Western Massachusetts Electric Companys

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Western Massachusetts Electric Companys

• Chiller Efficiency Program

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Efficiency as a component of equipment selection

• Look at 2 case studies
• Review WMECO incentive eligibility requirements
• Discuss influencing key decision makers

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BERKSHIRE MEDICAL CENTER
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Berkshire Medical Center

• Required new 530 ton chiller
• Preliminary selection IPLV _at_
• 0.48 kW/ton

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Original selection criteria

• First cost
• Physical size
• Meet minimum efficiency requirement of MA
  Building Code

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Energy operating cost

• Not estimated
• Not a consideration in chiller selection

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WMECO s chiller program

• Provided estimate of operating cost _at_ 1,164,000
  kWh, 112,000 / year
• Recommended consideration of more efficient
  chiller

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WMECO s chiller program

• Recommended VFD control
• Offered to contribute conservation incentive
  payment for greater efficiency

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Design teams response

• Submitted six alternate chillers for WMECO
  evaluation
• IPLV ranged from original 0.48 to 0.33 kW / ton

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WMECO Incentive Eligibility

• Based on IPLV certified at ARI 550/590-98
• Contract agreement signed before equipment
  ordered
• Incentive must be the significant factor in
  customers equipment selection
• Manufacturer neutral

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WMECOs offer to Berkshire Medical Center

• 67,000 incentive offered for
• Centrifugal chiller with VFD
• IPLV 0.33 kW/ton
• Reduced operating cost by 9, 10,000
  annual savings

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BMCs decision making process

• Made by financial committee.
• Considered
• WMECO incentive offer covered a significant
  portion but not entire upgrade cost
• Reduction in long term energy operating cost

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BMCs final decision

• No brainer
• Selected most efficient option

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Basketball Hall of Fame
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Basketball Hall of Fame

• WMECO met with design team early in concept
  development
• Original plan
• Central chiller for exhibit area only
• Independent roof top units all other areas

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Basketball Hall of Fame

• First cost the major criteria of equipment
  selection
• HVAC budget could not be substantially increased

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WMECO s chiller program

• Recommended
• Energy operating cost be considered
• Revise HVAC design to chillers serving entire
  building, eliminate RTUs
• Consider other conservation opportunities

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Basketball Hall of Fame

• Agreement signed to install
• (2) Centrifugal chillers _at_ 350 tons each
• VFD on each chiller
• IPLV _at_ 0.361 kW/ ton
• VFD on each of (3) 20 HP chilled water pumps
• (10) VFDs on air handlers hot water pumps, 5
  75 HP
• Premium efficiency electric motors

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Basketball Hall of Fame

• As compared to original design
• kWh reduction of 26, 715,000 kWh / year savings
• kW demand reduction of 30
• 68,000 / year reduction in electric energy
  operating cost

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Basketball Hall of Fame

• Energy design collaboration between
• WMECO
• Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
• Bargmann, Hendrie, Archetype
• AHA Consulting Engineers
• OConnell Development Group

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Basketball Hall of Fame

• Also produced significant reduction in fossil
  fuel operating cost
• Achieved 160,000 conservation incentive payment
  from WMECO

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Information needed for WMECO chiller incentive
evaluation

• Operating schedule
• Building cooling load
• Refrigerant type
• Compressor type screw or centrifugal

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Information needed for WMECO chiller incentive
evaluation

• ARI rated ton capacity
• kW / ton _at_ 25, 50, 75, 100 loading
• Auxiliaries BHP of
• Secondary primary chilled water pumps
• Condenser water pump
• Tower fan

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Conclusions

• Involve WMECO early
• Identify several equipment options of varying
  efficiency
• Estimate the energy operating cost of each option
• Advocate operating cost as a component of
  equipment selection
• Utilize available WMECO incentive