Beyond the Boilerplate
October Newsletter - Curated by Boilersource
IT’S FALL YA’ALL!
News You Can Use
Oilon: Finnish Heat Pump Expertise Appraised as the Best in Europe
A building where not a single joule of energy goes unutilized
HELSINKI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Finnish energy technology company Oilon and energy company Helen have won the respected The Heat Pump Award in the DecarBuilding series with their mutually developed heat pump solution. The competition, arranged by the European Heat Pump Association EHPA since 2011, rewards most innovative and energy-efficient heat pump projects on the continent. The award was given in Brussels on Wednesday.
The award was given for an apartment building built in the Finnish capital city of Helsinki, where a new type of heat pump solution was implemented. The heat pump is used to heat and cool down the building. The heat sources are the building’s waste water, the waste heat generated by the refrigerators and cooling systems of a food market located in the building, and geothermal heat. Additionally, when the amount of heat generated exceeds the consumption in the building, it will be supplied into the Helen network as district heat.
– Not a single joule of energy is wasted here, says Oilon Chief Business Officer Martti Kukkola.
– Even the energy generated by flushing the toilet is used.
The unique concept, born in partnership between the energy companies, has taken the energy efficiency and environmentalism of new construction projects to another level. It is a result of patient product development efforts done by Oilon in terms of heat pump technology and by Oilon and Helen together in terms of waste heat recovery.
The goal of two-way energy generation and use is to achieve full carbon neutrality in the production of heat and cooling. Heat pumps have a large role to play here.
– Many different means are needed on the road to carbon neutrality and energy independence, among which powerful heat pumps are some of the best, says Kukkola.
An intelligently reacting Oilon ChillHeat pump is the beating heart of the circular economy hybrid solution rewarded on Wednesday in Brussels as well, which is able to operate in different part load and temperature ranges.
– The most innovative aspect is that various heat sources can be utilized at different times of the year together at an optimal and carbon-neutral way, Kukkola explains.
Both Oilon and Helen appreciate the award as a recognition of their partnership and of the extremely topical issue of the development of energy efficiency.
– Investing in technologies that utilize energy efficiency and waste heat is now important than ever, says Senior Vice President Sari Mannonen of Helen’s Solutions and Portfolio Department, expressing gratitude:
– This recognition is also another indication of how partnerships between enterprises can create novel innovations and technologies in order to achieve energy independence, Mannonen says.
Oilon
Oilon is a family-owned, global energy and environmental technology company, founded in 1961. Oilon specializes in energy and environmental technology with focus on industrial heat pumps and chillers, ground source heat pumps, and burners and combustion systems. Oilon conducts continuous product development to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions and create solutions based on renewable energy sources.
Oilon has a of €70 million turnover and employs 380 people. The company has production facilities in Finland, the United States and China, as well as sales offices in Brazil and Germany. Furthermore, Oilon runs an international sales network of 70 dealers.
Helen Ltd
Helen Ltd helps to make everyday life a little easier for over 550,000 customers in Finland. In addition to heat, cooling and electricity, we offer solutions for regional and renewable energy, smart buildings and electric transport. We are developing a smarter, carbon-neutral energy system that enables everyone to produce, use and save energy with respect for the environment. We aim to achieve 100% carbon neutrality in our energy production by 2030. Let’s join forces and turn the opportunities of a new energy era into reality.
Contacts
More information
Martti Kukkola, Chief Business Officer
martti.kukkola@oilon.com
+358 400312060
Sari Mannonen, Senior Vice President of the Solutions
and Portfolio Department, Helen
sari.mannonen@helen.fi
+358 452651345
Source: BusinessWire
Smoke rises from the skyscrapers along the lakefront on Dec. 27, 2017, in Chicago. Kamil Krzaczynski via Getty Images
Chicago Passes Updated Building Energy Code to Support Decarbonization
First published on
Dive Brief:
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The Chicago City Council last week passed the 2022 Chicago Energy Transformation Code, which requires that new buildings are constructed in alignment with stronger energy efficiency and electrification standards to advance decarbonization. Most changes will apply to new building permit applications starting Nov. 1.
