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Best Practice

Martino Group of Company’s Best Practice:

Initiatives: Explanation:

Proper Sizing of Equipment:

Martino HVAC shall actively promote the latest knowledge & techniques to ensure accurate and appropriate sizing of HVAC equipment in all homes
  • Oversizing of Heating & Cooling systems is known to be a waste of resources; can lead to short cycling and often results in comfort & moisture control issues
  • Proper sizing will reinforce the benefits arising from building code regulations to improve enclosure insulation and air tightness
  • CSA F280-12 “Determining the required Capacity of Residential Space Heating & Cooling appliances” & Hot2000 modeling represent the best algorithms for proper sizing
  • Martino HVAC shall facilitate development of appropriate training materials, training opportunities, industry adoption and implementation of the new sizing standard in a timely fashion

ECM Motors:

Martino HVAC shall actively promote electrically efficient fan and pump motor technologies in all HVAC equipment & systems
  • There have been significant improvements in widely available, electrically efficient fan and pump motors over the last 10-15 years
  • These technologies not only save electrical energy but are able to better match fan and pump speeds to varying or intermittent loads in HVAC systems. Typically they operate quieter & with lower bearing temperatures which encourages longer life
  • Martino HVAC shall promote electrically efficient fan and pump motor technologies such as Brushless Direct Current Drive with Variable speed or equivalent technologies

Properly Installed & Commissioned Ventilation

Martino HVAC shall actively promote the proper installation and commissioning of ventilation systems to meet the highest indoor air quality objectives of buildings
  • While continuous mechanical ventilation in all new homes has been an Ontario Building Code requirement since 1990, these minimum requirements may not meet the objectives of high performance buildings for enhanced air quality control
  • The ventilation requirements in homes varies markedly by locations and time in a home – “wet” rooms needing specific, but perhaps intermittent high rates of exhaust, bedrooms needing low, but continuous rates when occupied or special purpose areas
  • The various elements of ventilation equipment in a home are often supplied by different contractors who may be unfamiliar with the total ventilation objectives or the interaction of the various systems
  • Martino HVAC shall promote technologies, techniques, systems & training, that facilitates proper installation & commissioning of the entire ventilation strategy in high performance buildings; taking into account local requirements for moisture & odour control as well as proper distribution of fresh air for occupants

Controls

Martino HVAC shall actively promote technologies, techniques and systems that enable more accurate control and remote monitoring or control of HVAC systems in homes
  • There have been significant improvements in widely available programmable electronic controls for all aspects of HVAC systems over the last 10-15 years. Many of these control options allow for remote monitoring and even remote control of HVAC operation.
  • Controls in commercial and industrial buildings have had remote capabilities for many years and this facilitates either better awareness by users or access to qualified energy management firms that can direct the most efficient operation of HVAC systems on behalf of users
  • Many homeowners would be interested in a control system that they could monitor or control remotely from a mobile or web-based platform to facilitate a more accurate control of their system
  • Other users might prefer enabling qualified HVAC contractors to monitor their system & inform homeowners of maintenance needs, adjust for operation efficiency, or diagnose issues
  • Martino HVAC shall promote technologies, techniques, systems & training, that facilitate the introduction of controls that can monitor & even control residential HVAC systems remotely and guidelines to ensure AC systems are properly tested & charged to match both the sensible & latent loads for a house in its specific geographic location and expected operation

Filtration Specifications

Martino HVAC shall actively promote technologies, techniques and systems that ensure appropriate filtration of indoor air pollutants in homes
  • The indoor air quality objectives of homes include responsible provisions for effective filtration of indoor air. While filtration cannot be expected to take out all airborne pollutants, properly integrating filtration into the HVAC system is a responsible objective
  • Martino HVAC shall promote technologies, techniques, systems & training that ensure appropriate filtration of indoor air in HVAC systems. This will include promoting MERV 11 as the minimum level of filtration effectiveness in buildings and ensuring the appropriate choice of filters that do not adversely affect air flow, pressure drop or electrical efficiency of the system
  • As a minimum standard Martino HVAC shall incorporate our patented “Martino Air Guard®” with Merv 11 filtration where possible to encourage better filtration whilst not incurring additional cost to the end user for future air filtration possibilities

AC Efficiency

Martino HVAC shall actively promote 14.5 SEER or higher AC Efficiency as the better practice level for all homes
  • While the run time of AC systems in most Canadian homes is relatively short, it is likely to increase over the coming years as homes become energy efficient & are more influenced by intermittent loads due to solar gain and internal load variances
  • Again, while run times of AC units are fairly short, many municipalities face summer peaking utility loads that are often exacerbated by the operation of residential AC systems
  • Thus Martino HVAC shall promote Energy Star levels as a minimum of energy efficiency for AC systems. At the moment, the better practice level should be promoted as 14.5 SEER or higher

Duct Leakage & Distribution

Martino HVAC shall actively promote thorough duct system sealing of forced air HVAC systems in homes
  • Over the past 20 years there has been a dramatic change in the comfort expectations of homeowners leading to a large percentage of homes with AC, continuous central filtration, ventilation and humidification
  • This means central forced air systems are used consistently throughout the year and fan motors run more often. Thus the effective distribution of air is more important than ever to ensure proper comfort control and the wise use of energy
  • Simple, friction fit residential forced air duct systems have been shown to leak at the rate of at least 20-25% under normal operating pressures. This is an inefficient use of fan power & results in poor comfort control from season to season
  • Martino HVAC shall promote technologies, training, duct testing and industry awareness for ensuring duct systems have leakage rates under 10%, to be consistent with US and High Performance Building program objectives

