Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 41

PROJECT
urally, we kept looking for more places to apply drives."
M&R Affiliates' Rice explained the astounding elec-

hvac

trict. The Challenge commits the U.S. Steel Tower to reducing energy usage 50% by 2030.

tricity savings are derived from the physics of "affinity

"Thanks to Danfoss VLT drives, we've already cut en-

laws," which state that reducing the speed of a pump or

ergy usage by 20%," Sechler says enthusiastically. "Jim

fan motor reduces power consumption exponentially. For

Rice and SSI Inc., Cranberry Twp., PA (ssiinc.org), the

example, applying a VLT drive that can reduce pump

local Danfoss service center, has worked closely with us

speed by 20% results in potential energy savings of as

year after year to phase in the installation flawlessly. Com-

much as 50%.

bine the energy savings, robust quality, and rebates that

In 2011, Sechler embarked on Phase Two of the retrofit

reduce paybacks under one year, I couldn't be happier.

project. Once again, the VLT drives were applied to pump

Additionally, the tenants are happy, and the building

motors-but this time for the chilled water and pre-heat

owners are delighted." CA

Want more information? To download
the information listed below, visit
commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/
1802danfoss.

Circle 1 on the Reader Service Card.
Learn more about VLT drives.
Watch a video.

water loops.
"These pump motors are considerably smaller than
those used for the domestic water pumps," said Sechler,
"but there are more of them." For this project, VLT drives
were applied to 40 pump motors ranging from 50 hp to
200 hp. And once again, the savings were astounding:
annual electric costs were reduced another $138,000.
In 2012, a Phase Three project added 16 drives for
250-hp motors. Phase Four in 2013 applied about 40 VLT

Experience.
Innovation.

drives to smaller 7.5- to 60-hp pump and fan motors. After each phase, the electric savings amounted to $317,000
and $152,000 a year respectively.
"In 2009, our electric consumption averaged 65 million kilowatt hours," said Sechler. "Now it's down to 53
million kilowatts. Our peak demand was 16 to 17 megawatts; now it's 12 megawatts. This is a huge savings that
goes right to the bottom line. Altogether, nearly 150 Danfoss VLT drives are producing $1,142,000 in documented
annual energy savings. Plus, improved energy efficiency
makes the property more attractive to tenants. We've
been up to 98% occupancy, which is really great in today's commercial real estate market."
To manage the installation, each drive incorporates
Apogee FLN as a software-selectable communications
protocol that connects with the building automation system (BAS). The pump drives are controlled using an inhouse Direct Digital Control (DDC), which measures
pressure differential across the pump to regulate drive
speed. The BAS logs drive performance data and energy
consumption, including drive condition. Sechler's inhouse engineering team is also able to track operational
status-and they are delighted that there has been practically no drive downtime since the first one was installed
nearly 15 years ago.
He also notes that the energy savings from the VLT
drives is helping give the building a greener reputation.
UPMC recently qualified 17 of the floors it occupies for

Keep operating costs
from going through
the roof
Our thermally broken roof hatch lowers
building operating costs by minimizing
heat transfer between interior and
exterior metal surfaces, thereby resisting
harmful condensation and providing
superior energy efficiency under
any conditions.

Silver LEED certification and six for Gold LEED certifi-

Roof Hatch Features:
*
*
*
*
*

Patented thermally broken design
R-20+ insulation
Aluminum construction
Engineered cover gasket system
Lab tested & certified for
thermal performance

cation through the services of evolveEA, Pittsburgh
(evolveea.com), a sustainable architecture and consulting
firm. In addition, Winthrop Management recently
signed the U.S. Steel Tower onto the Green Building Al-

800.366.6530
WWW.BILCO.COM

liance, Pittsburgh, (usgbc.org/organizations/green-building-alliance) 2030 District Challenge-a public-private
partnership for the downtown Pittsburgh building disCIRCLE 214

41


http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/1802danfoss http://www.ssiinc.org http://WWW.BILCO.COM http://www.evolveea.com http://WWW.BILCO.COM http://www.usgbc.org/organizations/green-building-alliance https://www.cdsreportnow.com/bgs/search?CBP0214201802

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture February 2018

The Architects
Showcase
Index
Portfolio
Student Unions
Facade Mimics Coral
Smart Design For Learning
Metal Wall Panels Renovate City Hall
Tile Roof Crowns Mansion Renovation
Fixtures Wash Out Light Puddles
Stadium Supports More Than The Team
Selecting The Correct Damper
Energy-Efficient Boilers Revitalize Apartment Complex
U.S. Steel Tower Grows Greener With Retrofit
Going Green On The Green
Channel Glass Leads Visitors To Fort
Speedway Improves Track Views
Flooring Impacts Evaluation At Children's Hospital
Exteriors Products
Lighting & Electrical Products
HVAC & Plumbing Products
Windows & Doors Products
Interiors Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Cover1
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Cover2
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 1
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 2
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 3
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 4
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 5
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - The Architects
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 7
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Student Unions
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 9
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 10
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 11
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 12
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 13
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 14
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 15
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Facade Mimics Coral
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 17
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 18
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 19
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 20
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 21
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Smart Design For Learning
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 23
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Metal Wall Panels Renovate City Hall
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 25
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Tile Roof Crowns Mansion Renovation
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 27
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 28
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Exteriors Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Fixtures Wash Out Light Puddles
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 31
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Stadium Supports More Than The Team
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 35
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Lighting & Electrical Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Selecting The Correct Damper
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 38
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Energy-Efficient Boilers Revitalize Apartment Complex
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - U.S. Steel Tower Grows Greener With Retrofit
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 41
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - HVAC & Plumbing Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 43
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Going Green On The Green
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 45
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Channel Glass Leads Visitors To Fort
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 47
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Speedway Improves Track Views
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Windows & Doors Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Flooring Impacts Evaluation At Children's Hospital
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 51
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 52
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Interiors Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 54
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 55
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Showcase
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Index
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Portfolio
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Cover3
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Cover4
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