The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has denied a petition from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an extension in releasing the MACT boiler rules. The MACT, or Maximum Achievable Control Technology, rules are designed to control the release of toxic air emissions such as cadmium, dioxin, furans, formaldehyde, and hydrochloric acid to name a few. Current observers believe that these new standards will be significantly different from the EPA’s April 2010 proposal. The industry is watching these developments closely as the new rules could impose unrealistic or cost crushing standards for boiler manufacturers.

There is no clear understanding of how the new rules will be worded and implemented or how the EPA will proceed in general. The American Boiler Manufacturer’s Association (ABMA) is also monitoring the situation as the cost of compliance could be significant for some businesses. Pentad Associates Inc will be monitoring these developments to keep our partners and customers informed of the latest news. Check back with our BLOG to see updates on the MACT rules and how they may impact your operations.

Pentad Associates Inc. is excited to be launching a new web page that will serve to strengthen our customer relations and inform our customers of new developments in the industry. Our new web site will provide more product information than ever before, and we’ve organized that information for easy access by both product description and application categories. But it’s more than just a flashy new look. Visitors to the site can find out about our lunch and learn program or read one of our BLOGs on industry news. Visitors will also find several easy ways to contact us for assistance in solving their problems.

That’s part of our continuing mission by the way. The website is the newest tool for Pentad Associates Inc. to help our customers. Our objective is to create a forum and information repository that serves our customers in the information age. We recognize that your time is important to you so we have made every effort to get you the information you’re seeking fast! We hope you take a few moments to explore our new website and see what it has to offer you. As always, we welcome your phone calls or e-mails.

Miura Boilers Inc., was selected by Duke University to replace older coal fired boilers with new high efficiency natural gas boilers. The new system will provide 35% more steam to their system capabilities. The historic steam plant building will supply the equivalent of enough steam each hour to heat 2,500 houses. This project is a major part of Duke’s plan to become a carbon-neutral campus and serves as a model of efficiency for other universities. Click on the link below to watch the short video.

Xcel Energy has significantly increased rebate dollars and added rebates for Commercial heating equipment not previously covered. So now’s the time to take advantage of long-term energy savings when reviewing your heating equipment options in 2011.

Boiler Efficiency Rebates are now up to 5 times higher!

Commercial Rebates have increased from $2,500 up to $14,000 per million BTUH for qualifying boiler upgrades. If your system’s more than 10–15 years old or is in line for replacement, be sure to choose a more efficient money-saving option.ðÌðŠ Only boilers used for space and/or domestic water heating qualify for prescriptive equipment rebates. Other boilers can qualify for custom rebates, which require preapproval.

New Commercial Rebates

• Hot Water Heaters — rebates are now available for both tank-less hot water heaters and units with storage.
• Pipe Insulation — un-insulated boiler-system pipes waste energy, even on the return side! Our new easy pipe insulation rebates are generous and help make insulating those pipes with missing or damaged insulation very cost-effective.

Thinking about a heating system upgrade in 2011?

Consider this:

• A planned replacement will allow for more careful analysis of your equipment options, rebate opportunities, energy costs, lifetime savings and payback
• Off-season replacement offers minimal downtime and often saves on equipment and installation.
• New equipment is less likely to break down when you need it most.
• Replacing equipment now instead of waiting until it breaks down can prevent wasted
• energy dollars.

To learn if you qualify for these new rebates that can save you money on equipment purchases and on your energy Bill contact our Business Solutions Center at 1-800-481-4700, or visit XcelEnergy.com/rebates.

ðÌðŠ

With energy costs rising and operating budgets coming under increased financial pressure, the Webster Temp-A-Trim® might just be the solution to your long term energy saving plan. Air temperatures in your boiler room can change dramatically from day to night and season to season. These changes can cause significant combustion inefficiencies while degrading combustion stability. Temp-A-Trim® saves you money because it precisely monitors the fuel/air ratio in your burner. Temp-A-Trim® senses combustion air temperature and automatically varies the fan speed to create a constant air flow mass for combustion. By maintaining optimum fuel/air ratio, you are assured that your burner is operating at maximum efficiency.

Temp-A-Trim® Features & Benefits:

•    Precisely corrects for changes in air density to optimize combustion efficiency 24/7

•    Reduces the need for seasonal tuning of your burners

•    Feed-forward control for smooth, accurate operation

•    Easy to install, with no special setup or programming required

•    Compatible with linkage or linkage-less controls

•    Saves fuel and electricity while lowering noise levels

•    Available on all sizes of new or existing Webster burners

•    Lower cost, complexity, and maintenance than typical O2 systems

•    UL Listed

A Pentad sales representative is ready to discuss the Webster Temp-A-Trim® options and other cost saving heat recovery options that could save your business thousands of dollars in energy costs. Give us a call at 3030-688-4070 or e-mail us at sales@pentadassoc.com.