Commercial Architecture March 2016 - (Page 31)

PROJECT hvac & plumbing Water Gets A Boost A Grundfos integrated pressure-boosting system makes the difference for several Seattle buildings. F aced with a failing domestic-water booster pump into the costs, we realized it made better sense financially at one of the downtown commercial properties to upgrade to a more energy-efficient system," said Boyd. managed by Martin Selig Real Estate, Seattle, chief engineer Phil Boyd began searching for options to ENERGY AUDIT repair the existing tri-plex boosting-pump system. Anxious to demonstrate the value of replacing rather The booster station serves the 43-story commercial than repairing the pressure-boosting system, Rasmussen office building at 1000 2nd Ave., located blocks from the contacted Grundfos colleague Roger Weldon, CEM, Puget Sound waterway. Such high-rise buildings-includ- LEED AP, energy-optimization engineer, to arrange a ing hotels, multifamily, office, and other institutional pump audit. Weldon had extensive experience with this applications-require pressure-boosting equipment to type of application and traveled to the site to install the raise incoming municipal water pressure to serve upper pump-audit equipment (flow, power, pressure meter/ floors. Demand for water in such multi-story buildings loggers) onto the existing pressure-boosting system. The can vary significantly throughout the day, and this unpre- pump-audit equipment recorded performance data for dictable flow places extraordinary demands on pumping two weeks. According to Weldon, "The data derived from the equipment. Boyd planned to repair the pumping station until Co- pump audit allows us to select the optimum replacement rey Rasmussen, sales manager for Grundfos Pumps system that is often substantially smaller and less costly to Corp., Downers Grove, IL, suggested that the property- purchase and operate. Additionally, the data we collect is management's investment would be better spent on a used to apply for utility incentives, which help to boost new, more efficient water-boosting system. To support the company's return on this capital investment." this recommendation, Rasmussen advocated an independent energy audit to determine the building's actual pres- THE EXISTING SYSTEM sure requirements, given the condition of the existing The pumping station currently used a pressure-boosting 27-yr.-old pumps. system that was installed when the building was con- "We had absolutely no doubt that we could signifi- "The building's existing pressure-boosting system, using intelligent, demand-based pump technology," re- which consisted of one 20-hp and two 30-hp vertical tur- called Rasmussen, who nonetheless provided Boyd the bine pumps, ran at full speed and the pressure was con- $17,000 repair quote. "The problem, however, was con- trolled by pressure-regulating valves that significantly re- vincing a price-conscious customer to invest in new tech- duced the system's overall efficiency, and would require nology instead of rebuilding the decades-old pres- scheduled annual maintenance," said Boyd. Due to the simplistic control technology, one of the sure-boosting pumps and motor drives." D ropcap Text. Body Text- Indented. SUBHEAD Body Text- No Indent. Body Text- Indented. CA Commercial-development firm Martin Selig Real Estate upgraded the domestic-water pressure-boosting system at its 43-story 2nd Avenue headquarters in Seattle. structed in 1987. cantly lower the operating costs of the existing unit by Unknown to Boyd, Rasmussen already had a solution pumps ran 24 hr./day regardless of flow demands, which in mind. His trump card was the Grundfos Hydro MPC are significantly lower during overnight and weekend pe- BoosterpaQ , an integrated pressure-boosting system that riods when the building is unoccupied. The current con- would deliver the exact water pressure necessary to trol scheme not only wasted electricity but also decreased achieve optimal performance-all without direct human the equipment's life expectancy as a result of the excessive intervention. heat and hydraulic forces generated from operating when Ideal for water-supply systems, as well as municipal there is no flow demand. boosting, water transfer, and industrial applications, these One way to leverage the savings realized by moving integrated pumping systems use an advanced controller from a constant-speed pumping system to a vari- to adjust pump speed and stage additional pumps as nec- able-speed, demand-based platform was to apply for a essary to meet specific pressure demand. utility incentive. Weldon worked with the local utility, "Initially, Martin Selig was looking at the possibility Seattle City Light, a publicly owned electric-power utility, of rebuilding the existing pump station. After looking to secure a large power-reduction incentive for the prop- commercialarchitecturemagazine.com MARCH 2016 COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE 31 http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture March 2016

Table of Contents
Editor's Notebook
The Architects: Design For Authenticity
Thriving On Change
Ken's View
Facial Recognition Enhances Museum Experience
Building Technology Products
LEDS Brighten Facility From Front To Back
Lighting & Electrical Products
ACM Panels, Prismatic Finish Focus Community's Attention
Pine Workshop Boosts Fence Building
Exteriors Products
Water Gets A Boost
HVAC & Plumbing Products
Polished Concrete Provides Solid Footing
Feature Wall Welcomes Travelers
Interiors Products
Franklin's Kite Reimagined As Glazed Facade
Renovation Recaptures Original Design
Windows & Doors Products
Showcase
Index

Commercial Architecture March 2016