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Some portions of the new code are based on the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, while others are Chicago-specific revisions.
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Changes include requirements related to energy-efficient lighting; designing certain commercial building roofs to support future solar panel installations; constructing residential buildings with infrastructure that enables a future switch to electric-powered appliances; and incentives for smart HVAC and water appliances that integrate with the power grid to reduce demand during peak use.
Dive Insight:
The energy code updates align with decarbonization goals in Chicago’s climate action plan, which aims to reduce carbon emissions 62% below 2017 levels by 2040. Buildings produce 69% of the city’s emissions.
The city recently committed to purchasing 100% renewable energy for all city-owned facilities by 2025. And in 2019, Chicago launched a system to rate large buildings for energy efficiency and make the information public. The system was based on the energy benchmarking reports that buildings are required to submit annually.
No national building energy code exists in the U.S., but states and cities widely use the IECC as a model. It is revised every three years to include new technologies and best practices to ensure new buildings meet modern energy-efficiency expectations. The 2021 version is the most recent and includes significant changes, according to Michael Waite, senior manager in the buildings programs at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
“Why this is particularly important for the residential buildings is that between 2012 and 2018 there weren’t really major improvements in the IECC, but from 2018 to 2021 there was a big improvement,” he said. “Energy codes are really important.”
The U.S. Department of Energy reviewed the 2021 IECC and determined that residential buildings meeting this code — compared with buildings meeting the 2018 code — would cut energy consumption by around 9%. Beginning next April, all new federal government buildings and retrofits must meet the 2021 IECC standards. The federal government has more than 350,000 buildings across the country, making it the largest building owner and manager in the U.S.
Governments can adopt certain portions of the code and omit or alter others to suit local needs, as Chicago did. In November 2020, Kansas City, Missouri, became the first city in the nation to adopt the 2021 version, with others following, including Austin, Texas, and Louisville, Colorado. Chicago said it is among the first cities to adopt and exceed the 2021 IECC, which puts it “among the leaders in requirements for energy-efficient new construction” and especially among cities that are comparably large, Waite said.
Appliances are key targets for household emissions reductions. Chicago households primarily use natural gas for heating. U.S. Energy Information Administration data show that nearly 80% of Illinois households use natural gas-powered heating systems, and only about 15% rely on electric heat. The residential sector used about 35% of the natural gas delivered to consumers throughout the state, the largest share of any sector, followed by the industrial sector at 24%.
“We need to be using efficient, electric technologies in place of fossil fuels for [space] heating, water heating and cooking appliances in order to decarbonize homes and buildings,” he said. “The new Chicago energy code doesn’t require this, but it does have requirements that are set up to get buildings there.”
For example, the code requires builders to install wiring for future electric appliances even if they’re currently outfitting the home with fossil fuel-powered appliances. Doing that kind of work up front rather than as a retrofit down the road is more cost-effective, Waite said.
After implementing standards and regulations for new construction, cities often tackle the decarbonization of existing buildings, Waite said. That’s another area of opportunity for Chicago’s future energy policy.
Source: UtilityDive
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Webinars
Hydrogen For Heat, Carbon-Free In 2023 Webinar Opportunity
Hydrogen for Heat, Carbon-Free in 2023
Presented by Hydrogen Technologies Oct. 26th at 2 PM EDT
Certificate of Attendance Available
This roadmap presentation charts a carbon-free future constructed using a metrics-based heat solution for industrial and commercial buildings. Participants will explore the reaction of H2 and O2 in a boiler to create superheated steam. The condensing steam transfers energy from the tube side of the heat exchanger to yield working fluid as low as 60°C and/or steam pressures as high as 40 bar. This exothermic energy released during H2O formation liberates GHG emission steam heat problem-areas. The journey concludes by highlighting financial incentives for the hydrogen economy from G20 Nations and directions to your destination: GHG grants supporting decarbonization projects.