Moisture Control

Martino HVAC shall actively promote technologies, techniques and systems that enable more accurate control of indoor humidity levels in homes
  • Given consumers ever increasing expectations for better comfort control, there is need for better humidification and dehumidification systems in homes
  • Moisture control, specifically in basements and around cold surfaces is very important to avoid possible mold growth or degradation of building materials
  • Latent loads have increased due to higher ventilation and internal loads
  • The HVAC industry has historically promoted winter humidification systems, but have limited involvement in spring, summer and fall humidity control through simple air conditioning systems
  • Martino HVAC shall promote technologies, techniques, systems & training that facilitates the proper design, installation, control & commissioning of comprehensive moisture management systems that could include whole house humidification, dehumidification, enthalpy controls and energy recovery ventilation

Commissioning & Start up Test

Martino HVAC shall actively promote the accurate and proper commissioning of HVAC systems in homes
  • In addition to a proper sizing by design, the efficient operation of HVAC equipment in homes is dependent on proper installation practices
  • To ensure design objectives are effectively implemented in the actual installation all systems should be tested/commissioned and homeowners should be educated as to proper operation and seasonal adjustment
  • Martino HVAC shall develop & promote use of a commissioning guideline or report that can be cost effectively applied after installation of any new HVAC equipment

Refrigerant Management Charge Test

Martino HVAC shall actively promote a refrigerant charge test to be used in all new and replacement AC installations to best match the house loads & geographic location
  • The energy efficiency & overall sensible and latent cooling effectiveness of air conditioning systems is directly dependant on the proper and accurate refrigerant charge in the AC system
  • Moreover, refrigerant management has been a priority of the HVAC industry to minimize the impact of the release of chemicals that may affect the environment
  • Energy efficient, “green” high performance homes are more subject to the intermittent loads of internal gains – appliances, lights, windows & people, such that AC systems will be running more frequently, specifically in the “swing” seasons
  • Martino HVAC shall promote technologies, training, testing protocols and guidelines to ensure AC systems are properly tested & charged to match both the sensible & latent loads for a house in its specific geographic location and expected operation

Maintenance Program & Customer Awareness

Martino HVAC shall create tools, training and educations programs that empower homeowners to properly use, maintain & adjust HVAC systems to meet comfort expectations
  • Homeowners have access to a wide variety of industry related information, but have limited time or resources to evaluate the credibility or accuracy of the source or appropriateness to their specific home or application
  • Martino HVAC shall create tools; training and educational programs that empower homeowners to properly use adjust and maintain HVAC systems in their entirety. This could include web or mobile device accessed information. It shall also include a commitment by all industry members to be able to provide unbiased, non-judgemental assessment and advice as to the most appropriate HVAC technologies for high performance homes

Combination HVAC & DHW Systems

Martino HVAC shall actively promote the proper, installation and commissioning of “combo” heating & DHW systems in homes
  • Space heating loads in homes are reducing and domestic hot water needs are still on the rise; given there has been a significant change in the availability of water heating technologies to the residential HVAC industry, there has been growing interest in systems that combine the functions of space and water heating
  • The standards for determining the energy efficiency of water heaters, boilers and forced air heating systems all differ and may provide misleading performance metrics for systems that provide both space and water heating functions
  • The sizing, design, installation and commissioning of combination systems directly affect the performance of the installed system and may vary by subtleties of the combination system
  • CSA P9.11 standard “Test method for determining the performance of combined space and water heating systems (combos)”; New systems are being tested to this standard and it is clear that the interaction between the water heating source and the heat distribution system (ex. Air handler) has a significant effect on the overall energy performance
  • Martino HVAC shall promote the use of only independently tested, qualified combo systems as soon as they are commonly available
  • Martino HVAC shall promote the proper design, installation & commissioning industry standards and guidelines for combo systems

Hydronic Heating Systems

Martino HVAC shall actively promote the proper, installation and commissioning of appropriate hydronic heating systems in homes
  • In much the same was as “combo” systems are gaining in popularity, high performance homes may well be suited to heating systems that are based on a hot water distribution strategy. Hydronic systems have inherent advantages in targeting certain types of heating loads; in-slab heating for basements, slab on grade and floor warming for comfort. In addition, heat can be distributed effectively with small diameter water lines and low power consumption pump motors as compared to forced air heating systems
  • Martino HVAC shall promote awareness of technologies, techniques, systems & training that facilitates the integration of hydronic systems into homes where appropriate and ensure proper design & installation of those technologies to meet the comfort and energy efficiency objectives of higher performance homes

Renewable Energy Initiative

Martino HVAC shall actively promote awareness of technologies, techniques and systems that facilitate the introduction of renewable energy systems into the HVAC systems in “green” high performance homes
  • Over the next 10-15 years there is likely to be much wider availability of cost effective heat pump, solar, wind and other renewable technologies. Each of these may either impact the operation of HVAC systems in homes or may need to be integrated with the operation of HVAC systems
  • At present, the most cost effective renewable energy technologies are the new generation of air source & earth source heat pumps and thermal solar systems
  • Martino HVAC shall facilitate the future introduction of renewable energy systems into high performance green homes by making allowance for connection points, wiring, plumbing or other component raceways and providing information on control compatibility
  • Martino HVAC shall promote awareness of technologies, techniques, systems & training that facilitates the introduction and proper design & installation of renewable technologies that either impact HVAC operation or need to be integrated with HVAC systems
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