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Weekly Energy Newsbriefs

Articles for June 29, 2009


ENERGY NEWSBRIEFS is a weekly current awareness service provided by the Washington State University Extension Energy Program Library and written by Angela Santamaria, WSU Energy Library Manager, to assist users in tracking developments in the energy field. To view past issues or to subscribe to receive an email notification of the publication of a new issue, go to Energy Newsbriefs archives at http://www.energy.wsu.edu/library/newsbriefs.cfm.


Please be aware that although every URL is checked for accuracy prior to the publication of Energy Newsbriefs, URLs are, for various reasons, subject to change. Further, servers sometimes fail to connect to working URLs.


HVAC (HEATING, VENTILATION, and AIR CONDITIONING)

The following three articles appeared in the May 2009 issue of Engineered Systems:

  1. "Keys to Efficient Dehumidification" was authored by Jeff Ihnen P.E., LEED© AP; Energy Division Manager, Michaels Engineering. It is a primer on the subject. It begins with explanations of various terms including relative humidity, and dewpoint, drybulb and wetbulb temperatures. It then focuses on the appropriate controls for the given situation as well as some design considerations. View this article at http://www.esmagazine.com/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000581874.


  2. "Radiant Design: Reviewing Renewables & Beyond" was written by Peter D'Antonio P.E., CEM, LEED® AP; President, PCD Engineering Services. This author explains the energy sources options for radiant heating and which are more appropriate for different applications in commercial buildings. The article includes the sidebar, "Heat Source Considerations." View this article at http://www.esmagazine.com/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000581760.


  3. "Refrigerant Fadeout," by Caroline Fritz, managing editor, Engineered Systems, gives the background, the current situation, and future considerations for the various classes of refrigerants. This is a thorough, well-written article. It includes the sidebar, "New Rules." See this article at http://www.esmagazine.com/Articles/Cover_Story/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000581787.


MOTORS & PUMPS - MAINTENANCE

The following two articles on equipment maintenance appeared in the May 2009 issue of Maintenance Technology:

  1. "Cutting Costs with OEM [original equipment manufacturer] Parts," by staff, makes the case for avoiding cheaper, but less reliable, replacement parts for pumps in industrial plants. The example used to prove the point is a paper plant in Manitoba, Canada, where its pumps number in the hundreds. See this article at http://www.mt-online.com/component/content/article/44-may2009/801-process-improvements-cutting-costs-with-oem-parts.html?directory=90.


  2. "Gearbox Efficiency and Lubrication," by Mark Lee Johnson, Sumitomo Drive Technologies, suggests lubrication choices for gearboxes that will, in the end, increase gearbox reliability and efficiency. See this article at http://www.mt-online.com/component/content/article/44-may2009/745-gearbox-efficiency-and-lubrication.html?directory=90program.


ROOFING

Several important articles, by Richard B. Lubinsky and roofing expert Richard L. Fricklas, have appeared in Buildings. Citations to a series of three, "Roof System Performance" followed by citations to two other valuable roofing articles follow.

The series:

  1. "Roof-System Performance" appeared in the October 2008 issue. The authors explain that roof performance would be best served by choosing the requirements of a particular type of application and selecting the roofing system most able to meet the application needs. However, in the 1970's the most specified for low-slope commercial buildings was the hot multiple-ply built-up system. As a result, the performance standards developed by the National Bureau of Standards in the Building Science Series reflect standards for that type of roofing. See this article at http://www.buildings.com/articles/detail.aspx?contentID=6601.


  2. "Roof-System Performance II" was published in the November 2008 issue. The authors continue the discussion of performance including the development of criteria for modified bitumen roofing. This article is online at http://www.buildings.com/articles/detail.aspx?contentID=6734.


  3. "Roof-System Performance III" was published in the December 2008 issue. This article reports on the performance criteria for bituminous roofing that are applicable to single- as well as multiple-ply systems. See this article at http://www.buildings.com/articles/detail.aspx?contentID=6790.


Two additional articles authored by Richard L. Fricklas follow:

  1. "Prescriptions Don't Do it All, Either" is in the January 2009 issue. A roofing primer in use for decades seemed to have been successful, but was never formally tested to have its performance verified. It has been replaced by another product, which like the first has not been tested and, additionally, has no track record. View this article online at http://www.buildings.com/articles/detail.aspx?contentID=6874.


  2. "Coal-Tar Pitch Debate" is in the February 2009 issue. The author suggests that new low-slope roofing, already at R-20, is unlikely to improve in that area. He states that durability and roof recycling are where the largest environmental gains are still to be made. He takes on the question of roofing with coal-tar pitch vs. asphalt. See this article on the Buildings website at http://www.buildings.com/ArticleDetails/tabid/3321/ArticleID/8004/Default.aspx.

Past issues of Energy Newsbriefs are available at http://www.energy.wsu.edu/library/newsbriefs.cfm.

Generally, subscription information for the journals cited above can be found at the home page of their web sites.

© 2009 Washington State University Extension Energy Program. This publication contains material written and produced for public distribution. Permission to copy or disseminate all or part of this material is granted, provided that the copies are not made or distributed for commercial advantage, and that each is referenced by title with credit to the Washington State University Extension Energy Program. Copying, reprinting or dissemination, electronic or otherwise, for any other use requires prior written permission from the Washington State University Extension Energy Program.