Learning Objectives:
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Industrial and building de-carbonization is a journey to be travelled with a map.
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The power of hydrogen and oxygen reaction and its invaluable heat signature for steam and hot water.
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“Low temperature” hot water building heating requirements can be targeted without GHG emissions.
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Modular approach for hard-to-decarbonize thermal loads is possible in the hydrogen economy.
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Grant funding and notoriety for innovative solutions is significant for 1st movers and thought leaders.
Certificate of Attendance
Hydrogen Technologies will issue a signed company certificate of your personal attendance after the presentation. The presentation is not registered with any state, so check your state's continuing education requirements if a credit can be applied with this webinar.
About the Presenters
Dean Moretton
Mr. Moretton oversees HT's commercial activities and expansion to capitalize on the ever-growing global demand for its breakthrough, zero-emission hydrogen DCC™ boiler solution as a steam or hot water solution in commercial and industrial applications, a clean district heat solution or carbon-free Combined Heat & Power (CHP) enabler.
Dean brings 30+ years of successful experience in global energy markets, developing, selling, and marketing innovative products. Prior to joining HT, he led Digital Solutions sales and partnerships for utilities on behalf of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), one of India's largest multi-national conglomerates. Dean previously served as President of ArcIT, Product Director at Alstom, and Manager at Arthur Andersen Consulting. He currently serves on the Board at Kankakee Valley Electric Cooperative. Dean holds an MBA from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rose-Hulman.
Janet Reiser
Ms. Reiser is an experienced policy maker, senior executive, program manager with over 35 years of experience in energy management, engineering, construction and telecommunications most recently running the governmental Alaska Energy Authority. She is experienced in all phases of enterprise development and operations as well as in executive and technical management. Janet is a Chemical Engineer by education.
Leading by Example: Building Envelope Success Stories
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
11:00 - 12:00 PM ET
Hear success stories about DOE's Building Envelope Campaign partners achieving 30-60% improvement in envelope performance through the deployment of high-performance building envelope technologies.
Presenters:
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Justin Ahern, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Mahabir Bhandari, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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Eric Turon, State of North Carolina
Entertainment & Amusements
Brain Teaser!
The following brain teaser has been shared more than 3 million times on Facebook. It seems to be easy for some people but difficult for others. Which group are you in?
6 + 4 = 210
9 + 2 = 711
8 + 5 = 313
5 + 2 = 37
7 + 6 = 113
9 + 8 = 117
10 + 6 = 416
15 + 3 = 1218
?? + ?? = 123
Split the resulting number "123" into 2 parts - 1 and 23. Those numbers will be 2 results. "1" will be result of "first number minus second number". "23" will be result of "first number plus second number".
So it's easy to see that those 2 numbers will be 12 and 11.
12 - 11 = 1
12 + 11 = 23
Write them together and you get 123.
So the answer is 12 + 11 = 123.
Was it hard?
The Answer!
Monthly Recipe
Halloween Cheese Ball Appetizer
Recipe by Meg Quinn
DESCRIPTION
Make this holiday cheese ball and wow your guests at your halloween party or Thanksgiving dinner!
INGREDIENTS
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2 8oz blocks cream cheese – room temperature
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1 1/2 cups finely grated cheddar cheese – divided
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Kosher salt
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freshly ground black pepper
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1 bell pepper – stem removed
INSTRUCTIONS
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In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese and 1 cup shredded cheese until thoroughly combined.
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Using your hands, shape the mixture into a ball, then coat in the remaining shredded cheese to cover the outside of the cheese ball.
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Transfer the mixture to a large piece of plastic wrap continuing to shape into a round ball.
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Wrap twine around the cheese ball four times (or use 4 large rubber bands) tightly around the wrapped cheese ball to shape into a pumpkin. Refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
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Remove the twine and plastic wrap. Press bell pepper stem into the top of the cheese ball where all the lines intersect.
Source: Ain'tTooProudtoMeg.com
