13-11-2012, 05:25 PM
The Mechanical Engineer’s Role
The Mechanical Engineer’s.pdf (Size: 864.14 KB / Downloads: 93)
Energy Management
The mechanical engineering professional
is an important player on the
custom home design team. Mechanical
engineering is at the crossroads of all
engineering disciplines, with formal
education in topics also covered by
electrical, civil, and structural engineering
programs. Many mechanical engineers
also have had basic courses in
controls, acoustics, and environmental
topics.
The core of the mechanical engineer’s
value on a custom home design
team is his or her role in managing
energy: solar, electricity, petroleumbased
products, and sometimes wind.
The mechanical engineer must be
familiar with the standard building
codes in the state in which he or she is
licensed. For example, I am licensed in
California and must be familiar with
California’s Building Energy Efficiency
Standards, which were recently updated
to be more restrictive, especially in
the residential arena. By code, the
mechanical engineer is one of several
design professionals required to specify
the energy efficiency of the home
building materials, lighting, and
mechanical systems. He or she must
also maintain the aesthetics required of
the custom home designer and the
comfort desired by the owner.
Geothermal Energy Use In The
Optimum Performance Home™
For this particular design of the
Optimum Performance Home at The
Sea Ranch, a geoexchange system
manufactured by WaterFurnace
International, Inc. was chosen as the
means for heating and air conditioning.
The system (also commonly referred to
as a ground-source heat pump system
or geothermal heat pump system) consists
of three main components—the
heat pump, which is the foundation of
the system (manufactured by
WaterFurnace International); a closedloop
vertical “well” system, which is
drilled into the constant temperature
earth on site; and water, which is circulated
between the ground loop and the
heat pump in high-density polyethylene
pipe. The ground-loop portion of the
geoexchange system uses the constant
temperature of the earth as a heat
source instead of natural gas or
propane for increasing the efficiency of
an electric ground-coupled heat pump.