Whether you own or operate a commercial building providing domestic hot water to its residents, the rise in reported cases of legionella disease nationally has to concern you.
Consider the following graph from the CDC website:

Note the wild fluctuation of delivered water temperature prior to installation. After only a few hours of downtime, our ETS was installed and note the straight horizontal line at the right, indicating perfectly consistent water temperature.

Legionella safety is a concern for all of us. There are tried and true solutions out there today for your building. Give Heat-Timer® a call today to see how we can help. https://www.heat-timer.com/
Original Source: https://www.heat-timer.com/commercial-buildings-need-to-prioritize-water-safety/

One of the most appealing parts of the Heat-Timer® Platinum Series is the wireless sensor connectivity that comes with our Building Net internet upgrade. There are thousands of clients who own an original, non-internet capable Platinum Series control and when they upgrade the control with our Building Net internet package they actually get two major elements:

1.       An Internet/Mobile ready control – The Building Net upgrade gives any platinum control the ability to be controlled via the internet through a simple browser connection to a web management portal, or via our free mobile app. In either case, reports, alarms, control settings, and real-time monitoring are all at your fingertips, wherever those fingertips may be.
2.       Wireless Sensor Integration – You can think of this as the second network access that is enabled by the Building Net upgrade. This internal Long Range network allows you to connect our wireless space sensors to the control, which by reporting temperatures in various parts of the building, enables a greater level of automated control and efficiency over your heating equipment. In the field, we see that this upgrade can result in an additional 15% further decrease in monthly heating bills over a Heat-Timer® Platinum Control without it.

Heat-Timer® highly recommends that platinum control owners who have not yet upgraded their control to our Building Net package, consider it as soon as possible. The upgrade is not cost prohibitive and the opportunity to reduce heating costs further, reduce boiler maintenance and repair costs, and provide amazing convenience and control from any mobile device, make this an ROI positive investment in every sense of the word.
And now Wireless Sensor Integration is Even EasierWith the introduction of Heat-Timer® Genesis last year, small building owners actually got their first look at an improved wireless sensor and sensor network. Utilizing newer, long range technology two major upgrades became part of the wireless sensor system:

1.       Sensor Range – A new implementation of the wireless sensor network has resulted in much greater sensor range capability. With new models, sensors communicate through as many as 8 floors without the need for repeaters.
2.       Sensor Battery Life – With a new sensor implementation that uses modern low power devices, our new sensors are capable of 10+ years of activity on a single set of AA lithium batteries. Remember too that sensor battery life is easily monitored through the web portal.

This extended range sensor network is now available for all Heat-Timer® Platinum Series Customers!  If you haven’t already purchased this upgrade for your Platinum Control, you now have even more of a reason!
For more information, call Heat-Timer® today at (973) 575-4004
Original Source: https://www.heat-timer.com/heat-timers-wireless-sensor-integration-just-got-a-big-upgrade/

Winter is always the busiest time of year for the crew at Heat-Timer®, between helping clients get the most out of their heating controls, to answering questions, to helping our industry partners get the equipment and parts they need from our factory here in Fairfield New Jersey, well you get the idea. 

And this year saw a new level of crazy, with the introduction of the Heat-Timer Genesis®, our brand new internet heating control designed specifically for small buildings. We knew we had a winner with this control but only a few months after its introduction, it’s clear that small building owners think so too.

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock and not actively reading our blog, allow us to recap:

The Heat-Timer Genesis® Heating Control
In September we announced the availability of the Heat-Timer Genesis®, a brand new heating control. Genesis is designed with capabilities and pricing that allow buildings of less than 20 units to take advantage of the same money saving potential of our world leading Platinum series controls. All for a fraction of the up front installation costs.

The Genesis unit uses the same class leading, self learning control software as our Platinum series, but has more affordable features and packaging that allow small building owners to reap the benefits of up to 30% off their heating bills. With the reduced cost of the system, that allows most small building owners to recover the cost of the equipment and installation in the first full season of use.

