Commercial Building Products - May 2015 - (Page 38)

geothermal energy PROJECT The HVAC retrofit at the Colorado state capitol building, Denver, uses a hybrid mechanical system, including a more than 200-ton geothermal heat-pump system, to supply heating and cooling throughout the building. Colorado Capitol Is Beacon Of Sustainability A geothermal heat-pump retrofit project at the Colorado state capitol cuts energy costs, earns LEED recognition. C ommitted to advancing renewable energy and the late 1800s to early 1900s, the complex was slated for water-conservation measures, building-envelope retrofits, energy efficiency, the state of Colorado has a major renovation and restoration by the Colorado De- removal of outdated equipment, and asbestos abatement been a pioneer in the adoption of energy-saving partment of Personnel and Administration (DPA), includ- also were included. solutions. Home to the National Renewable Energy Lab- ing its antiquated mechanical system. The updates would be applied across the Colorado oratory, the Rocky Mountain Institute, and several other "Some of the HVAC infrastructure in the complex capitol complex, including the governor's residence, Col- sustainability focused organizations, Colorado has main- was more than 80 years old, and the system was overdue orado Dept. of Revenue building, and the state capitol tained its leadership in "walking the walk" of green build- for an upgrade," said Lance Shepherd, manager of design building. ing and striving to do more to reduce carbon emissions. and construction programs for the DPA's Office of the For the state capitol building, the team designed a hy- This effort has been reflected in the retrofit of several State Architect. According to Shepherd, the state also brid mechanical system, including a more than 200-ton state buildings-including historical landmarks construct- aimed to increase the energy efficiency of the complex's geothermal heat-pump system, to supply heating and ed in the late 1800s and early 1900s-with cutting-edge buildings, while also incorporating the use of renew- cooling. This integrates with a 10-kW solar photovoltaic technologies that have elevated them to the most energy able-energy solutions. system, as well as new and existing HVAC equipment efficient of their kind in the U.S. One of Colorado's first "Under the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), Col- efforts, the installation of a geothermal HVAC system at orado requires the use of 30% renewable energy by 2020," The state capitol building's new HVAC system speci- the governor's residence in Denver, resulted in the reduc- Shepherd said. "The mechanical system upgrade needed fied a total of nine water-to-air and water-to-water heat- tion of natural gas usage by 70% and electricity consump- to reflect this." pump units from ClimateMaster, Oklahoma City, includ- tion by 15%. such as boilers and air-handling units. Shepherd and his team at the DPA worked with Chev- ing four (1 1/2- to 5-ton) horizontal and vertical ron Energy Solutions (CES), now known as OpTerra En- Tranquility 16 Compact (TC) series units, four (3- to PAVING THE WAY ergy Services, San Francisco, to develop a multi-phase se- 5-ton) horizontal and vertical Tranquility 30 Two-Stage The success of the project paved the way for other ener- ries of approximately $30 million in upgrades and (TT) series units, and one (3-ton) Tranquility Modular gy-efficiency projects across the state, most recently the improvements. In addition to the HVAC system updates, Water-to-Water (TMW) series unit, all with environmen- Colorado capitol complex in Denver. Constructed from energy-efficient lighting, energy-management systems, tally sound EarthPure HFC-410A refrigerant. Working 40 COMMERCI A L BUIL DING P RODUC T S MAY 2015 cbpmagazine.com http://www.cbpmagazine.com

Commercial Building Products - May 2015

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