Page 20 - CooperatorNews South Florida Expo 2021

20 COOPERATORNEWS SOUTH FLORIDA —EXPO 2021 SOFL.COOPERATORNEWS.COM vances. For example, installing a BMS for the cooling/heating plants. In general, we are seeing a trend of buildings integrating a BMS where they can track and control equipment more efficiently and remotely. “When we are changing out ma- jor mechanical, electrical, and plumb- ing (MEP) components, obviously we’re looking at greener alternatives, as well as more energy efficient equipment,” adds Resnick. “However, retrofitting old equipment with energy saving add-ons like variable-frequency drives (VFDs) is also more accessible than before. A VFD is essentially a mechanical device that controls the way the piece of equipment attached to it operates, allowing it to be run on demand rather than continuously, which reduces consumption and operat- ing costs. New equipment already comes with this feature, but VFDs can also be in- stalled on existing equipment to improve efficiency.” Greener Pastures, Greener Buildings Global warming and its effects are a major concern for the real estate industry today, and will remain so into the fore- seeable future. Many localities have en- acted or are phasing in new regulations and requirements to reduce greenhouse gases and carbon footprints. This trend will change the way we heat and cool our homes. “One of the main emergent trends is electrification,” says Resnick, “and there is a big push for it. This rings true for both New York and Florida markets. In Florida, most properties are already pri- marily electric. As the grid gets greener and greener, electricity is the cleanest fuel source compared to natural gas, oil, and even steam. This push results in electric technologies being developed and imple- mented—heat pumps, water heaters, and other electric equipment help us move away from other fuel sources.” Resnick goes on to say that “a major contributor to emissions is heating and cooling. Based on the work we’ve done with our clients and boards, we’re seeing a major increase in demand for replacing gas-fired chillers and heating equipment with something modular like electric chillers, or even separate gas-fired boil- ers, which all reduce energy consumption compared to traditional gas-fired chillers. Advantages of this include ease of instal- lation—these are small units that are very easy to install, versus having one huge piece of equipment that is difficult to get in and out of your property.” Ray Locicero, an engineer with Rand Engineering based in New York, adds, “The technology for heat pump systems isn’t new, but more are being installed. New accessories, like WiFi enabled con- trol, are very popular. A lot of units have the ability to utilize this technology. It connects to your WiFi and you set a schedule for its use,” which is both a mon- ey saver and a control on your building’s carbon footprint at the most personal level. Another up-and-coming technology trend nationwide, if not worldwide, is the transition away from internal com- bustion engine vehicles to electric. Elec- tric vehicles are cleaner and quieter, but they do require easy accessibility to elec- tric charging stations. “There’s a big de- mand,” says Scott Wolf, CEO of BRIGS, a real estate management firm based in Boston, Massachusetts. “It’s the way of the future—so how do you provide this? We are looking at how to retrofit our properties with electric charging systems while keeping the costs fair to all for the residents. The first thing we consider is if there is enough power in building for the stations, and then who is paying for the power. Making these charges a common expense is unpopular. It’s more equitable to go with a pay-per-use arrangement. Charges can be segregated with charge- backs to specific users. Another option is a swipe-and-go card system where the user gets charged directly. Another prob- lem is with parking spaces. How do you provide deeded spaces, one unit one spot, if say you only have ten charging stations but many more units? How do you man- age it? Do people share them? If you have a garage, it’s easier to manage this because you have the infrastructure—but the pressing question above all is whether there is enough power, and what it takes to bring it in.” Resnick agrees. “The rise of electric ve- hicles and, in turn, the demand for more charging stations in buildings is worth noting,” he says. “As more people pur- chase electric vehicles, there is a bigger push for buildings to provide the infra- structure to support those residents, and there are many incentives that encourage the installation of the ports and make it attainable and affordable for buildings.” According to the pros, a forward- thinking board-management team would be smart to start thinking now—if it hasn’t already—about how well-positioned its building or association is to meet grow- ing demand for electric vehicle support infrastructure on-site. Practical & Unexpected While most innovation in building systems today is in response to the loom- ing long-term effects of climate change, some new technologies are more closely linked to unexpected events, like the CO- VID-19 pandemic. To illustrate, Wollman points toward such products as air filters. “Companies are offering more products relative to COVID,” he says. “Air purification sys- tems are now ramping up, new and inno- vative. An example is the MERV 13 filter, TRENDS... continued from page 1 See us at Booth 624 See us at Booth 211