RockDoc
Swing Artist
Registered: Apr 2005
Location:
Posts: 399 |
We installed a low-E ceiling at Utica CC some 7 years ago or so and I estimated a decrease in electric usage of about 15-18% using the electric bills and some correction for the outdoor air temperature for the season before and the season after. We have a 6-sheet club so there is a lot of heat ingress from the ceiling.
In addition, you will find your ice-makers have less trouble keeping the ice consistent. On sunny days when the ceiling is quite warm, the IR radiation from the ceiling can play hob with the ice surface conditions. The low-E ceiling reflects IR, so our ice conditions are not so dependent on daily insolation of the roof. We now only have the IR radiation issue on sheet 6, which is next to a south wall. Sheet 6 is normally 1-2 seconds faster than any other sheet in the club. On sunny days, look out for lightning ice!
The other thing you will discover is that the low-E ceiling will reduce your lighting load. We pulled out half our our fluorescent tubes after installation to keep from going blind. I think a low-E ceiling is a good investment. Payback may only be a few years.
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