The U.S. Green Building Council and engineering company Honeywell are teaming up to promote sustainability in commercial buildings, according to a press release from Honeywell. Utilizing the USGBC's Leed technology, accurate, real-time measurements can be taken of a building's energy performance, which can then be shared with operations managers.

The goal is to increase awareness and usability of energy management services so that data such as electricity consumption, waste output and total energy use can be quantified in a matter of seconds. With this knowledge, companies can target specific areas of their facilities that are contributing to energy loss, thus providing an avenue for necessary changes to be made.

"Buildings are alive, always changing and evolving, and optimizing technology and operations requires a solid handle on performance at any moment in time," said Scot Horst, chief product officer at the USGBC, according to the release. "Honeywell's track record of innovation and leadership complements our efforts with the LEED Dynamic Plaque and will allow us to reach new heights in changing the way facilities and communities are designed and managed."

The LEED Dynamic Plaque is a device that can rate how well a building is performing against energy standards and makes it easier to track inefficiencies, like failing HVAC units.

The Washington D.C. USGBC headquarters and DPR Construction in San Francisco will be the first two users of the Dynamic Plaque, providing incentives for companies of all industries to follow suit.

"To practice what we preach, we need high-performing buildings," said Eric Lamb, vice president of DPR Construction, according to the release. "The LEED Dynamic Plaque helps us better understand our facility in an industry-forward way, holding us accountable. Seeing the implications of our everyday actions helps make sustainable behavior permanent, as opposed to occasional scoring, and helps us build smarter for our customers."

LEED technology tracks four main components, which include water, waste, energy and transportation, according to the company's website.

Enhancing sustainability measures
An International Energy Agency report indicated that energy-efficiency tools can reduce air pollution and lower fuel costs by more than $120 million in the U.S. While there are a number of green-minded sectors, full implementation of sustainability programs across a wide array of industries has yet to be realized.

One of the easiest and most efficient ways to limit environmental impact is to update HVAC systems. In commercial and industrial buildings, like refineries, treatment facilities, factories and manufacturing plants, HVAC units are responsible for a large amount of energy waste, mainly due to a breakdown in the internal system itself.

Outside elements can corrode the interior of an HVAC system, rendering the main components useless. HVAC coils are responsible for regulation of temperature and humidity levels within a building. Air is forced overtop the coils, adjusting the temperature of the air before it is filtered into a room. When located in highly corrosive environments, coils can be damaged rather easily, which forces an HVAC unit to work harder to make up for the lack of function within the coils. This draws more electricity and contributes to high levels of energy waste, particularly in the commercial sector.

With instruments in place that can detect and deter energy waste, sustainability efforts are positively impacted. Not only can a company reduce its utility costs, but global awareness of energy-efficient building increases when the cost effectiveness of sustainability programs are widely known.

Rahn Industries provides custom coil replacements, which improve an HVAC system's productivity while installing more durable, long-lasting coils. Further, new coils increase the level of airflow and quality.

To revitalize damaged coils, Rahn's coil coating services provide a resistant buffer against corrosion.

Rahn Industries has a full lineup of spray and immersion (dip)/ Bake protective coatings to meet your needs.