The Genesis is designed to run a single steam or hot water boiler based heating system. The control utilizes outdoor temperature (outdoor reset) and wireless room sensor data from your building to develop a profile of heat loss around your building. These data points are rolled into a software algorithm that allows the Genesis to learn your buildings heat loss characteristics. The Genesis will then anticipate need and control boiler firing to achieve that perfect balance between resident comfort and energy usage.

Mobile App Access
A mobile app! The free Heat-Timer® Mobile app, and internet portal provide insight into your entire portfolio of buildings. You can monitor temperatures, change parameters, monitor alarm conditions, and generate historical data all from the comfort of your couch. 

You can Heat things Up Too.
Yes we are certainly busy, and every year we wonder why folks don’t install our controls in the summer months, but that’s human nature. If you are like everyone else and feeling the pinch of this winter, it’s not too late to get a Heat-Timer® into your building and put it to work for you. With our wireless sensors installation is a snap.

So come in out of the cold! Call us to find out more. (973)575-4004 Ext #2

https://www.heat-timer.com/the-genesis/

Original Source: https://www.heat-timer.com/things-are-heating-up/

The US HVAC systems market size was valued at $16.54 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6% from 2022 to 2030. That’s some big bucks and complementary factors such as population growth and a growing real estate market will only serve to drive these costs to the upper end of the range. 

In the northern areas of the country, heating is the big H in HVAC and as energy costs and electricity demands continue to increase, the market for efficient heating equipment is set to grow and innovate at an even faster rate.

Heat-Timer® has its finger on the pulse of trends and initiatives in the heating industry for sure, monitoring initiatives across the country.  Initiatives like local law 97 in New York City and others will drive multi-family building owners to get their carbon footprint reduced or eliminated, or risk thousands of dollars in fines.  Here are some of the big trends we see for 2023.

Heating Equipment Efficiency UpgradesHeating systems in multi-family buildings typically rely on boilers to deliver hot water or steam throughout the system.  Replacing these boilers can be a large expense and many of them have years of useful life left. 
Still, it’s a fact that boilers that are not ENERGY STAR certified, are 14% less efficient than those that are. Nationally that would amount to a savings of over $1 billion dollars a year and over 23 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emission that wouldn’t happen, equivalent to the yearly emissions of over 2 million cars. 

For building owners in this predicament, there’s always Heat-Timer® Platinum Series Controls. These internet capable controls connect to Steam or Hot water (hydronic) boilers old and new without the need for plumbing or major wiring upgrades.  Just putting an Internet capable Platinum Control with wireless space sensors in your building can save you up to 30% monthly on your heating bills and squeeze every bit of life out of that older boiler until you are ready to replace it.

Wireless Connectivity And DataThe use of the Internet of Things (IoT) and other wireless connectivity will enable HVAC software to better relay data on improving cost efficiency, sustainability, and operational readiness without a single trip to the boiler room. These solutions will allow commercial building managers to control and monitor various aspects of HVAC systems from a portable mobile device.  Again Heat-Timer® Platinum Series Controls were ahead of this curve, having provided internet and wireless remote sensor upgrades for the world’s best selling commercial heating control for years. 

Think of the Internet enabled Heat-Timer® control with wireless space sensors as a self-learning, out of the box energy management system.  It can identify areas where heating needs to be maximized and reduced, creating a more efficient way of controlling your system.  This increased monitoring and connectivity not only saves money, but allows for predictive alarm notifications, remote maintenance and improved repair times.

Use Of “Smart” Technology For Automation
Smart automation also means that systems can utilize data to analyze usage trends and performance statistics and identify errors before they happen. In addition, smart automation ensures that HVAC systems operate more efficiently, such as maintaining rooms at an optimal temperature.

Ultimately, smart automation reduces costs for commercial buildings by implementing energy-efficient consumption, reducing errors, and improving convenience and environment quality. Large establishments that experience significant activity, such as apartment complexes and buildings, will benefit from automated solutions like Heat-Timer®.

