Nevena Iordanova
Armstrong International | Senior Utility Systems Engineer
Speaker
Track F: Building Performance
Session F1: HVAC, Heat Pumps, and Thermal Energy Networks
September 16, 2026 | 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Low Hanging Fruits for Optimizing a Thermal System
Decarbonization, carbon neutral, net zero…by now many companies have set their long-term goals. Achieving them starts with developing a roadmap and then working through it in small incremental steps. Where to start? Are there low-hanging fruits? Yes, there are optimizations and efficiency improvements that lead to quick wins within all steam and hot water systems.
Steam and hot water generation efficiency can be increased by tuning and optimizing boiler operation and Deaerators. Many times, this can be done without any capital investment. Taking care of the distribution system, maintaining a healthy steam trap population, properly designed piping, and efficient insulation and leak repairs commonly comes with a pay back of no more than one to three years.
Steam users and process improvements often come with longer paybacks, though opportunities are revealed by questioning the status quo and changing operational parameters. For example, do you need high pressure steam to heat water to 140F? Can we apply waste heat recovery instead?
A functional condensate return system is pivotal to conserving energy and treated water and reducing sewer charges.
Identifying low hanging fruits and quick win projects is a good starting point towards achieving your plant’s long-term goals.
Speaker Bio
Nevena Iordanova is a Senior Utility Systems Engineer at Armstrong, bringing over 39 years of experience in energy engineering across industries such as refineries, steel mills, chemical plants, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, hospitals, and universities. She has been with Armstrong for 31 years, 29 in the United States and two years in Bulgaria, specializing in evaluating, designing, and optimizing energy systems to cut costs, lower emissions, and improve reliability. Her expertise has earned her a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. Department of Energy as a DOE Qualified Best Practices Steam System Specialist, and she contributed to the development of ASME energy assessment standards for steam systems. Nevena holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Sofia Technical University in Bulgaria and continues to help facilities improve efficiency through customized energy solutions.