Abstract: An exemplary system is for a facility including a first heating/cooling zone and a water delivery system configured to deliver domestic water to a point of water use. The system generally includes a facility loop having a facility loop refrigerant flowing therethrough, a first zone heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy between the facility loop refrigerant and the first heating/cooling zone, and a first water-source heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy between domestic water upstream of the point of water use and the facility loop refrigerant.

Abstract: An exemplary heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a building includes a primary heat pump system having a primary heat pump system size, a secondary heat pump system having a secondary heat pump system size less than the primary heat pump system size, a thermal energy storage system, and a control system operable to control operation of the primary heat pump system and the secondary heat pump system. The control system may limit operation of the secondary heat pump system to a first time period, and operates the primary heat pump system according to demand of the building.

Abstract: A demand control ventilation system is disclosed. Sensors positioned in the building measure a corresponding air quality parameter. Each air quality parameter is indicative as to a current demand required for ventilation of the building based on human activity conducted by occupants present in the building. A controller monitors each air quality parameter to determine whether any air quality parameter deviates beyond the corresponding air quality parameter threshold. The controller activates a graduated action when each air quality parameter deviates beyond the corresponding air quality parameter threshold to automatically adjust the ventilation of the building to maintain the current demand of the ventilation within the current demand threshold. The current demand threshold is a ventilation level of the ventilation of the building that satisfies the current demand based on human activity and prevents unnecessary energy consumption to satisfy the current demand.

Abstract: An exemplary heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a building includes a primary heat pump system having a primary heat pump system size, a secondary heat pump system having a secondary heat pump system size less than the primary heat pump system size, a thermal energy storage system, and a control system operable to control operation of the primary heat pump system and the secondary heat pump system. The control system may limit operation of the secondary heat pump system to a first time period, and operates the primary heat pump system according to demand of the building.

Abstract: An exemplary system is for a facility including a first heating/cooling zone and a water delivery system configured to deliver domestic water to a point of water use. The system generally includes a facility loop having a facility loop refrigerant flowing therethrough, a first zone heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy between the facility loop refrigerant and the first heating/cooling zone, and a first water-source heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy between domestic water upstream of the point of water use and the facility loop refrigerant.

Abstract: Systems and methods optimize energy savings associated with a kitchen hood system. Embodiments of the present invention relate to adequately exhausting a gaseous substance while minimizing the devotion of unnecessary energy. An identification module identifies a plurality of parameters associated with the kitchen hood system. Each parameter has an impact on the overall efficiency of the kitchen hood system. A weighting module weights each parameter. A weight associated with each parameter is representative of a predicted impact each parameter has on the overall efficiency that the kitchen hood system operates relative to each other parameter. An incorporation module incorporates the weight of each parameter into a reduction factor. The reduction factor is representative of an overall impact that the plurality of parameters has on the overall efficiency that the kitchen hood system operates.

Abstract: Systems and methods optimize energy savings associated with a kitchen hood system. Embodiments of the present invention relate to adequately exhausting a gaseous substance while minimizing the devotion of unnecessary energy. An identification module identifies a plurality of parameters associated with the kitchen hood system. Each parameter has an impact on the overall efficiency of the kitchen hood system. A weighting module weights each parameter. A weight associated with each parameter is representative of a predicted impact each parameter has on the overall efficiency that the kitchen hood system operates relative to each other parameter. An incorporation module incorporates the weight of each parameter into a reduction factor. The reduction factor is representative of an overall impact that the plurality of parameters has on the overall efficiency that the kitchen hood system operates.

Abstract: Systems and methods calibrate and monitor optic sensors associated with a kitchen hood system. Embodiments of the present invention relate to adequately exhausting a gaseous substance while minimizing the devotion of unnecessary energy. A controller calibrates a magnitude of a signal emitted and received between optic sensors by adjusting a gain associated with the signal until the magnitude of the signal is within an optimal threshold. The controller also monitors the magnitude of the calibrated signal for fluctuations in the magnitude of the calibrated signal beyond at least one specified threshold. The controller also initiates at least one graduated action when the magnitude of the calibrated signal fluctuates beyond the at least one specified threshold. The graduated action reduces an overall amount of energy consumed by the at least one kitchen hood system and/or recalibrates the magnitude of the signal.

Abstract: A ground source heat transfer system circulates transfer fluid between heat exchange units and a ground loop. The system includes a bypass which allows the transfer fluid to continue to circulate past the exchange units while bypassing the ground loop. Monitoring the conditions of the system with temperature sensors allows the system to selectively activate the bypass whenever diverting fluid away from the ground loop can save heat or energy.

Abstract: A ground source heat transfer system circulates transfer fluid between heat exchange units and a ground loop. The system includes a bypass which allows the transfer fluid to continue to circulate past the exchange units while bypassing the ground loop. Monitoring the conditions of the system with temperature sensors allows the system to selectively activate the bypass whenever diverting fluid away from the ground loop can save heat or energy.

Abstract: An exhaust control system (72) for a commercial or institutional kitchen exhaust system (32) is disclosed in which the exhaust fan speed is optimized for the amount of cooking heat and cooking by-product generated by the cooking units, as well as for comfort in the kitchen (12). Kitchen comfort is determined by sensing temperature, humidity, noxious gases, smoke, odor, or some combination thereof. In particular, exhaust air temperature can be used by the control system (72) to modulate fan speed from a minimum value to a maximum value based on the minimum and maximum temperatures that define a particular temperature span. During operation, the control system (72) continues to monitor environmental parameters of the kitchen (12) to determine if the current temperature span provides optimal performance. Upon determining that the current temperature span is no longer the optimal one, the control system (72) operates the exhaust system (32) according to a different temperature span.

Abstract: An air control system (33) for an exhaust system (32) of a commercial or institutional kitchen (12) of a facility (10) in which the volume rate of air exhausted may be increased to improve the comfort, health, and safety conditions in the kitchen (12) and the rest of the facility (10). Comfort, health or safety may be determined by sensing a parameter in the ambient air environment (28), such as temperature and/or gas level. With the exhaust system (32) operating at a first volume rate to handle the activity of the cooking units 18, the air control system (33) causes exhaust system (32) to increase the volume rate toward a second, higher volume rate to exhaust more air from the ambient air environment (28) thereby reducing the temperature or gas level in the facility (10) to improve comfort and reduce load on a HVAC system (30) or to improve air quality which has health and safety benefits as well.

Abstract: An energy saving controller for kitchen exhaust systems is disclosed in which the exhaust fan speed is varied in proportion to the level of cooking by-product seeking to escape from a flow path within the exhaust hood. The exhaust fan speed may also be varied in relation to the heat load of the cooking units as indicated by temperature above the units or energy consumed thereby. Further, where make-up air is provided, the speed of the make-up air fan may be similarly varied.

Abstract: An exhaust hood includes a collection chamber with a converging inlet passageway which directs the rising fume laden air downwardly toward a reverse turning area from which a baffled cleansing chamber extends upwardly. The collection chamber has a large top air capture pocket above the inlet passageway. The cleansing chamber includes alternating baffles on the opposite walls and generally a V-shaped in cross section with a smooth apex. The baffles define a generally serpentine for a mechanical cleansing path. The air cleansing nozzles permit periodic washing of the cleansing chamber surfaces. A common wall between the inlet passageway and cleansing chamber is pivotally mounted for access to the chamber. A water bath may form the bottom wall of the turning area. The stream angularly engages the bath with bath effective agitation, atomization and turbulence for mixing and removal of foreign matter from the air which then turns and moves through the cleansing chamber.