Mark D’Antonio, Zondits staff, 3/1/2023 Zondits spoke with Mark D’Antonio, an industry expert in clean technology approaches to decarbonizing the built environment. I’m in the process of designing a net zero home with solar, battery storage, electric appliances, and heat pumps for heating and hot water. I will also have an EV charger system. I … Read more
Compressed Air and Actuation Technologies Bryan Kilgore, ERS, for Zondits Pneumatic actuators have had widespread use in the industrial space, particularly the food packaging industry. Pneumatic actuators offer low upfront costs for mechanical actuation. Electric actuators, however, are more energy efficient and are often seen as the more economical option when considering long-term energy costs. … Read more
Question: When is a CO2 Refrigeration System a Good Option for a Supermarket/Convenience Store? Bryan Kilgore, ERS, for Zondits The cost margins for retail food stores are razor thin, so when does upgrading or replacing an old refrigeration system with a new CO2 system make sense? Will the system be efficient, reliable, safe, and cost-effective? Answer: … Read more
Question: What energy efficiency measures often have the shortest payback, including potential rebates? Valerie Eacret, ERS, for Zondits Answer: Here are a few measures with quick paybacks from projects recently crossing our desks: Compressed air setpoint – Frequently we find that the pressure in compressed air systems is set much higher than necessary. While extensive … Read more
Ask the Expert: What’s the difference between “net-zero” and “carbon-neutral” in relation to buildings and efficiency? Ryan Pollin, ERS, for Zondits There are many different but nearly synonymous terms for buildings, campuses, and communities going in the general direction of net zero. Per the Department of Energy, the best term is a zero energy building (ZEB). This is … Read more
Or Can I Keep Mine Plugged in at Work and Not Feel Guilty? Long Vu, ERS, for Zondits Answer: In terms of energy usage, space heaters use a similar amount of energy to heat up a space as central heating systems do. In fact, space heaters have higher efficiency since almost 100% of the fuel … Read more
What is the difference between refrigerant-type compressed air dryers and regenerative desiccant-type compressed air dryers? What are the advantages and disadvantages of one over the other? Karamvir Singh for Zondits, January 4, 2016 Answer: Let’s start by answering why you even need to dry the compressed air. The atmospheric air contains water vapor that begins … Read more