Masonry Magazine June 1966 Page. 8
KOMKOV REPORT
OPERATING COSTS DOUBLED
The doubling of heat loss will nearly double the operating costs, the initial investment, the insurance, and the depreciation. And real estate taxes go up as the size of the equipment increases. Large equipment also creates a number of problems of its own. Ducts and pipes waste space, more noise is generated, and greater loads have to be supported by the floor area.
How Can Heat Transfer Be Figured?
Unfortunately, there isn't a computer program to date that will permit easy computation of heat transfer calculations. However, an architect doesn't necessarily have to get involved in a lot of complicated heat transfer computations. He can still determine what we call the Optimum Heat Transfer Rate in comparing possible designs.
The "U" value will give him a reasonable idea of how much heat he will lose, provided his designs don't have a lot of the "short circuits" mentioned in the heat transfer sense. He then can easily plot a graph and determine the point at which the amount of money that will be saved in heating and air conditioning in the life of the building equals or exceeds the investment needed to make the savings. There is a point at which the expense of a little bit of extra insulation will equal the various costs of the extra heat or air conditioning.
Double thermal glass cost $1500 more to air condition each summer.
What Komkov Studies Say About Measuring Heat Loss
1. The more uniform the construction the easier it is to determine accurately how much heat will be lost. Masonry and concrete structures are most uniform. Therefore, it's easier to compute heat loss in masonry and concrete buildings.
2. In some kinds of buildings it's especially difficult to compute heat loss. This type generally is the least efficient from the point of view of heating and air conditioning. The curtain-wall type and all-glass construction are generally inefficient, even when double thermal glass is used.
3. The usual approach to measuring heat loss by "U" tables is often unreliable.
"CHEAP" VS. "ECONOMY"
It can't be emphasized too strongly that cheapness of construction is not identical with economy. The best design from the owner's point of view will combine the economies of subsequent running costs, maintenance, depreciation and taxation.
AND IN CONCLUSION
The conclusion one must reach after examining all the hidden costs is that heating and air conditioning does represent a large portion of the total costs of the building. Reduction of these costs must be attempted by careful consideration of the heat transfer characteristics of the architectural design.
Printed with permission of the Utah Masonry Advisory Board.
MASONRY
June, 1966