Green Building through HVAC

There are quite a few general terms thrown around in the green building world, so let’s begin by helping define those. In this series on green buildings, we’ll help you understand the deeper stories behind each of these concepts, the different HVAC technologies at play, and the innovative products Daikin is producing to help the world reach higher energy efficiency goals.

Net Zero

If net zero is the goal: what does that mean? According to the US’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, net zero is reached when a “building produces enough renewable energy to meet its own annual energy consumption requirements.” The key in designing zero energy buildings is to maximize energy efficiency to help offset energy consumption while also finding sources of green energy production in your building’s design. From an energy production standpoint, this could include a solar  panel installation on the rooftop while inside the building occupants eliminate waste through disciplined composting and recycling programs.

LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, is a points-based system, rewarding buildings points across several different areas of sustainability. Based on the number of points the building receives, it can then receive a LEED rating level of Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. LEED has become a logical basis for most green building design: it rewards energy efficiency and sustainability at every step of the design process.

Daikin Applied’s use of embedded technology to improve the efficiency of its products across the portfolio has helped many of our customers achieve LEED certifications on their buildings from casinos to healthcare facilities.  With Daikin’s energy software and payback calculators, our engineers are at the ready with the latest technologies for building optimization. The latest software release, EnergyAnalyzer 3, is an excellent tool for providing early energy modeling, identifying potential HVAC savings needed for LEED certification.

EPD

The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a UL declaration designed to act as a universal signifier of a manufacturer’s and product’s commitment to sustainability and transparency. According to UL, EPDs are established based on a core set of rules per each product category. These rules are verified independently against verified life cycle assessment data that allows comparison across products in that category.

For example, Daikin’s Magnitude® magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller proudly displays the EPD declaration, meaning it is not only in compliance with ISO 14025 guidelines, but it also has met and surpassed environmental impact guidelines in the chiller product category.

Energy Star®

Launched in 1992 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Energy Star® is one of the most widely consumer-recognized sustainability programs in the U.S. With $362 billion saved in utility bills since its launch and 2.5 billion tons of greenhouse gases reduced, it’s no surprise that 85% of the public recognize the symbol as one of energy efficiency in standard household appliances and beyond. Energy Star remains a valuable tool for energy efficiency data and is easily integrated with Daikin’s Intelligent Equipment® controls interface.

ASHRAE 90.1-2016

ASHRAE takes us beyond overarching environmental and sustainability programs, asserting the HVAC industry’s commitment to efficiency standards. We’d be remiss to not acknowledge our industry standards on energy efficient design, continuing to push the industry forward and reaffirm our commitments to newer and more efficient technologies in HVAC, all of which meet or exceed ASHRAE’s 90.1-2016 standards. With 92% of industry professionals basing their purchasing decisions on this industry standard, Daikin is at the ready to compete and win.

We are just scratching the surface in illuminating the breadth of energy efficiency programs. We’re eager to continue this sustainability journey with you and our team and will continue to share insights in future posts. Soon, you’ll hear more about the exciting ways Daikin’s embedded technology has helped earn points to LEED certification, working to achieve net zero for more and more commercial buildings in the coming