Dec. '08/Jan. '09
The Business of Green
C O N T E N T S
Chapter News: US EPA Benefits Far Reaching
Executive Director's Corner: The Economics of Green
The Business of Green: Busted Boiler Brings Energy Savings Vision to Company
Greenbuild 2009 in Phoenix: Long Live The West
LEED: Notes From A Shifted Landscape
LEED: Bethke School LEED Certified
Regional Roundup: Denver Metro Steering Committee's Efforts Pay Off
VISION
Promote responsibility for Colorado's environmental legacy.
MISSION
Advance and promote sustainable planning, design, construction and operation of the built environment through education, improving industry guidelines, policy advocacy, and information and resource sharing.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tom Hootman, President
RNL Design
Dana Kose, Vice Chair
Universal Development Company
Megan Christensen, Secretary
Bovis Lend Lease
Jim Bradburn, Treasurer
RMH Group
Mike Lowell, Advocacy Chair
US GSA
Bobby Molinary, Membership Chair Hyatt Select
Josh Radoff, Director At Large
YRG Sustainability
Daniele Loffreda, Communications Chair
Plateau Enviro Associates
Conor Merrigan, EGB Chair
C2 Sustainable Development Consultants
Deb Kleinman
Executive Director
Colorado Building Green is the official newsletter of the U.S. Green Building Council – Colorado Chapter, and is published bi-monthly. If you are interested in submiting a story, ideas or other information for publication, please contact the editor at dgloffreda@msn.com
Busted Boiler Brings Energy Saving Vision to One Denver Company
New Boiler Pays For Itself Via Energy Savings
By Erin Mathe, Xcel Energy
|
A Big Problem
When your 40-year-old boiler dies you really have no choice but to get a new one.
The building management company at 899 Logan Inc. in downtown Denver had that problem last spring. The boiler was bound to fail sooner or later. But in replacing it, property manager Ryan Dunn of Dunn and Associates realized the boiler wasn’t the only problem.
“People complained every day about it being too hot or too cold,” said Dunn about the staff working in the 6-story office facility. “The building was constructed in 1969 and for the most part was built very well. But it had most of the original heating and cooling equipment in place and needed some efficiency upgrades. We knew it was time for a more holistic solution.”
A Comprehensive Solution
The search for a solution began in April of 2007. Tolin Mechanical Systems Company helped identify problems such as simultaneous heating and cooling, indoor air quality issues and energy efficiency upgrade opportunities.
“Our comprehensive energy audits identify operational inefficiencies within our customers’ facilities,” says Dan Gacnik, Energy Services Representative at Tolin Mechanical Systems Company. Gacnik and his team identified and recommended various energy projects including a new energy management system as detailed in the table below. With the installation of new equipment, Tolin was able to provide additional savings by decreasing the annual maintenance contract and avoiding costly repairs.
Project Cost and Savings Summary Table
Proposed Facility Improvements |
Project Costs |
Project Savings |
Xcel Energy Rebates |
Boiler Replacement Project |
$137,328 |
$9,246 |
$0 |
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) and High-Efficiency Motor Installation |
$42,500 |
$9,102 |
$3,500 |
Energy Management System Upgrade (ROI for this alone: 35%) |
$62,358 |
$15,643 |
$17,656 |
Outside Air Damper Replacement – Boiler Room |
$7,626 |
$1,600 |
$0 |
Tolin Mechanical annual maintenance contract savings and equipment repair avoided cost |
$35,928 |
$0 |
|
Totals |
$249,812 |
$71,519 |
$21,156 |
Project Summary Totals
- Net Project Cost: $228,656
(After Xcel Rebates)
- Simple Payback: 3.2 yrs
- Return on Investment: 31%