Improving Indoor Environment and Energy Efficiency for a University Campus in North Carolina

At A Glance

A local North Carolina University faced challenges in maintaining comfortable indoor environments in their campus buildings due to issues with their central chiller plants. These issues led to discomfort, high energy costs, and unnecessary equipment stress. To address this, the University enlisted Brady to retrofit Central Chiller Plant #1. Brady’s solution included equipment modifications and the installation of new control systems, valves, and analytics. By coordinating installations efficiently and providing comprehensive training, Brady successfully optimized the system for improved performance.

Challenges

Maintaining comfortable indoor environments Low delta T syndrome
Excessive chiller run time
Outdated controls

Benefits

Reliable and efficient system
Improved energy and operational efficiency
Continued optimization

A view of the façades of Royce Hall and Haines Hall at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) campus.

Transforming Central Chiller Plant #1 Into a Reliable, Efficient System

Brady’s integrated control system transformed Central Chiller Plant #1 into a reliable and efficient system, delivering consistently comfortable indoor environments for the buildings it served. Students and staff now enjoy pleasant atmospheres even during the hottest summer months. The implementation exceeded projected first-year energy savings, with actual savings reaching $308,841, significantly reducing costs. The facilities staff also benefitted from the new system, experiencing improved operational efficiency. Brady’s system analytics proactively identified and resolved potential issues, enhancing performance.

Impressed By Success

Impressed by the success, the University engaged Brady to retrofit Central Chiller Plant #2, further strengthening their partnership. Apart from retrofitting Central Chiller Plants #1 and #2, Brady also received a contract to deploy controls on the new Central Chiller Plant #3 in 2016. After several years of monitoring the plant’s performance via analytics, Brady then optimized the plant’s performance through sequence adjustments and proved the effectiveness of those changes through measurement and verification.  Brady updated the Trane plant controller software, enhancing control logic for optimal chiller staging and condenser water temperature management. Optimizing condenser water temperature through variable speed control of cooling tower fans and condenser pumps allowed for the lowest overall plant energy consumption. Brady achieved nearly 20% energy reduction in Central Chiller Plant #3 in just 12 months.

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Brady showcased their proficiency and dedication to enhancing building systems’ efficiency by effectively retrofitting and optimizing several central chiller plants.

As a result, the University experienced enhanced energy efficiency, cost savings, and a consistent, comfortable indoor environment throughout their campuses. The collaborative efforts between Brady and the University serve as a testament to their capability to upgrade outdated energy infrastructure and optimize those constructed with contemporary design standards.