Is your commercial building prepared for future heatwaves?
July 22, 2016
Heatwaves are in full stride across the United States this summer. In some cases, these heat waves are completely bucking conventional trends for energy consumption. Here's what you need to know.
These aren't your parents' heatwaves
Heatwaves aren't what we've seen in the past. Take the recent developments in Arizona, for example. According to AZ Central, temperatures in Phoenix hit a scorching 118 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas of the state. However, that wasn't just what made the news.
"Heatwaves make cooling loads considerably more expensive."
Utility provider Salt River Project set an unusual record – peak energy demand shot up to a whopping 6,873 megawatts on June 19. This is uncharacteristic as most businesses are closed and people vacation on the weekend, meaning consumption should drop accordingly. The most likely time a record like this should occur is during the week, when every commercial building is running its HVAC system.
On the same Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service reported 17 record temperature highs, according to ABC News. This track has taken a similar trajectory to the sea level rise, which many analysts in the field see as unstoppable in certain areas of the world.
The next day Energy Manager Today reported that two weeks of electricity blackouts are on the horizon in California at some point this summer, because supply cannot meet demand.
Are these just isolated incidents or a trend?
Extreme heat a rising concern
According to CalEPA the heatwaves and subsequent blackouts are not isolated incidents. Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, more intense and longer lasting. Urban areas are the hardest hit due to the urban heat island effect. The lack of vegetation and surrounding heat-absorptive surfaces contribute to temperatures as much as 6F degrees higher during the day.
Cities that used to have four extreme summer temperature days that called for demand response measures could have 40-70 by 2050. For the operators of these facilities, these increasingly common high temperatures pose a triple threat. Here's some solutions to consider:
Ensure occupancy comfort
First, occupancy comfort is crucial to employee and tenant satisfaction. So comfort must be ensured on these hot days. Raising thermostats is one remedy. Studies show people don't want to freeze indoors but they don't want to be hot either. A failing HVAC system should be replaced with special consideration to a more energy efficient and flexible system that provides greater control and resiliency during heatwaves and potential blackouts. If your system is not failing but doesn't provide back-up power, you may still consider adding a generator or modular energy storage system can help you be prepared before an unexpected outage occurs.
Keep energy costs low
Second, predicted increases in peak demand will increase your electric bill. To keep costs low, mitigate expensive daytime energy charges linked to extreme summer temperatures. Begin by reducing the heat load. This will reduce how much cooling you need. Examples, include cool and green roofs and carefully treated windows or shading. Even if you've invested in on-site renewable energy, you can still hit an expensive energy peak when the sun doesn't shine or the wind winds down. So back-up or stored power should be made available when renewables are unavailable. Energy storage also reduces peak demand in building without renewables. For additional revenue check if the equipment is demand response ready.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The third area of concern is the environment. Numerous companies have taken responsibility to aid the environment whether through certifications like LEED or organizations such as AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education). If your company has a corporate sustainability policy it's a no brainer to choose equipment that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Reduce energy demand during demand peaks when the dirtiest power plants go online. Avoiding these polluting plants can not only slow down rising temperatures but actually keep everyone cooler according to KCETLink Media.
