June 22, 2017

                                                                                      

Location : Hyatt Regency Boston

Hosts : Terry Dunbar, Brian Gorski and Ganga Singh

 

Present : Brian Gorski, Joe Riordan, Debbie Freckleton, Samantha Sorrin, Fabienne Eliacin, Dan Cook, Tony Castro, Cameron Ritzenthaler, Pamela St. Aimee, Kathy Clark, Dave Ableman, David Clark, Paul Reissfelder, Joanna Reissfelder, Dan Ruben. 

The Langham, Boston had ICS Corp install variable frequency drives (VFDs or VSDs) on 14 medium and small motors that operate their air handler and cooling tower fans. The motors range in size from 3 to 30 HP. 

According to Landon Fritz, Senior Vice President and Lead Director of Technology at ICS, every hotel he visits has motors that would benefit from VFDs--and these installations are very economical. Many properties have VFDs on their largest motors (≥30 HP), but not on their medium (7.5 HP - 25 HP) or small (≤ 5 HP) ones.

 

VFDs adjust motor speeds and torque to match output requirements needed by the process. With VFDs, motors that have only two speeds ("on" and "off") become units that use only the amount of energy necessary to do a particular job. VFD's cut equipment energy use by up to 70%.

 

The Mass Save incentive from Eversource made the project very compelling. Further, The Langham, Boston didn't have to pay the portion covered by Mass Save up front. ICS accepts the payment straight from the utility.

 

The ICS analysis shows that the project will save Langham Boston $37,000 and 265,000 kWh's per year.

 

Joe Riordan, Assistant Chief Engineer at The Langham, Boston said, "This was a great efficiency project for the hotel to accomplish [and it helps the hotel maintain its] GOLD EarthCheck status. The smaller units were the last phase of HVAC components to receive VSD technology... In the past it was not cost effective to install VSDs on these units. After partnering with ICS and Eversource we are able to capture the energy savings on these units and operate our building more efficiently. ICS worked closely with all parties to make the entire process seamless."

 

VFDs extend motor life because the motors work easier, as they do not need to constantly run at full speed. VFDs also make motors quieter, because they run at slower speeds and have a soft start-up that prevents squealing. 

 

The process for installing VFDs is long, but ICS does the majority of the work. They:  

VFDs have a life expectancy of 15 - 20 years. Properties often qualify for a Mass Save incentive on replacements, because new drives are more efficient than older ones.

 

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Hotels gain an extra advantage by having their motors programmed to be controlled by the facility's BMS (building management system). These projects are separate from installing VFDs. The BMS vendors (Siemens, Johnson Controls, etc.) do this work--which is often supported, in part, by Mass Save.  When ICS installs VFDs, they write the rebate application paperwork necessary for performing these projects. 

A Better City is coordinating a new, joint Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for renewable energy. It's seeking businesses and institutions that want to buy renewable energy together, and gain the advantages of aggregation--financial returns, carbon emission reductions and a team of partners who will help bring this project to fruition.

Last year, A Better City facilitated a successful joint-PPA,which is explained in their case study, Innovation through Aggregation. In that project, MIT, the Boston Medical Center and the Post Office Square Redevelopment Corporation (the "off-takers") entered into separate but coordinated fixed-price 25-year PPAs with the utility that owns a North Carolina solar farm.

Each off-taker receives a proportional number of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) associated with the emissions-free power. And each month, off-takers will receive or pay the difference between the contract price and wholesale market price for the solar energy. 

The partners expect positive returns from this project over the lifetime of the deal.  The joint-PPA created economies of scale. That, and a 30% federal solar investment tax credit, made the project financially appealing.

Also, the project has generated great PR for all three organizations.

In aggregate, the project will result in the equivalent of removing >25,000 cars from the road each year; BMC and Post Office Square are now carbon-neutral; and MIT has abated 17% of its carbon emissions footprint. 

A Better City is working to replicate this initiative among a new group of partners. The term length, project, location, and pricing are flexible and will be determined by this new group with the support of A Better City and its technical advisors. This new collaboration is an opportunity for hotels of all sizes to make a major renewable energy purchase in an economical and marketable way.

If you want to inquire about whether this year's project makes sense for your hotel, contact A Better City's Miriam Posner (617-502-6257; [email protected] ). Project participants must be members of A Better City--or agree to join that organization to complete the deal.

The following meeting will be 2:30 to 4:00. 

See you September 14! I'll announce the location in the next newsletter.