Final Thoughts On Commercial Heating Trends For 2023
As a whole, HVAC trends for 2023 are mostly centered around reducing fuel costs by increasing operational efficiency and sustainability. These are positive trends for the industry and the planet and are in line with global sustainability efforts. The introduction of IoT and more smart automation technology will also help reduce maintenance costs, increase automation and data driven improvement, while improving customer satisfaction and comfort.

At Heat-Timer® we are at the forefront of these initiatives. Providing the world’s most advanced heating control systems for both large and small buildings. (see Heat-Timer Genesis for small buildings) 

For more information on how Heat-Timer® can help your commercial building save money and comply with greenhouse gas reduction standards call our team today.  (973)575-4004 Ext #2.

Original Source: https://www.heat-timer.com/a-look-at-commercial-heating-in-2023/

Building owners are already getting some heating bills that are already a bit higher than they would like and according to most, this is going to continue.  Add to that record high fuel prices and some may be regretting not upgrading their boiler management systems soon.

The good news is that advanced heating controls from Heat-Timer® are designed to integrate easily, without wires, into existing buildings in hours, not days. Both small and large building owners can take advantage of the easy installation of either the Genesis, or Platinum  Heat-Timer® heating controls. With such a simple installation it is easy to get up and running, allowing you to save up to 30% on fuel costs for the rest of the winter and every year to come.

In the 5 New York City boroughs there are literally thousands of multi-family dwellings housing millions of residents. Many of those buildings are on the smaller side, housing anywhere from 2 to 20 families. And the vast majority of those were built more than 50 years ago, using single steam or hot water boilers to heat radiators with piping, wiring, and risers buried long ago inside the walls of these buildings.
 
Building owners looking to modernize their heating systems to save on fuel, were often put off by the cost of recommended upgrades, especially when construction costs were factored in. Even heating control and thermostat solutions sometimes required running wires through multiple floors down to the
boiler room, when existing wiring could not support modern device interface requirements, or the wiring simply wasn’t where it needed it to be.

Genesis Was Made For This.

The key to achieving the level of comfort and savings that Heat-Timer Genesis® does, is its use of our proprietary wireless space sensors. By reporting space temperatures in key areas of the building identified by your heating technician, the self-learning algorithms of Heat-Timer Genesis® can actually learn the heating characteristics of your building.

And since the space sensors are wireless and boast extended range, they can simply be hung on a wall inside an apartment and the signal will reach through up to 10 floors to report to the Heat-Timer Genesis® unit. No running wires or setting up wireless repeaters. The sensors don’t even need to be plugged in, they run on two AA batteries and last for 10+ years.

Heat-Timer Genesis® – An Easy Button for Fuel Savings and Installation

Small apartment building owners can finally make an investment in improving their heating systems that doesn’t require them to have a PHD in HVAC, or take out a second mortgage or rip up their beautiful old building. The Heat-Timer Genesis® was made for you.

For the larger buildings of 20 units or more we recommend our tried and true Platinum Heating Controls. The same ease of installation applies to the Platinum controls where wireless sensors make integration into existing buildings a snap. Plus you have internet access anywhere, self learning algorithms that anticipate the unique thermal loss characteristics of your building, Real time alerts, Use with Steam or Hot Water Boilers and fuel savings up to 30%
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For ordering information, give us a call or visit our website to learn more: https://www.heat-timer.com/the-genesis/
 
The original blog is available on - https://www.heat-timer.com/heat-timer-easy-to-install-heating-controls/

The graying of residential buildings is a very real problem for building owners, especially in older US cities like New York and Boston. In fact, in a recent study published using data from NYC’s PLUTO database, one can determine that the median age of a surviving residential building in greater NYC is over 90 years old!

As initiatives like Local Law 97 and other go-green rebate programs drive upgrades and updates to heating system infrastructure,the other frontier in the upgrade of these buildings has to do with their solutions to domestic hot water and the ever increasing difficulty of delivering consistent, and safe hot water to residents. With the dramatic increase in reported cases of deadly legionella bacteria in the water supply across the country (including recent outbreaks in NYC) the pressure is on for building owners to provide updated solutions that satisfy city regulations for safety, provide safe, consistent temperatures to folks at their sinks and showers, and do it as efficiently as possible.

