The Water Demand Calculator has been adopted in several states and cities, including California and Seattle, and is expanding peak flow rate calculations into commercial buildings. The future looks bright as version 3.0 is in the works for commercial buildings.
>By combining water heating with space heating through heat pumps, a synergy is achieved that maximizes efficiency. This dual functionality is particularly relevant given the constant demand for hot water in residential, commercial and industrial settings.
As the world seeks more sustainable and electrified solutions for common construction and engineering challenges, the ways in which large buildings deliver hot water to tenants are worth examination.
In my last column of 2023, I discussed the growing use of Artificial Intelligence in engineering and construction firms. This month, I want to focus on another trend we will see continuing into this next year — sustainability and efficiency.
My house water heater recently failed. I want to replace it with something more efficient, like a heat pump. The easiest path would be to replace it with the exact same type. What would you do if you had a similar scenario with a client or project?
What do the 3-model codes, UPC (Uniform Plumbing Code), IPC (International Plumbing Code) and NSPC (National Standard Plumbing Code), have to say on the subject?
While some cities have banned or attempted to ban gas-fired boilers in new buildings, other areas favor hybrid electric/gas or high efficiency gas systems as sustainable solutions.