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As production studios become more technically
advanced and broadcast equipment becomes more sophisticated,
does
that “turn
up the heat” in broadcast facilities?
Let’s
just say the heat is definitely on for studio managers
of these facilities. Given the fact that utility
bills for on-air studios and support facilities can easily
reach thousands per month, saving even as little as a few
hours of HVAC and lighting per day can translate into annualized
substantial savings that can avoid budget cuts in other more
painful areas.
What do you consider first when looking at energy management?
The biggest culprit for high energy costs in a studio setting
will always be the HVAC system. This holds particularly true
for older facilities that do not have energy saving features
or means such as Variable Air Volume (VAV) system, direct
digital controls (DDC), heat recovery units, etc., and thus
have to rely on constant volume system and manually regulating
studio temperature during the various production stages.
Another obvious culprit is lighting for these studios. Consider
that studios will typically use up to 75 W per square foot
for lighting. Compare that to 1.5 W for the average office
building. It is clear that cutting down on even two operating
hours of full lighting time can have a substantial impact
on energy cost.
Where do you advise clients begin to address these issues?
An assessment of current energy use will help in determining
and maximizing energy savings. Once we determine that reality,
we can look at ways to reduce those costs. Energy savings
can be obtained by replacing the hours of operation by the
number of hours that can be saved or turning the HVAC and
electrical systems down.
Does that really significantly impact energy costs?
It
depends on the lengths owners are prepared to go. Let’s
look at one small example. Given the fact that the average
one-hour live-audience show requires up to four hours of
preparation time, it’s easy to see how converting a
constant volume HVAC system to a VAV system could significantly
cut down on energy use. This reduction could easily be translated
into 15 to 20% savings depending on size of the facility
and capacity of the HVAC system. That 15 to 20% can add up.
What other measures could an owner take?
In addition to implementing energy saving features, implementing
automation such as direct digital control (DDC) can play
a major role in maximizing energy savings. Such an automated
system will allow the user to properly plan and control the
space temperature as well as lighting. That can be easily
achieved via a control integration system. Control integration
may include HVAC, lighting, security and other building systems.
What if it is an older or existing facility?
Taking an already existing HVAC system and turning it into
a VAV system is also the least expensive and quickest way
to make a studio more energy efficient. The next best option
for energy savings involves the installation of heat-recovery
units that allows a facility to recover some of the energy
that is being released back into the atmosphere in order
to comply with code requirements. Typically, a 2000 to 3000
square foot studio will hold an audience up to 150 to 180
people. The air that is being exchanged for outside air is
usually very low temperature and large quantity air. Putting
this air through an air-to-air heat exchanger, heat pipe
or enthalpy wheel presents a cost-conscious alternative to
using compressors and chillers to bring hot outside air temperature
down to the desired room temperature.
Are owners willing to make that investment in an older
facility?
The costs of such a retrofit are low to moderate depending
on the type of facility, age of equipment, and space availability.
From a logistical point of view such an undertaking entails
converting existing systems and installing variable frequency
drives, controls, and/or heat recovery wheel.
Another, though admittedly most capital-intensive method
of energy saving involves the installation of a cogeneration
plant.
Isn’t that overdoing it for this type
of facility?
Cogeneration by definition is the
simultaneous generation of electricity and use of waste heat
to drive a chiller and/or
boiler which provides cooling and heating to a building.
Historically, it has been employed to generate energy for
large-scale applications -- industrial complexes, college
campuses, hospitals and in campus-like settings -- where
there is considerable electricity usage Today’s changing
economy and technology advances now make it more of a viable
alternative solution for many other types of users. An example
of a small-scale cogeneration application might be its use
to generate electricity onsite in a building to supplement
utility-supplied power while also providing chilled water,
heating hot water or domestic hot water for the building’s
domestic use.
An added benefit is the fact that several states (including
New York and California) and many utility companies nationwide
offer some financial incentives to install cogen facilities.
However, for broadcast studios this may not be feasible as
they mostly operate within leased spaces and thus tend to
refrain from high-end, long-term investments such as this.
You mentioned lighting. What steps can be taken to reduce
energy usage in that area?
Automating lighting systems, changing light controls and/or
adding different lighting options are all extremely effective
means to significantly cut energy costs. For instance, installing
adequate maintenance fluorescent lighting that can be used
during preparation for a show will result in energy reduction
by keeping the studio light (high wattage) off until the
commencement of the actual show or taping.
In many studio designs, we’ve been able to successfully
cut costs by introducing house light fluorescent light fixtures
with energy efficient lamps that can be used during tasks
that don’t require spotlight level—such as pre-
and post-work. In other cases, complex dimmer systems are
a viable option, with up to 50 or 60 circuits that would
allow studio operators to switch up to as many different
lighting combinations.
Are there any other steps an owner can take?
Absolutely! One other area we see repeatedly is a lack of
staff training. You would be stunned to know how costly overlooking
that aspect can be. All too often facilities failed to realize
the level of savings they expected due to lack of proper
training. The reason: staff had not been properly trained
or lacked discipline necessary to ensure the system was functioning
at its optimal potential: not only initial training is required
but follow-up training sessions are necessary to refresh
facility personnel.
The bottom line: Proper use of automated control systems
will allow lighting and HVAC use to be carefully scheduled,
ensuring the entire studio isn’t turned on during
pre-production or the space cooled for full-house use when
only a handful of employees are working and spotlights
are off. But as is always the case with technological innovations,
reaping the full benefits require that these systems be
used properly.
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