Common Problems with Domestic Hot Water Systems in Older Buildings.

At the end of the day, the net problem is getting reliable hot water to residents safely, at all hours of the day. Especially so called rush hours, when demand for showers and such is high. Yet age and other factors conspire to keep older DHW systems from maintaining their operational readiness.

1. Leaky Storage tanks. – Every tank has a shelf life of 15 – 30 years.
2. System Sizing – Changes to apartment layout, resident count and increases in peak demand over many decades, can tax an existing system not designed for it resulting in frequent rebuilds of the light-commercial gas water heater originally spec’d. These rebuilds are expensive and wholly unnecessary in a properly sized system.
3. Dissolved Mineral Content – Hard water supplies with high mineral content can tax piping and valves leading to expensive periodic rebuilds or replacements that take down hot water for the entire building.
4. Temperature Creep – Older thermostatic mixers can fail in such a way as to prevent mixing during dormant periods, such as overnight. In these cases, the first hot water users in the morning can find the hot water initially arriving at the sink or shower to be almost 160 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that can cause burns and scalding in a matter of seconds. These mixers then have to be rebuilt causing more expense and downtime not to mention potential lawsuits.
   
   

Heat-Timer® ETS is a Key Part of the Modern Solution to DHW Upgrades

Whatever heating technology your domestic hot water solution employs, a good heating design engineer will specify a DHW system designed for reliability, efficiency, serviceability and longevity. In 2022 with outbreaks of legionella on everyone’s mind, we must also add Safety to that list.

One key part of this upgrade is an electronic mixing valve like the Heat-Timer® Electronic Tempering Valve to finally deliver perfectly regulated hot water to residents. Heat-Timer® encapsulates this system into our Electronic Tempering Station (ETS) which is a pre-plumbed, small footprint assembly saving installers hours and hours of time doing installation, and limiting overall install downtime. The internal ETV control module uses remote sensors tied to proprietary algorithms to electronically control one of the industry’s most durable 3-way stainless steel mixing valves. The Heat-Timer® ETS can deliver an adjustable domestic hot water temperature to the end user, under any condition allowing hot water to be stored at a temperature that kills bacteria, while providing perfectly safe temperatures to users at the sink.

As most NYC apartment owners and managers know, the City of New York enacted Local Law 97 (LL97) in 2019 as a part of the Climate Mobilization Act. This forward looking law places carbon caps on most buildings larger than 25,000 square feet—roughly 50,000 residential and commercial properties across NYC. These caps start in 2024 and will become more stringent over time, eventually reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Heat-Timer® has been actively involved in the discussion around LL97 and has provided assistance to hundreds of NYC building owners as they plan for compliance to the law and seek to avoid increasing penalties for non-compliance.

Recent Local Law 97 Updates 

The rules around NYC local law 97 are complex and reflect a timetable that allows building owners time to get their properties analyzed and solutions proposed and budgeted. On October 6, 2022, the NYC Department of Buildings released a new document called Proposed Rules for Local Law 97 that answers and clarifies more questions about the law’s requirements through 2050. 

Here are a few key take-away’s from the update, which building owners need to know.

1. 60 NEW PROPERTY TYPES ADDED FROM EPA’S PORTFOLIO MANAGER

The EPA’s Portfolio Manager, is the well-established tool for tracking building energy use. LL97 originally set 10 emissions limits based on Building Code occupancy group classifications. The proposed rules expand those categories based on Portfolio Manager, which includes dozens of different property types that more accurately reflect the variation in energy use among buildings. 

2. UILDING EMISSIONS LIMITS SET FOR ALL PROPERTY TYPES TO 2050 AND BEYOND

The proposed rules assign new emissions limits for each new property type from 2030 through 2049. From 2050 onward, a zero emissions requirement applies to all property types—a move that aligns to global 1.5°C climate targets. For 2024 to 2029, the proposed rules preserve LL97’s original 10 emissions limits but distribute those limits across the 60 Portfolio Manager property types, creating better-tailored targets for all buildings.

