Boston’s mayor has issued an executive order to eliminate fossil fuels in new commercial building construction and major renovations. This initiative is part of Mayor Michelle Wu’s commitment to accelerating climate action. The Executive Order states:
“On behalf of the City of Boston, this Executive Order asserts Mayor Michelle Wu’s commitment to accelerating climate action by requiring that all new municipal buildings and major renovations operate without fossil fuels, reducing emissions from Boston’s building sector while creating high-quality jobs, improving public health and quality of life and advancing racial and economic justice.”
View the full details of the executive order.
This directive complements the recently released “BERDO 2.0” regulations, which outline a path toward carbon neutrality in the city. However, this transition presents challenges, especially when it comes to effectively heating buildings with the current grid power. Yet, with every challenge comes an opportunity.
Electric Solution: Heat Pumps
Oilon Heat Pumps
One solution for heating without consuming fossil fuels at the point of use is industrial heat pumps. Heat pumps use electricity to power a compressor and, through a refrigeration cycle, transfer heat from a lower temperature source or waste heat source to a higher temperature loop. Water is still used as the heat transfer medium, so there’s no need to pipe refrigeration throughout your building as with VRF systems. The shift toward heat pumps is real, and the market is already moving in that direction.
Heat Pump Rebates
Massachusetts utility companies offer substantial rebates for installing commercial heat pumps, making this transition more financially viable.
Traditionally, the drawback of heat pumps was their inability to produce high-temperature water during extremely cold weather, such as when outdoor temperatures drop below 20°F. On these design days, another method of “boosting” the temperature to the required 160°F supply loop for the building is needed. This is where boilers come into play.
Electric No-Emissions Boilers
Support from Electric Boilers
Frank I. Rounds offers electric boilers and high-efficiency natural gas boilers as backup options for those colder days. Gas-fired boilers are efficient at high temperatures and provide a backup energy source. However, if you’re in Boston, this will require prior approval. If gas boilers are not allowed, electric boilers are an alternative for heating during cold days.
High-Temperature Water-to-Water Heat Pump
Another alternative, which would qualify for rebate dollars, is to use a higher-temperature water-to-water heat pump. This is where Oilon fits into the picture. A true industrial size machine in terms of capacity and temperatures. Oilon was designed in Finland. How many cooling days are there in Finland? Not nearly as many as heating days. So, you can imagine what their focus was when they set out to build an efficient heat pump.
The intent was to focus a heat pump design on heating, not cooling. With capacities upwards of 7,000 MBH and temperatures to 200 deg F (that’s not a typo, yes, 200 deg F), this is viable option to heat high temperatures without fossil fuel on those colder days – using waste heat in the building, cooling towers, exhaust gas recovery, air-to-water heat pump supply, solar heated water, or geothermal loop water. When the heat pump can run using waste heat, substituting valuable primary energy, the COP values can climb to between 4-6.
Learn more about our complete line of Oilon Heat Pump Solutions
These systems are easy to size and select by reaching out to our team here at Frank I. Rounds Company at 800-696-6440 and ask to talk with our sales applications team. They will ask you some basics and work on an efficient solution for your unique heating needs!
Frank I. Rounds has been selling, servicing and supporting quality boiler room equipment solutions since 1936 for the New England area.
