buildings use roughly 35 percent of the
electricity and 16 percent of the gas consumed in the state. Space
conditioning in these buildings accounts for about 18 percent of
their electricity consumption and 34 percent of their natural gas
consumption. An additional 10 percent of commercial-building
electricity consumption is used to run the fans and pumps that help
to transport heating and cooling through thermal distribution
systems.
Most of California's light commercial buildings (less than 10,000
square feet) use air transported through ductwork for thermal
distribution. The same air distribution systems often provide both
thermal comfort and ventilation for these buildings. Energy Design
Resources encourages the use of energy-efficient fans and pumps in
the design of thermal distribution systems, but the most efficient
technology will not overcome the losses that can happen in the
ductwork.
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e-News is published by Energy Design
Resources (www.energydesignresources.com),
an online resource center for information on energy efficiency design practices in
California.
Savings By Design (www.savingsbydesign.com)
offers design assistance and incentives to design teams and building owners in California
to encourage high-performance nonresidential building design and construction.
Energy Design Resources and Savings By Design are funded by California utility customers
and administered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Sacramento Municipal Utility
District, San Diego Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison and Southern California
Gas Company, under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
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