3. A 2030 ELECTRICITY CARBON COEFFICIENT THAT REFLECTS THE GREENING GRID AND SUPPORTS ELECTRIFICATION

The electricity carbon coefficient is used to calculate the carbon content of the electricity that a building consumes each year. The proposed rules specify an electricity coefficient for 2030 to 2034 that is about 50 percent lower than the one that applies for 2024 to 2029. This change reflects major new clean energy coming to NYC in the next few years, bringing rapid decarbonization to reach New York State CLCPA targets. 

4. RECS CAN ONLY OFFSET EMISSIONS FROM ELECTRICITY USE

LL97 allows building owners to deduct or offset annual building emissions through the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) for local green power. The proposed rules clarify that these deductions are limited to emissions from building electricity use, which would ensure that credits for the purchase of green electricity aren’t used to offset fossil fuels burned onsite for heat and hot water.
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Heat-Timer® Can Help with LL97 Compliance

The Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a particularly cold winter, just as fuel prices are spiking and OPEC is cutting oil production. Overall, the winter of 2022 is shaping up to be an expensive heating season.

As building owners and HVAC professionals get their buildings ready for the heating season, dormant boilers are fired up and unexpected Startup problems arise all over.  HVAC professionals must be able to see when a Startup problem occurs in a building so that they can get on site and fix it quickly, then be able to move on to the next issue.  Buildings equipped with internet capable boiler management systems have an added level of convenience, thanks to all parts of their heating system operation being available and modifiable remotely.  BuildingNet® by Heat-Timer® is such a system, available as an ad-on to our Platinum Series Controls (large buildings), or included with our newest Heat-Timer Genesis® Controls (Small Buildings). 

Why is BuildingNet® a better boiler management software interface? 
To a user, the connection between a Heat-Timer® controller and the BuildingNet® web portal or mobile application is seamless.  BuildingNet’s highly reliable backend server software, running on a redundant network ensures 24/7 availability of control visibility. BuildingNet’s servers scale to support its customers reliably, even during the busiest time of the season. 

BuildingNet® also allows the creation of monitoring accounts which allow a boiler service and maintenance company to receive and respond to programmable alarms and service warnings. The non-proprietary and customizable nature of BuildingNet® allows the property manager to choose any service company or companies that are right for their needs, rather than be locked into a service contract like some other building management software solutions. 

BuildingNet® Organizes your entire Building Portfolio
BuildingNet® was designed from the ground up to scale easily and robustly from a single Heat-Timer® control to a portfolio of buildings with multiple controls and boiler rooms. BuildingNet® can be used for large property portfolios because their building addresses are organized in a clean hierarchy where data is presented by property address/control/data.

Other hierarchies exist within the BuldingNet® interface.  For instance our programmable alarm feature allows a tiered response to alarms.  With tiered alarms, a manager responsible for 5 apartment buildings in a complex will not receive every alarm from every building. The alarms will go first to the on-site technicians responsible, then to the technician’s supervisor. Only the alarms that are not answered after a set time period will be escalated to the designated manager.

Another way that BuildingNet® manages the complexity of a multi-building portfolio is its rich set of data analysis tools that allow building managers to spot trends and potential problems before they become emergencies.   The new alarm executive summary gives a daily summary of alarms, while the customizable report features in BuildingNet®, can give managers the ability to generate reports down to the sensor level, or create summary reports that show overall trends.  These reports can be configured to be emailed to their team at recurring intervals.
 
Different buildings need different controllers.  
The last reason that BuildingNet® works so well for a range of building sizes and types, is because Heat-Timer® offers the widest selection of boiler controllers in the industry.   Heat-Timer® has a Platinum series controller optimized for every type of boiler configuration, whether its hydronic or steam boilers, staging or modulating burners, single or multi-boiler configurations. And now with Heat-Timer® Genesis, we have the solution for the smaller buildings in your portfolio as well, all under the same BuildingNet® user interface.
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For more information visit https://heat-timer.com
This blog was originally published at https://www.heat-timer.com/internet-connectivity/