Chapter Six: Air Conditioning

 

 

We asked respondents to describe what the library has done to increase the efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of its air conditioning system.  We asked them to mention new equipment, use of advanced controls or sensors, thermal water cooling units, reduction of CFS refrigerants and other strategies.

 

Responses are provided below:

 

1.                  New energy efficient window units were purchased in FY07.

 

2.                  Planned upgrade in FY 2010 or 2011.

 

3.                  We will have replaced two HVAC systems in the past two years and we plan on replacing the others in the next five years.

 

4.                  Reset the thermostats. We can't control the whole building.

 

5.                  College installed new chilling plant for west end of campus including Library.

 

6.                  We have replaced cooling towers for increased efficiency. The university uses automated control of temperature all year (heating and cooling) to reduce energy use.

 

7.                  We are undergoing a renovation and upgrade of our HVAC system.  We are replacing pneumatic controls with digital, which will enable Physical Plant to control the settings of valves and dampers remotely.  We hope to experience fewer temperature fluctuations when this work is completed next year.

 

8.                  New programmable thermostats; new air conditioning system in half the building.

 

9.                  None - we are tied into the main system and have little or no control - neither does plant maintenance.

 

10.              We have re-cooled the water that cools or warms the air; added new adjustments that regulate the same; added a new boiler for the building and installed computer controlled systems.

 

11.              We've done nothing in the Library, but the campus built a new and more efficient cooling tower.

 

12.              Using variable frequency drive for motor control.

 

13.              Leasing in an office building - uncertain of their overall plan.

 

14.              Nothing to date; existing system is at least 25 years old.  System to be installed this winter will be the highest level of compliancy for LEED certification.

 

15.              Replaced air handler and now bring in fresh air to mix with re-circulating interior air; have timers to correlate heating and cooling with hours of business.

 

16.              We have datalog sensors for the rare book stacks and reading room.

 

17.              We added an AC unit to decrease the load on the older less efficient units.  Also have tightened up the 100-year-old window casings.

 

18.              We replaced the thermostats to have three area controls with set day/time temperatures.  When the library is closed, the systems do not run.

 

19.              We have a fairly new building (< 3 years old) and systems are energy efficient.  Also, we use an energy consultant who monitors systems remotely.

 

20.              Went to a geothermal heating and cooling system.

 

21.              Complete renovation included updated HVAC system.  I was not part of the planning and don't have details.

 

22.              A redesign of the library is planned in five years and these issues will be addressed then.

 

23.              Regular cleaning and we tried a timer, but had mold and mildew problems.

 

Chapter Seven: Insulation and Carpeting

 

 

Table 7.1:             Libraries that have Replaced Or Altered Wall Insulation to Save Energy

	Yes	No
Entire Sample	4.44%	95.56%

 

 

Table 7.2:             Libraries that have Replaced Or Altered Wall Insulation to Save Energy, Broken Out by Public Libraries and College Libraries

Public or College	Yes	No
Public Libraries	0.00%	100.00%
College Libraries	9.09%	90.91%

 

 

Table 7.3:             Libraries that have Replaced Or Altered Wall Insulation to Save Energy, Broken Out by Total Budget Range ($)

Budget Range ($)	Yes	No
Less than 201,000	9.09%	90.91%
200,001 - 500,000	0.00%	100.00%
500,001 - 2,500,000	9.09%	90.91%
2,500,001+	0.00%	100.00%

 

 

Table 7.4:             Libraries that have Replaced Or Altered Wall Insulation to Save Energy, Broken Out by Total Desktop Number of Computers for Patron Use

Number of Computers for Patron Use	Yes	No
0 - 20	7.69%	92.31%
21 - 50	0.00%	100.00%
51 - 100	0.00%	100.00%
101+	10.00%	90.00%

 

 

Table 7.5:             Libraries that have Replaced Or Altered Ceiling Insulation to Save Energy

	Yes	No
Entire Sample	11.11%	88.89%

 

 

Table 7.6:             Libraries that have Replaced Or Altered Ceiling Insulation to Save Energy, Broken Out by Public Libraries and College Libraries

Public or College	Yes	No
Public Libraries	4.35%	95.65%
College Libraries	18.18%	81.82%