power shift.
Biographies:
With more than 30 years of experience with SmithGroupJJR, George Karidis is the senior mechanical engineer and corporate engineer for Science and Technology. His professional experience emphasizes high-technology facilities serving a broad range of corporate, university, and government clients. Mr. Karidis has led teams of engineers on projects ranging from 10,000 to 4,000,000 square feet and has applied innovative energy-saving solutions for numerous projects. His most recent work includes the Engineering Center for Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan; First Automotive Works Research and Development Center in Changchun, China; BAE Systems Prototyping and Test Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan; and the University of Michigan, Lurie Nanofabrication Facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mr. Karidis received his bachelor's degree in architectural engineering from Pennsylvania State University and his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Detroit-Mercy. His speaking engagements include the Labs21 Annual Conference.
With more than 14 years of experience with SmithGroupJJR, Robert Thompson is chief mechanical engineer for the Science & Technology studio in Phoenix. Mr. Thompson's work has focused on the unique environmental design specifics that inform and influence the energy and sustainable performance of buildings. His most recent work includes National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Energy Systems Integration Facility and Science & Technology Facility both in Golden, Colorado; Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, Hickam Air Force Base in Oahu, Hawaii; and the Denver Crime Lab in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Thompson received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Arizona and has published articles for the ASHRAE Journal and the local ASHRAE Chapter newsletter.