By / Norm Grusnick, P.Eng
Picking the “low-hanging fruit” is a metaphor commonly used to describe doing the simplest or easiest work first. Maximum gain for minimum effort is also fairly descriptive. However, when budgeting for a new building or considering a cost-effective solution to saving energy when retrofitting, finding a simple, cost-effective solution that produces results without taxing the budget can be a daunting task. At a time when societal pressures place so much emphasis on saving energy for the future, the task of doing so without driving capital or long-term operational costs through the roof typically falls on the shoulders of building owners and managers and their staff. Mechanical insulation, properly specified and installed by professionals, may be the low hanging fruit building operators are looking for.
Mechanical Insulation “Payback”
Insulation reduces energy consumption, which means less fossil fuel is burned to produce that energy. This, in turn, decreases the amount of polluting gases such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. Because carbon dioxide is one of the principal greenhouse gases contributing to global warming and sulfur dioxide is the major component of acid rain, insulation plays a significant role in protecting the environment.
A properly designed and installed insulation system provides an excellent return on investment and quick payback through cost savings. Insulation is a low-risk investment because the savings and the payback can be forecasted with a high degree of accuracy. Insulation is one of the few technologies where the payback for the investment is considered more than acceptable when compared to many other equipment or maintenance purchases. If the insulated system is maintained, the savings from the investment continue for the life of the facility. In fact, it costs more to not insulate properly. The return on investment or payback for an investment in insulation is often from six months to two years.
Reduced Mold, Corrosion, Component Replacement
Insulation with a good vapour retarder controls condensation and limits corrosion on cold piping, ducts, chillers, and roof drains. Specifying sufficient insulation thickness with an effective vapour retarder system is the most effective means of providing a system for controlling condensation on the membrane surface and within the insulation system on cold piping, ducts, chillers, and roof drains.
Sufficient insulation thickness is needed to keep the surface temperature of the membrane above the highest possible design dew point temperature of the ambient air so condensation does not form on the surface. The effective vapour retarder system is needed to restrict moisture migration into the system through the facing, joints, seams, penetrations, hangers, and supports. By controlling condensation, the system designer may control the potential for mold growth and the potential for health problems resulting from water condensate, as well as corrosion of pipes, valves, and fittings caused by water collected and contained within insulation system.
Personnel Safety and Aesthetics
Thermal insulation is one of the most effective means of protecting workers from burns resulting from contact with hot or extremely cold piping and equipment. For hot surfaces especially, insulation reduces the surface temperature of piping or equipment to a safer level, resulting in increased worker safety and the avoidance of worker downtime due to injury. As an added bonus, insulation covering exposed air conditioning and plumbing lines gives a finished appearance to a building. Mechanical rooms insulated and finished by professionals will no longer be areas to be avoided.
Mechanical insulation may be the “low hanging” fruit you have been looking for. Applied by professionals, mechanical insulation helps reduce GHGs, lower energy consumption, reduce condensation, reduce operating costs, increase worker safety, and provide a quick ROI.
To calculate a specific payback, download a free program called 3E Plus® at www.pipeinsulation.org or use the insulation calculators created by the National Insulation Association (NIA) and available at http://wbdg.org/design/midg_calculators.php. Read more about NIA and the benefits of insulation at https://insulation.org/ ▪
